D&D 5E Cosmetic Changes You'd Like to See

[the Jester]

I hate the name D&D Next. I wish it would stop being called that.

Oh God yes, talk about instantly dating itself as soon as there's a hint of a 6e.

 

[Li Shenron]

I would like diagonals to be back to being diagonals.

 

[Li Shenron]

I like a return to the old style of book. I loved 3e's "tome" style, the 4e whiteboard style just felt clinical at times, and cartoony at others.

I really support this too. I still remember the sense of wonder when I browsed the 3.0 PHB, and it was not even that much tome-style... it could be even more!

 

[hbarsquared]

Cosmetic changes, another vote for "time style," both exterior and interior.

Cracked leather, gilded and beclasped... I loved the 3e books, and the new ones. Old parchment, sketches, and cool fonts for the pages, also evocative. 4e was definitely too clinical, too "whiteboard," as someone said, for me. More immersion, please.

 

[Sunseeker]

Cosmetic changes, another vote for "time style," both exterior and interior.

Cracked leather, gilded and beclasped... I loved the 3e books, and the new ones. Old parchment, sketches, and cool fonts for the pages, also evocative. 4e was definitely too clinical, too "whiteboard," as someone said, for me. More immersion, please.

I'd love this too, and I'd be totally down for some "Special Editions" bound in real leather, with real metal clasps locking the book shut.

 

[Klaus]

I don't want a return to the "faux tome" covers. I'd rather have great evocative art, like the 1e Dungeon Master's Guide (the Easley one), or the Red Box (by Elmore). Or, to use a recent example, the 4e Character Record Sheets, by Wayne Reynolds (why THAT wasn't the 4e PHB cover is still beyond me).

 

[amerigoV]

I like a return to the old style of book. I loved 3e's "tome" style, the 4e whiteboard style just felt clinical at times, and cartoony at others.

100% agree. I only have a few 4e books and they rarely make the cut for "bathroom reading", and a good part of that is the style of the books (plus I did not get into 4e - but I can still mine for ideas while on the Throne). I got Menzo for Xmas (editionless), and it just not look right up there with all my 3e FR books with its sky/caribbean blue colored cover. And the whiteboard looks seems really odd for a book about the Underdark, Drow, and running evil campaigns (do you sense a theme here? its not florescent white or sky blue...).

4e Dark sun is the same way on the inside. This a post apoc setting, but all the powers and such have such clean lines, bright colors, etc. Very sanitary and bright. The bright might fit the world theme, but crisp and clean does not. As a comparison, I got Pinnacles Hell on Earth (updated for their Savage Worlds system) recently - and everything about the book -- fonts, framing, art, layout -- added to the post apoc feeling of the setting. I just do not understand how a company the size of Wizards/Hasbro can just fumble that kind of stuff away and a small shop nails it right on the head. If there is any advantage that Wizards should have its the ability to make top notch products from a look/feel/theme given the economy of size for their print runs.

 

[JeffB]

I don't want a return to the "faux tome" covers.

+1.

No more marbles, tin foil, and college rule paper for me, thanks.

 

[Shemeska]

I want books that are fun to read as well as use, and this means condemning anything filled with white space and looking like a sterile college math textbook to somewhere below the ice in Stygia.

Also I'd love to see something not promoted as "editionless" when it only refers to the rules or lack thereof, while the fluff content is squarely in one edition's rather divergent continuity.

More full-page or two page artwork. WotC moved away from that in 3e, but to its credit went back in that direction in 4e. That's one thing I'd like to see more of, especially for chapter openings.

 

[steeldragons]

I hate the name D&D Next. I wish it would stop being called that.

Oh God yes, talk about instantly dating itself as soon as there's a hint of a 6e.

Oh Gods, yes, times a hundred. Can't stand it.

Might as well have called it "D&D X-treeeeeeme!" with a big splashy Mountain Dew banner across the cover...and Red Bull, of course. Red Bull being the apparent endorser of all things x-treeeeeme. The box cover could be a warrior, coming off a half-pipe using a shield as a snowboard and attacking a giant red bull.

Is it edgy enough? OO! How 'bout both? "D&D NEXXXTREEEEEEM!" We're hip. We're aware of the cool lingo of young folks.

Just shoot me. You're trying too hard and it's painfully obvious. Call it 5e and leave it alone. Make the game great. It doesn't need a hokey label.