With the DMG out* and the Holy Trinity finally assembled, what's the verdict? Is the most play-tested version of D&D a creative success? Does it bode well for the future of the edition? Is this the One Edition to Rule Them All? Given the seemingly overwhelming accolades for the Trinity as a whole, will 5E be a wild financial success? And while we're at it, another round of...What next? Where to now, WotC? The DMG is out, we want to know what else is coming down the pike!
(*I pre-ordered mine on Amazon so won't get it for another week and a half, but I'm probably going to go browse through it tomorrow...will be hard-pressed not to pick it up).
IMO this is the definitive edition. Im 1e D&D, and this is the first edition to come along that truly captures, and helps me capture, the
Spirit of D&D. Now that I have all 3 I can definitely say that this is the edition that satisfies my craving for table-top fantasy (high, low, or S&S) rpg. The DMG, which I picked up this morning, cements what I want my D&D experience to be: simplicity, tool-kit style, and the return of control to the DM. Is it perfect? No, nothing can be, certainly not a fantasy RPG. Does it have everything a gamer could want? No, nothing can give *every* gamer what every gamer wants. Is it the D&D I want? Yes.
I imagine that more customization books will come along, but its comforting to know that the Trinity remains a simple, elegant, and creative set of tools. I dont like something? I can take it out (and the books give options for this). I want to make things grittier ala Game of Thrones, I get rules for that.
As for my D&D street cred? Ive played 1e, 2e, 4e. I didnt get to play 3e, but I heard good things of it. I played 4e briefly, not knowing much about it and quickly realizing what it was. I wish I would have sat out 4e in retrospect, it really, REALLY turned me away from D&D.
So now Im back! Im excited, thrilled, and happy for what D&D is becoming. 2015 is going to be the year of D&D no doubt.