D&D 5E So... what happened during the playtests?

[Plaguescarred]

IIRC Proficiecncy dice was one of them.

 

[Sacrosanct]

IIRC Proficiecncy dice was one of them.

Yes! That was one of them he wanted to keep. Thank you.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Another thing I miss were specialties. They sort of went to feats, but I've always been a fan of more broad feat groups than individual feats like 3e. The end result in 5e is sort of in between the initial playtest and 3e. Which isn't bad, and I like, but I liked the original specialties better.

Everyone got a speciality, and you got a predetermined feat at levels 1, 3, 6, and 9.

For example, an archer got rapid shot at level 1, and sniper at level 3. An acolyte got cantrips at level 1, and sanctified weapon at level 3, etc.

I know it comes down to personal preference, but I've always like packages vs individual customization. it makes PC gen much faster IMO. But again YMMV

 

[Magil]

Another thing I miss were specialties. They sort of went to feats, but I've always been a fan of more broad feat groups than individual feats like 3e. The end result in 5e is sort of in between the initial playtest and 3e. Which isn't bad, and I like, but I liked the original specialties better.

Everyone got a speciality, and you got a predetermined feat at levels 1, 3, 6, and 9.

For example, an archer got rapid shot at level 1, and sniper at level 3. An acolyte got cantrips at level 1, and sanctified weapon at level 3, etc.

I know it comes down to personal preference, but I've always like packages vs individual customization. it makes PC gen much faster IMO. But again YMMV

I would've been fine with those if they were presented as optional packages, with the option for players to pick and choose individually if they so desired. Kinda like how backgrounds ended up (though I know a lot of people don't seem to even realize you can customize your background skills and feature however you want). I do feel there needs to be an option for individual choice there.

IIRC Proficiecncy dice was one of them.

Proficiency dice always struck me as "rolling dice just for the sake of rolling dice". I get that it's a dice-based game... but too much rolling slows down play and is frankly annoying. Glad that's one thing they didn't keep.

 

[Gnarl45]

I wish my memory of details, and/or my desire to spend the time researching for that matter, were stronger. In either case, I would bother to list a few items MM specifically identified as being included in the final product that his personal preferences ran counter to. But instead popular opinion forced him to rethink some of his ideas and he gave us what we wanted because of it.

You're absolutely right. I clearly remember he said he preferred skill dice but he had to ditch them (and that they would be an optional module in the DMG).

But hey, maybe my laziness and fuzzy memory will help you retain your belief that he got everything he wanted after all. So, good news for you.

I'm not saying Mr Mearls got what he wanted! I'm just saying that he only used the surveys to make his decisions and that the online discussions ended up not mattering.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Jester David]

I'm not saying Mr Mearls got what he wanted! I'm just saying that he only used the surveys to make his decisions and that the online discussions ended up not mattering.

Online discussions are a group of 4-10 people with fringe opinions howling at each other over minutiae and is *really* not representative if the general fanbase. There's a poor signal : noise ratio and a lot of squeaky wheels.
It's not worth paying real attention to.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Proficiency dice always struck me as "rolling dice just for the sake of rolling dice". I get that it's a dice-based game... but too much rolling slows down play and is frankly annoying. Glad that's one thing they didn't keep.

Yeah too much rolling and i wasn't a fan neither, i didn't like the variability that it was procuring to the proficiency system and prefer to have a stable bonus instead.

 

[ChrisCarlson]

I'm not saying Mr Mearls got what he wanted! I'm just saying that he only used the surveys to make his decisions and that the online discussions ended up not mattering.

Are you of the opinion that there were people passionate enough to post opinions online that were not also contributing to the playetest feedback? And if so, in large enough numbers as to be significant?

 

[ChrisCarlson]

Online discussions are a group of 4-10 people with fringe opinions howling at each other over minutiae and is *really* not representative if the general fanbase. There's a poor signal : noise ratio and a lot of squeaky wheels.
It's not worth paying real attention to.

Heck, the devs made a point of not participating in their own company's discussion forums related to the very product they were working on. For various reasons. What you describe being just one of them.