D&D 5E I Hope I Hate 5e

[UngeheuerLich]

Hmmh, maybe. A little bit modified please.
Challenge rating always worked for me...

 

[avin]

The Great Wheel cosmology*

FLAYED!

Heretic!

 

[Nebulous]

i want to love 5e 1st, 3rd, 5th, odd numbers have been good for the game. i liked 2e too though. 4e was okay. JUST ok.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

FLAYED!

Heretic!

I know, I'm a horrible pathetic excuse of a PS fan and I deserve to be mazed!

 

[Shemeska]

Exactly. Let 5e be for the traditionalists who want the ol' homogenous eladrins from PS. I'm sure players like Shemeska would be ecstatic!

I want the eladrin back (though I'm perfectly happy with Pathfinder's azatas - thus I'll be greedy and ask for both). But IMO they were never homogenous outside of being CG and originating in Arborea - I tend to associate "homogenous" with what 4e did too a lot of creatures when it used their names for different 4e creatures.

I want the archons back too. And yugoloths. *greedy grin*

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

I want the eladrin back (though I'm perfectly happy with Pathfinder's azatas - thus I'll be greedy and ask for both). But IMO they were never homogenous outside of being CG and originating in Arborea.

Homogenous is certainly a relative term. I'm sure there are creature families more homogenous than the eladrin; I just can't think of any off the top of my head.

I tend to associate "homogenous" with what 4e did too a lot of creatures when it used their names for different 4e creatures.

Can you give an example? Or explain a bit more?

 

[Shemeska]

Homogenous is certainly a relative term. I'm sure there are creature families more homogenous than the eladrin; I just can't think of any off the top of my head.


Can you give an example? Or explain a bit more?

The 2e/3e eladrins had multiple types (novierre, tulani, bralani, etc), while the 4e "eladrins" were a race of mortal elves who (until recently AFAIK) in 4e didn't have any subtypes.

The 2e/3e tieflings were the epitome of variety since they didn't have any set appearance and could be descended from literally any type of fiend. The 2e chart of alternate tiefling traits and the PF version of the same is a thing of beauty IMO. But the 4e tieflings all have the same default appearance, the same racial origin.

2e/3e genasi (like tieflings) had pretty much any appearance in line with their particular elemental theme, with no specific assumed traits. The 4e version of genasi on the other hand all had the whole glowing lines thing which was default.

 

[Zaran]

According to what I have read, we will not have anything to argue about because everything that ever was D&D will be pluggable into 5e. I find that hard to believe but will be optimistic.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

The 2e/3e eladrins had multiple types (novierre, tulani, bralani, etc), while the 4e "eladrins" were a race of mortal elves who (until recently AFAIK) in 4e didn't have any subtypes.

Ah I see. Granted, the 4e eladrin has no subraces. Personally I see this as a feature in a PC race rather than a flaw. I never appreciated the dozen-subrace syndrome.

I actually think of the 4e eladrin as an elven subraces, and as a different race from the traditional eladrin despite sharing a name and a similar habitat.

The 2e/3e tieflings were the epitome of variety since they didn't have any set appearance and could be descended from literally any type of fiend. The 2e chart of alternate tiefling traits and the PF version of the same is a thing of beauty IMO. But the 4e tieflings all have the same default appearance, the same racial origin.

4e tieflings are lame, agreed. My 4e tieflings are just as varied as traditional tieflings, and I don't use 4e's Bel Turath history. And what I wouldn't give for some of Tony's art in 4e!

(I recently did a bit of Tony gushing.)

2e/3e genasi (like tieflings) had pretty much any appearance in line with their particular elemental theme, with no specific assumed traits. The 4e version of genasi on the other hand all had the whole glowing lines thing which was default.

Yeah, I'm not such a fan of the tron theme that the 4e genasi has going on. If anyone in my group ever wants to play one, I'll probably carry on their traditional varied appearance.

According to what I have read, we will not have anything to argue about because everything that ever was D&D will be pluggable into 5e. I find that hard to believe but will be optimistic.

Agreed. I find it very hard to believe. If I were a betting man, I think I'd make a lot of money off of all the hopefuls' disappointment.

 

[Tallifer]

I hope the following things are the default or sole options in the next iteration:

Arbitrary (rather than level-based) AC
Descending AC
Thac0
Random Stats
Random HP
Percentile rolls, and pervasive system disunification
"Fighters can't have nice things," and a generalized "Balance doesn't really matter" attitude
Different XP tables
Traditional [read: arbitrary] race, class and alignment restrictions
Race level limits
Many and sundry save-or-lose effects
3.x style multiclassing combined with the usual front-loaded classes
Static attack and defenses for more "realism"
A full return to pure +X items
The assumption that "nobody needs magic items" just because nobody considered what PCs need, or just because nobody bothered to write it down
Level drain and XP costs
Skill proficiencies or ranks
The Great Wheel cosmology

I hope 5e defaults to all the things that irritate me about previous versions. Not because I have a grudge, but because I already have an edition that's awesome. If I hate 5e, my decision will be that much easier!

I first read your post purely for its humour. But I have since been made to realize by Frothsof in the Wizards' forum, that if the Fifth Edition is truly a throwback to previous editions and only a passing acknowledgement of the Fourth, then the Fourth Edition will remain a unique experience for gamers.

There is no other edition of Dungeons & Dragons quite like the Fourth. That will be its attraction in the coming years, if the Fifth Edition becomes basically a mix of Pathfinder and AD&D. It will have its own special and unassailable niche.