D&D 5E Are you ready for 4.5e?

[raindog308]

I'm joking, but I realized:

2000: D&D 3.0 released
2003: D&D 3.5 released (3 years later)
2008: D&D 4.0 released
2011 will be 3 years since 4.0

 

[havoclad]

My hope is that the Essential line will fulfill that role. It allows WoTC to sell everything all over again, which keeps them in business. On the other hand, they did not do an overhaul of the rules.

I'll still be keeping my fingers crossed though!

 

[Minifig]

Isn't HoTFL Essentially 4.5e?

See what I did there?

 

[Tiitha]

3.5 was a slap in the face to those who already bought 3.0 books, but I really did enjoy 3.5 even if I did have to buy new books.

WoTC keeps saying that Essentials doesn't replace the original core books, and that once they need to do a reprint of the Player's Handbook and such that they'll let us know.

I can see them tweaking more rules and adding different play styles down the road, but still keeping them interchangeable with earlier stuff if you want.

 

[im_robertb]

I think I'm starting to see some of the signs of 4.5 or 5E, but nothing nearly significant enough to say that it's expected. The main 'patching' issues I'd expect from a 4.5E would be these:

1) Cleric, Paladin, and Ranger adjusted to be like the other classes (single primary ability score, option of secondaries).
2) A similar rules fix (not a variant) for classes like the Cleric, Paladin, Artificer, and Bard, who have to maintain multiple magic weapons and/or implements to keep pace with other classes. Probably along the lines of inherent bonuses as the Character Builder allows.
3) Monster math adjusted to allow for removal of the Expertise and Defenses feats.
4) Most of the game is 'mechanics with flavor'. Background Benefits and the new Character Themes are 'flavor with mechanics'. I expect that the existing 'flavor with mechanics' will stop being a variant and become part of the expected power curve.

#1 has been mostly fixed by adding more options for the disparate builds, and more 'Strength OR Charisma' powers, as we've been seeing recently. #2 and #3 would just be the canonization of common house rules. #4 I think is significant, given the increase in power that Character Themes grant - the free encounter power is quite significant, especially at level 1, and there's no tradeoff to get it (unless I'm missing something).

I really don't see much more that requires patching, aside from the mounds and mounds of errata to various powers, feats and items. That, however, is largely unavoidable, unless they start pre-releasing everything to all ENWorld subscribers so they can be your Beta testers, Mike.

EDIT: I almost forgot the recent changes to ability scores. I could very well see all races getting the '+2 to this score, and +2 to one of these two' setup. Maybe also making ability score increases to 3 stats rather than 2. Still not enough to justify a system reboot, though.

 

[Greg K]

I would be if

1. Gnomes and Half orcs replace Dragonborn and Tiefings in the PHB
2. Barbarians, Bards, Druids and Shamans get in the PHB
3. Skill Points are re-introduced for player characters
4. Several skills are broken down to be less broad
5. +1/2 level to ability checks and skills are removed
6. Action Points work more like Mutant and Mastermind hero points
7. Paragon and Epic leve tiers are reworked so that Paragon Paths and Epic Desitines become optional for the levels covered by those tiers.
8. Backgrounds are included in the PHB
9. The armor and weapons list looks more like 1e and 2e
10. Magic Missile goes back to not being autohit.
11. Deity domains play more of a role in divine character powers and features
12. Introduce Mutant and Mastermind 2e style complications
13. They come up with a completely new and original pantheon that is not a mish mash of pantheon deities from other editions.
14. Additional PC races and classes are each introduced in their own supplement

 

[Dice4Hire]

Lets wait for the Oct errata file and then it will be more clear.

 

[Tiitha]

I'm hoping an official 4.5e won't be necessary. I remember when they changed rules for 3.5e, but I want to believe that WoTC has learned from that and won't pull it again.

The Essentials are a good in that they're merely optional. Even if they do continue with the same rule format as Essentials, it's a good idea to keep future products with the same compatability yet can also be able to be stand alone as well. Examples being DDM, the upcoming Ravenloft campaign, and even Gamma World! Even the board games have some interchangable parts. They're all separate in themselves, but you can mix and match all you want. Coming up with more options and playstyles still give WoTC a lot of room to contiue with 4e. I can see a lot more of this happening down the road for several years or until they decide to make 5th edition. If a 4.5 edition that makes 4.0 absolete can be avoided, all the better.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Essentials is already out, after only two years, so it didn't even take as long this time.

Of course Essentials isn't really 4.5, because it doesn't technically replace 4e, it's just that 4e has been updated to the point that, now, post-Essentials, it's more distinct from what it was at it's release than 3.5 was from 3.0 - I suppose you could say that Essentials replaced 4.5...

 

[Shazman]

Isn't HoTFL Essentially 4.5e?

See what I did there?

You may be being a bit snarky, but I agree with that statement. I see Essentials very much as a 4.5ish new "edition" for the most part.