The playtest has begun

[the Jester]

I had about a two-hour wait/keep tryin' session (using all the recommendations above!) before I finally got the zip file from that Google docs link.

Diving in now... I plan to go print everything out on my way to today's game. Need time to read it all. Aargh. Today has too much gaming-related stuff going on!!

 

[Oni]

Got to say I'm not exactly impressed, and I haven't even had a chance to look at the playtest stuff yet. WotC, how you do things matters.

 

[Morrus]

I like it a lot. I love the spell and monster formats. I love what they did with advantage/disadvantage (that will influence player action much more than a +/-2 modifier ever did), and I'm glad they decided minor stuff like drawing weapons, opening unlocked doors etc. was just free as part of your action. I also like the way your move can start before your action and continue after it. The at-will cantrips which are pretty much reflavoured Xbows work for me too.

I did notice the wizard and cleric both had a 2nd level ranged attack spell which seemed almost identical in all but name - same damage etc. Not keen on that. Also not keen on the "any healing takes you up from zero" thing; mortally wounded one minute, a tiny poultice and you're running around the next.

Glad to see subraces for elf, dwarf, and halfling.

The contests mechanic needs clarification. If both are attempting a task which either could fail, the rules as stated say the higher roll succeeds, even if it would normally fail. Say, both trying to climb a wall or something. First to open a jam jar.

All in all, I'm pleased. I know it's far from final, but it's going in the right direction for me.

 

[nedjer]

Now it wants me to create a whole new account from scratch - wtf?

 

[Maccwar]

One does have to give credit to WOTC for their commitment to total and utter technical incompetence. Others can only aspire to their ability to totally and utterly muck up the simplest of tasks.

Given that the download troubleshooting thread on the WoTC site has had almost 30,000 views at the time of writing I think there might be quite a high demand.

Anyway ... the download worked for me four hours ago.

I can't wait to take 5e for a spin.

 

[TerraDave]

I like it a lot. I love the spell and monster formats. I love what they did with advantage/disadvantage (that will influence player action much more than a +/-2 modifier ever did), and I'm glad they decided minor stuff like drawing weapons, opening unlocked doors etc. was just free as part of your action. I also like the way your move can start before your action and continue after it. The at-will cantrips which are pretty much reflavoured Xbows work for me too.

I did notice the wizard and cleric both had a 2nd level ranged attack spell which seemed almost identical in all but name - same damage etc. Not keen on that. Also not keen on the "any healing takes you up from zero" thing; mortally wounded one minute, a tiny poultice and you're running around the next.

Glad to see subraces for elf, dwarf, and halfling.

The contests mechanic needs clarification. If both are attempting a task which either could fail, the rules as stated say the higher roll succeeds, even if it would normally fail. Say, both trying to climb a wall or something. First to open a jam jar.

All in all, I'm pleased. I know it's far from final, but it's going in the right direction for me.

I am feeling the love.

I like the tone, the attitude, the approach, the writing style.

Its been a while.

But I think we need some new threads.

 

[nedjer]

Given that the download troubleshooting thread on the WoTC site has had almost 30,000 views at the time of writing I think there might be quite a high demand.

Anyway ... the download worked for me four hours ago.

I can't wait to take 5e for a spin.

There's still a sunny evening out there, so I'm back off outside for a couple of hours. Maybe then.

30,000 views is peanuts to cloud servers, so it may be something other than volume that's causing the delay.

 

[vagabundo]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see any difference between calling for an ability check and a saving throw.

Both use the ability modifier and both use a DC set by the DM (unless there is an opposed roll of course).

Seems no point in calling it a saving throw really.

 

[Gamer McSmartypants]

...

 

[El Mahdi]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see any difference between calling for an ability check and a saving throw.

Both use the ability modifier and both use a DC set by the DM (unless there is an opposed roll of course).

Seems no point in calling it a saving throw really.

It may just be a matter of "language" for ease of understanding, both for Players and DM's...even though they may use the same mechanic. I simply see it as an Ability Check is when you're trying to do something, and a Save is when you're reacting to something.