So the playtest is out: What do you think? The EN World poll!
Kralin Thornberry
Explorer
I fall somewhere between dislike and hate, leaning more towards dislike I suppose.
I don't like the retro throwback rules design (and yes, I've played since BESCI on through to 4E), and the seeming lack of rules to the game.
I do like some of it (the idea of the advantage/disadvantage the BASIC idea behind the hit dice mechanic to mention a few), but there was just something about it that puts off not just me, but my entire gaming group.
We didn't have a very good experience with the module, we kept asking about attacks when the monsters would waltz right by the fighter to get to the obvious mage, rolling a 1 on your one and only hit die when you are down to 1 hp after a battle, asking for skills to return in full instead of a modifier to an ability check, etc.
We were expecting "progress" and got "retro" instead.
We didn't like the whole "you play in the theater of the mind or on a map", but then the emphasis on the difficult terrain, the lack of encounter balance, etc.
I know it's just an alpha of the core rules, but it has already left a bad taste in our mouths.
I don't like the retro throwback rules design (and yes, I've played since BESCI on through to 4E), and the seeming lack of rules to the game.
I do like some of it (the idea of the advantage/disadvantage the BASIC idea behind the hit dice mechanic to mention a few), but there was just something about it that puts off not just me, but my entire gaming group.
We didn't have a very good experience with the module, we kept asking about attacks when the monsters would waltz right by the fighter to get to the obvious mage, rolling a 1 on your one and only hit die when you are down to 1 hp after a battle, asking for skills to return in full instead of a modifier to an ability check, etc.
We were expecting "progress" and got "retro" instead.
We didn't like the whole "you play in the theater of the mind or on a map", but then the emphasis on the difficult terrain, the lack of encounter balance, etc.
I know it's just an alpha of the core rules, but it has already left a bad taste in our mouths.
Sorrowdusk
First Post
You seem to have a rather extreme opinion.
That's ok.
Thankfully, it seems Dice Gods willing, 5e may actually satisfy a good number of people this time around.
Sorrowdusk
First Post
Why?
Li Shenron
Legend
I decided to run the risk and vote "loved it" 
Because it's so easy to say "this and that should be fixed" (people say that to every single RPG or edition, in its final form) or "there is room for improvement" (is there ever no room for improvement?), but the truth is that for me this is indeed going in the right direction AND it has enough novelty elements AND is more or less in a wholly usable form* already AND it solves my main problem with 3ed, which is my favourite edition but takes me too much effort to run with the little time I have for gaming.
*meaning that if this was already the published game (besides the limitation to few levels, classes, etc.) I would gladly take it as-is
Because it's so easy to say "this and that should be fixed" (people say that to every single RPG or edition, in its final form) or "there is room for improvement" (is there ever no room for improvement?), but the truth is that for me this is indeed going in the right direction AND it has enough novelty elements AND is more or less in a wholly usable form* already AND it solves my main problem with 3ed, which is my favourite edition but takes me too much effort to run with the little time I have for gaming.
*meaning that if this was already the published game (besides the limitation to few levels, classes, etc.) I would gladly take it as-is
Lord Malachdrim
First Post
I decided to run the risk and vote "loved it"
Because it's so easy to say "this and that should be fixed" (people say that to every single RPG or edition, in its final form) or "there is room for improvement" (is there ever no room for improvement?), but the truth is that for me this is indeed going in the right direction AND it has enough novelty elements AND is more or less in a wholly usable form* already AND it solves my main problem with 3ed, which is my favourite edition but takes me too much effort to run with the little time I have for gaming.
*meaning that if this was already the published game (besides the limitation to few levels, classes, etc.) I would gladly take it as-is
I would have to agree with you on most of this. Except for me it's not 3ed but HackMaster 4th Ed.
The Red King
First Post
I like it when I choose the answer that everyone else does! It makes me feel like part of the group!
Yay.
Plus, I liked the play test. It went well with our group of 7 players.
Yay.
Plus, I liked the play test. It went well with our group of 7 players.
WarlockLord
First Post
The skills rules are Magic Tea Party.
The wizard is useless (save ray of frost) and saddled with arbitrary casting restrictions.
Clerics are god.
The fighter has regressed to Vanilla Action Hero/useless at high levels
Too much DM fiat - how does the trade (for the rogue) work? What do these skills mean? Does natural lore ->natural philosophy -> physics -> build own catapult or not? Could we get a better way to resolve this than bsing the DM?
Why are there six saves if only three are used?
Monsters are made out of HP inflation and arbitrarium.
It's the wrong direction. But I doubt anyone is listening...
The wizard is useless (save ray of frost) and saddled with arbitrary casting restrictions.
Clerics are god.
The fighter has regressed to Vanilla Action Hero/useless at high levels
Too much DM fiat - how does the trade (for the rogue) work? What do these skills mean? Does natural lore ->natural philosophy -> physics -> build own catapult or not? Could we get a better way to resolve this than bsing the DM?
Why are there six saves if only three are used?
Monsters are made out of HP inflation and arbitrarium.
It's the wrong direction. But I doubt anyone is listening...
Vyvyan Basterd
Adventurer
How'd you get the high-level playtest packet? 
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