D&D 5E new Critical Hits article about running DnD next

[Gundark]

DDXP 2012 Recap: Running the New D&D and Playing Games : Critical Hits

There are some between the lines things that I am trying to pull from the article.

Interesting piece was Paizo employees being excluded from the playtest. This could have been extended to all employees of all other employees.

 

[Grazzt]

DDXP 2012 Recap: Running the New D&D and Playing Games : Critical Hits

There are some between the lines things that I am trying to pull from the article.

Discuss.

My favorite part maybe (though I played the latest editions this way too; still nice to see it may be 'official' again though)

"DM Empowerment

Here’s the overly broad and sweeping generalization I’ve made about the game: in AD&D 2e and before, many things just did not have rules, so the DM had to make them up. In 3e-4e, there were rules for many things. In this new edition, I feel like the presentation gives you the rules you most need, and then for rules that work by being the DM’s judgement call, it tells you specifically that it’s the DM’s judgment call. So for me it’s a nice balance between there being enough rules to guide me so it’s not consistently an arguing game, while still telling everyone that some rules are going to be based on what the DM says, no more, no less. If this was intentional, or even if this survives into the final version of the game, remains to be seen, but I like it so far."

 

[davethegame]

DDXP 2012 Recap: Running the New D&D and Playing Games : Critical Hits

There are some between the lines things that I am trying to pull from the article.

Interesting piece was Paizo employees being excluded from the playtest. This could have been extended to all employees of all other employees.

Between the lines? I'm not even sure my blogging software supports that

On the Paizo thing, it's my understanding that it was Paizo that didn't want them to sign an NDA, not WotC. I've heard before as well that WotC employees aren't allowed to sign NDAs for other gaming companies, so it might be a pretty common practice.

 

[Number48]

My impression, from having read all the tidbits I can but not having been there, is people enjoyed a really fun convention game. The craziness, though, doesn't sound great for a campaign.

 

[davethegame]

My impression, from having read all the tidbits I can but not having been there, is people enjoyed a really fun convention game. The craziness, though, doesn't sound great for a campaign.

I think it's far too early to make that determination - what we ran was a convention demo adventure, based on an early D&D module that was designed as an intro in the first place. Plus the "craziness" was all brought by the players and wasn't anything that would be too out of place in plenty of D&D campaigns I've run... YMMV of course.

 

[Aehrlon]

So, any new news? I hear that the early "Alpha" tests are underway but information is scant at best. Inquiring minds want to know & all that...

 

[Glade Riven]

What I find interesting is that the paladin got hurt bad enough that he was out-of-action for several weeks. A roleplay thing? Maybe. It does suggest that healing is a little tougher to come by.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

Was an interesting read.

One line got my conspiracy mind going thinking "hhmmmm it would be awesome if they did that"

Things to note:
1) Reprinting 1st ed AD&D
2) Hints/allusions to other material being reprinted
3) Modules don't tend to make money
4) Designed to bring players of all editions to the same table
6) "the adventure that most (if not all) the DMs running the playtest was the Caves of Chaos, a portion of the original Keep on the Borderlands adventure. We used the same exact map of the caves, with the statistics updated for the new system. "

What if each of the reprinted modules had an appendix or something that included D&DNext mechanics for the module. Just Reprint Caves of Chaos, and include the monster and NPC stats in the back. Not an update, or a sequel but the actual thing, with notes for Next. Not as much in development costs (if they were going to reprint anyway) so it has a better chance of making more money.

Don't figure it would happen but that would be cool.

 

[Agamon]

What I find interesting is that the paladin got hurt bad enough that he was out-of-action for several weeks. A roleplay thing? Maybe. It does suggest that healing is a little tougher to come by.

This was the big "whoa" part that I read. So the question is:

a) Blood loss = Con loss? Therefore it couldn't be healed normally and required weeks worth of rest without a higher level ability restore spell?

b) There's two kinds of damage, sort of like a fatigue/wounds, where fatigue heals easily through spells and short rests, but wounds do not?

c) The paladin acquired some sort of condition from the blood loss that required the rest?

d) ummm...the very unlikely possibility that there is no magical healing, lol (covering all angles here)

Curious...

Also, why is the pally always getting smacked around like a lazy mule in these anecdotes?

 

[Gundark]

Between the lines? I'm not even sure my blogging software supports that

On the Paizo thing, it's my understanding that it was Paizo that didn't want them to sign an NDA, not WotC. I've heard before as well that WotC employees aren't allowed to sign NDAs for other gaming companies, so it might be a pretty common practice.

After thinking about it I got thinking it was standard practice. Thanks for the clarification. Also a good read thanks.