oreofox
Explorer
I started at the tail end of 2nd edition, though my first game ever was a session of 1st edition. I played/ran a few sessions of 2e for the 2 years before 3rd came out, then switched over to 3rd. Played that off and on throughout its lifespan, until about 2007, when I basically had to stop. The people I played with moved away, and for the most part, VTT weren't really a thing (and I didn't even hear about them for another 4-5 years). 4th edition held 0 interest for me, and I got into Pathfinder in 2012 I believe it was. Played numerous games over roll20, until a group of excessive powergamers absolutely killed the system for me. I stuck with that group because the DM was a prety cool dude. I should have quit after the 2nd month, but was stupid and stayed for the entire year it ran. After the last session, I got called useless and a waste of space because I didn't powergame out the booty like everyone else.
Anyway, that happened in 2013. I got the playtests for the new edition of D&D, but didn't look too much into it. At first, I thought it was stupid. I mostly paid attention to the DM portions as that was what I would more than likely end up doing, so was more interested in the monster pdfs of the playtests over the classes and races. I was a little iffy on the monster categories, and I thought "monstrosity" was absolutely stupid. It never explained what constituted a monstrosity. An owlbear was a monstrosity, but a griffon wasn't? Why was the minotaur a monstrosity (humanoid bull) while the gnoll was a humanoid (humanoid hyena)? I had written off the newest edition and basically resigned myself to never play D&D again.
And then the free basic rules were released, I looked over everything, and found the edition to be actually really really good. I have played about 3 years in total of 5th edition out of the last 4.5 years since its release. While I wouldn't say this is the greatest version, it is probably my favorite overall edition. Luckily, as the DM, I can adjust it as I wish. I just wish they would have kept the modularity they promised at the very beginning, and also released more than just adventures more often. Premade adventures hold no real interest for me (I say as I purchased the Starter Set, which that mini adventure was great, and Princes of the Apocalypse, which was less so).
My biggest wish for 5e is they do something like Volo's and Xanathar's at least once a year each (more monsters, and more player options). Not the 250+ page hardbacks at $50 a piece, but something along the lines of Arms and Equipment Guide or the soft-covers like Tome and Blood or Masters of the Wild from 3rd edition. And for the love of goodness, get some different artists for your books WotC. That's the one thing Pathfinder has going for it over 5e.
Anyway, that happened in 2013. I got the playtests for the new edition of D&D, but didn't look too much into it. At first, I thought it was stupid. I mostly paid attention to the DM portions as that was what I would more than likely end up doing, so was more interested in the monster pdfs of the playtests over the classes and races. I was a little iffy on the monster categories, and I thought "monstrosity" was absolutely stupid. It never explained what constituted a monstrosity. An owlbear was a monstrosity, but a griffon wasn't? Why was the minotaur a monstrosity (humanoid bull) while the gnoll was a humanoid (humanoid hyena)? I had written off the newest edition and basically resigned myself to never play D&D again.
And then the free basic rules were released, I looked over everything, and found the edition to be actually really really good. I have played about 3 years in total of 5th edition out of the last 4.5 years since its release. While I wouldn't say this is the greatest version, it is probably my favorite overall edition. Luckily, as the DM, I can adjust it as I wish. I just wish they would have kept the modularity they promised at the very beginning, and also released more than just adventures more often. Premade adventures hold no real interest for me (I say as I purchased the Starter Set, which that mini adventure was great, and Princes of the Apocalypse, which was less so).
My biggest wish for 5e is they do something like Volo's and Xanathar's at least once a year each (more monsters, and more player options). Not the 250+ page hardbacks at $50 a piece, but something along the lines of Arms and Equipment Guide or the soft-covers like Tome and Blood or Masters of the Wild from 3rd edition. And for the love of goodness, get some different artists for your books WotC. That's the one thing Pathfinder has going for it over 5e.