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Most frustrating quirk of 5E?
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<blockquote data-quote="Mepher" data-source="post: 7535782" data-attributes="member: 61277"><p>I don't know where to start! I have a love/hate relationship with 5E. I have run 1E/2E for the last 30 years so running 5E just feels off to me. I like low-magic D&D but I am not referring to the setting or the items but the character classes.</p><p></p><p>1.) I hate that every character FEELS like a magic class to me. Early edition Rangers/Paladins gained minor spell levels at later character levels which is what set them apart from the Specialized Fighters. Now everyone can hit as well as the fighter, they are casting spells at 1st level, and everyone can heal. Just doesn't feel right to me. It's obviously my own preference and opinion but it's the biggest quirk for me.</p><p></p><p>2.) Magic Items. I understand bounded accuracy and it's intent but I hate that character progression is fully tied to the character skills now and magic items play a minor role. Bonuses are smaller because they make a larger impact. The problem for me is that there is no way to limit power creep in 5E since the skills are built into the character. In older editions you could manage the power creep by limiting or increasing items given in a campaign, now the only way you are limiting their skills is with DM house ruling it. On top of it most magic now is pretty boring. Sure there are lots of common non-bonus giving items but who didn't like their fighter getting the +1 longsword at 2nd level, maybe the +1/+2 vs Lycanthropes at 4th level, the +3 Frostbrand at 8th level, etc. The point is that there were many ways to increase their power through adventuring rather than giving them a checklist of skills that they will get as they level. Just seems to have taken the wonder out of the game.</p><p></p><p>3.) Along the same lines with my first two quirks, the biggest problem I have with the character classes is that everyone is a superhero. That Fighter that went out on his first adventure in 1E was the farmer's kid that was striking out to make a name for himself. He started out weak and through levels and magic items he gained that power. Through adventuring he grew and made a name for himself. He came back to town as the victorious adventurer. In 5E the level 1 character might be a little weak but the super fast progressions ensures that he is a level 3 superhero in no time.</p><p></p><p>Again, these 3 examples are purely my feeling of the game. People love to compare it to Advanced D&D but the only thing that feels in common to me is the name. The roleplaying portion of the game lies on the DMs shoulders, not the edition. The mechanical portion is what I have trouble with. Maybe 5E isn't right for me. Right now I am finishing the last session of Dragon Heist this week and the party has loved it. I expanded it a lot with tons of homebrew city adventures as well as a couple DMSGuild additions. It's been fun for all of us but every week in the off time I keep thinking about my old 2E games. We will see. Maybe I will post some more of the quirks that frustrate me after someone bashes me for these <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mepher, post: 7535782, member: 61277"] I don't know where to start! I have a love/hate relationship with 5E. I have run 1E/2E for the last 30 years so running 5E just feels off to me. I like low-magic D&D but I am not referring to the setting or the items but the character classes. 1.) I hate that every character FEELS like a magic class to me. Early edition Rangers/Paladins gained minor spell levels at later character levels which is what set them apart from the Specialized Fighters. Now everyone can hit as well as the fighter, they are casting spells at 1st level, and everyone can heal. Just doesn't feel right to me. It's obviously my own preference and opinion but it's the biggest quirk for me. 2.) Magic Items. I understand bounded accuracy and it's intent but I hate that character progression is fully tied to the character skills now and magic items play a minor role. Bonuses are smaller because they make a larger impact. The problem for me is that there is no way to limit power creep in 5E since the skills are built into the character. In older editions you could manage the power creep by limiting or increasing items given in a campaign, now the only way you are limiting their skills is with DM house ruling it. On top of it most magic now is pretty boring. Sure there are lots of common non-bonus giving items but who didn't like their fighter getting the +1 longsword at 2nd level, maybe the +1/+2 vs Lycanthropes at 4th level, the +3 Frostbrand at 8th level, etc. The point is that there were many ways to increase their power through adventuring rather than giving them a checklist of skills that they will get as they level. Just seems to have taken the wonder out of the game. 3.) Along the same lines with my first two quirks, the biggest problem I have with the character classes is that everyone is a superhero. That Fighter that went out on his first adventure in 1E was the farmer's kid that was striking out to make a name for himself. He started out weak and through levels and magic items he gained that power. Through adventuring he grew and made a name for himself. He came back to town as the victorious adventurer. In 5E the level 1 character might be a little weak but the super fast progressions ensures that he is a level 3 superhero in no time. Again, these 3 examples are purely my feeling of the game. People love to compare it to Advanced D&D but the only thing that feels in common to me is the name. The roleplaying portion of the game lies on the DMs shoulders, not the edition. The mechanical portion is what I have trouble with. Maybe 5E isn't right for me. Right now I am finishing the last session of Dragon Heist this week and the party has loved it. I expanded it a lot with tons of homebrew city adventures as well as a couple DMSGuild additions. It's been fun for all of us but every week in the off time I keep thinking about my old 2E games. We will see. Maybe I will post some more of the quirks that frustrate me after someone bashes me for these ;) [/QUOTE]
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