D&D 5E Where is D&D Headed Next (Wired.com)

[AntiStateQuixote]

I’d say that in general, the game has the open-ended nature of AD&D, the character flexibility of 3e, and the clarity and ease of DMing of 4e.

If this is true, we win!

Where Is D&D Headed Next? An Update with Mike Mearls ... And the Public Playtest Begins | GeekDad | Wired.com

 

[nnms]

That is quite the claim to make. I hope it does end up being true.

 

[Kinak]

That is quite the claim to make. I hope it does end up being true.

I'd love to see that. Even if I never played it, and I probably would, I'd love to see it from a design standpoint.

Or, you might want to play a charlatan who excels at deceit and, through trial, error, and practice, learns how to use scrolls, wands, and other magic items.

Heh. I like them folding Use Magic Device into a charlatan mold. That's clever.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Kzach]

If you’ve been following role-playing game news, you know that the fate of Dungeons & Dragons is somewhat in peril.

I'm seriously sick of seeing people repeat this mantra over and over and over again without any scrap of evidence to support it. If it's true, all fine and good, but my beef with these claims is that there isn't any proof whatsoever of whether D&D is doing well or doing poorly.

It's driving me insane.

 

[Kaodi]

Wizards is giving D&D a makeover, its first overhaul since 2008, when 4.0 was released and, some say, further fractured the fan base.

Is anyone else becoming increasingly annoyed by how poorly this phrase is used these days? I mean really, the first overhaul since the last overhaul? Give me a break.

 

[Sunseeker]

I'm seriously sick of seeing people repeat this mantra over and over and over again without any scrap of evidence to support it. If it's true, all fine and good, but my beef with these claims is that there isn't any proof whatsoever of whether D&D is doing well or doing poorly.

It's driving me insane.

WoW has 10 million subscribers, it rakes in billions of dollars annually. Activision/Blizzard produces some of the most popular titles in gaming.

Yet every time there's a bump in the road people cry out that the sky is falling and dark times are upon us.

Gamers are a flighty bunch.

 

[soulcatcher78]

Schemes definitely sound like something I can get behind for the Rogues! It's nice to see that they aren't expecting cookie cutter characters (Wizard who is an explorer, Fighter who is a thief).

Is it Thursday yet?

 

[Ratskinner]

I must say I'm a little confused...

First, we read:

In general, we’re pushing more power into the DM’s hands to run the sort of campaign that he or she prefers.

and then we read:

...and the best parts of D&D — creativity at the table, the DM’s ability to create a unique game — were consistent in all editions.

So....all previous editions have given the DM inadequate power to create a unique campaign that he or she prefers? I'll just say that doesn't match my experience. (Not that D&D has ever been perfect in this regard...)

Nonetheless, I like the general tone and direction of their thinking. I just hope that little inconsistencies like that above are the result of Mike holding seven or so versions of "don't offend fans of X" in his head while trying to speak honestly. Here's hoping they crank out the best version of this game, yet.

 

[fuzzlewump]

I'm seriously sick of seeing people repeat this mantra over and over and over again without any scrap of evidence to support it. If it's true, all fine and good, but my beef with these claims is that there isn't any proof whatsoever of whether D&D is doing well or doing poorly.

It's driving me insane.

Must spread XP around!

Also, what claim are you guys talking about, that you want to be true? That this is the time to be heard and make an impression on the rules?

 

[Kinak]

Also, what claim are you guys talking about, that you want to be true? That this is the time to be heard and make an impression on the rules?

The quoted one from the first post:

I’d say that in general, the game has the open-ended nature of AD&D, the character flexibility of 3e, and the clarity and ease of DMing of 4e.

Which actually sounds a little doable the more I think about it. Sacrifice a little rules clarity for the open-ended nature, sacrifice some balance for flexibility, and sacrifice... uhhh... I'm sure there's something for the ease of DMing.

Frankly, I'd take all those trades. I'd add "normal monsters as easy to run as OD&D," but I can houserule that in without much trouble.

Cheers!
Kinak