1. No good healing options exist. The cleric needs a healing domain.
2. OD&D split clerical / divine spells available [spells known] in half for odd & even levels. 5th edition should to this too. Say 5/level by default & +/- by WIS score (though "universal" modifier as it stands it too high). Otherwise the 5th edition cleric has empty levels half the time as a player pointed out. [In our OD&D game, if you choose to gain a spell of a lower level you can gain 2 for 1, 4 1st for a 3rd level spell known, and so on]
At level 2 you get +1 spell prepped, skill training and a domain benefit, and at level 4 you get +1 spell prepped, skill training, a bonus to ability scores, and an extra Channel Divinity per day. Granted, these might not be as exciting as new spell levels, but neither is fighter level 4 or rogue level 3-4. I don't think it's worth reworking the whole spell system over (especially since the cleric Vancian system already confuses me).
3. Dwarves should not have poison immunity or Stonecunning "Find the Path" at will. This removes elements from the game, instead of making them easier when rolls are called for.
I think this is by design: 5e is largely about making things run quick and smooth, so whereas a lot of powers and bonuses in 3e or 4e required EXTRA rolls (e.g. Spell Resistance), powers in 5e tend to require FEWER rolls (Skill Mastery, poison/charm immunity). Poison/charm immunity is powerful enough to be cool, but it doesn't really change basic strategy much: even if the dwarf only gets Cast-Iron Stomach or a +4 racial bonus to saves vs. poison, it's still a really dumb idea to try to poison one. And of course any DM worth his salt will have a stash of special magical Dwarf Poison just in case the players get too cocky.
I also think Stonecutting isn't as bad as you suggest: it just lets you detect your approximate depth and retrace your steps now, not find a new path forward.
4. Willpower depleted for the Sorcerer means they are transformed. The flavor text does not match (is contradictory to) the power descriptions. These should say "will power depleted" at zero, not after X number of points. Or change the flavor text.
The flavor text here is IN ADDITION TO the mechanical effects of spending willpower: "When your willpower is depleted and your heritage transforms you, you might manifest the personality traits of a dragon, as well as draconic physical traits." It's a suggestion for roleplaying: above and beyond the physical transformations you undergo, your character
might start to change his attitude and behavior when his Willpower is completely drained.
5. Healer Specialty Herbalism material components need to be better spelled out. In the middle of dungeon delving is this stuff available or do we need to go back to the city? How would it be found in the wilderness and so on.
Agreed. Personally I'd say it requires herbs that can be found in wooded areas with a good enough Survival check, with lots of DM wiggle room when he has some reason to deny you ("you require monksfoot root, which doesn't grow in these parts - better go back and bargain with that merchant"). It would be nice to have some guidelines on this though.
6. Give dwarves back darkvision [I think this is a thief / hiding niche protection, but are you going to restrict *all* PC races?]
Agreed.
7. Skill Advancement was unclear. Is a new skill always an option instead of taking the 1 skill point on even levels? Or is it a both: new skill +1 point in any skill? Or do all previous skills receive a +1 (which doesn't read like the text at all).
My read is that you can only use it on currently trained skills.
8. Crossbows are Simple Missile Weapons, not complex. They are easy to use. Bows are hard to use.
I think they're trying to make the simple/martial weapon divide represent weapons that peasants would use vs. weapons that knights and soldiers would use. So I agree that crossbows should be simple, but so should bows (since they're used by hunters without any formal military training.)
10. Sorcerer gets a greatsword in his packet ?!
Personally I think the draconic sorcerer should get heavy weapon proficiency added, but this is clearly an issue.
13. No tracking class as of yet. How do we do this normally, for other classes? Can they [I think all should have some ability by default, if even simply being able to follow a water way or the path of a buffalo stampede]
Survival check maybe?
17. Dragon Strength (for sorcerers) is very poorly worded. "Next time you hit" & "During next minute". Is there a duration on a one shot power? [immediate effect]
The duration is so that you can't just cast the spell once in the morning and carry it around until you swing at someone in the afternoon. I think it's pretty perfect: you can cast it before you kick down the door so your first melee attack in the encounter hits hard without taking a round to cast first.
19. Full Cover still requires a Hide check to gain a Sneak Attack, is this right? With move-attack-move there is still the issue of having a target and sneak attackers gaining the best damage every round.
It takes an action to hide, so sneak attackers can't SA every round. And since they added attacks of opportunity back in, I'm less concerned with sniper ducking behind a wall between shots than I was with melee rogues scurrying around without ever taking a hit. If you want to hit the sniper, ready an action or chase him down.
20. Can you move through a hostiles square?
I think only with the fighter Tumble maneuver or as a halfling.
Not like an ally where it is always yes, but if they resist you how can this be done?
I think they're wise to leave this up to DM interpretation. As DM I might say you have to roll a Str vs Str check to push someone out of their square before moving past, or a Dex vs Dex check with disadvantage to tumble through. But a DM running a narratively-driven, tactics-light game might make it easier to encourage more movement and creative thinking.
21. Big problem. How do we allow for monsters to have healing, especially short healing? PCs have healers or healing kits, but no [iirc] monsters have any healing ability at all. What is to keep PCs from retreating every single battle for 5 minutes and attacking damaged enemies after their refresh? Who wouldn't do this knowing monsters don't heal and PCs "quick heal"?
PC healing is limited by HD or daily spells, and you don't get nearly as many HD as 4th-level characters got healing surges. So if your first-level party tries this once, the second attack better finish the job, because they probably won't have any healing left.
Now, if the party retreats and takes a long rest, then as DM of course I'd have the monsters regroup and patch up their wounds, bring in reinforcements, etc.
