What supplemental information do we need most right now?

[Li Shenron]

Build depth.

That is, not a new subclass. That's breadth - it can't be used with an existing character, only when you build a new one.

I want depth. Options and subsystems that add complexity to the build for all characters.

You obviously mean feats

 

[Ymdar]

How about more ... setting sourcebooks? *pinkie finger*

Yeah and making existing setting sourcebooks more interesting *shakes fist at scag*

 

[CapnZapp]

You obviously mean feats

No. That's just more breadth. Sure, you can take both the new feat and an old one (unlike a subclass where you can pick only one per class)... but it is still breadth.

The difference is -

Breadth: add more items to an existing menu of choices.
Depth: add an entirely new menu.

A new menu adds a new decision point to building and levelling up your character. This is what I mean by depth. And we have gotten exactly zero such options so far. Always breadth, never depth.

For instance:
- adding bloodlines or wild talents
- racial levels*
- expanded backgrounds*: your choice of background giving access to unique abilities or perhaps starting gear
- adding a new class framework ("advanced player's handbook") where you don't get bonuses automatically but instead get to choose at each level. Essentially redoing classes to feature fewer automatic class features.
- prestige classes
- etc

*) these suggestions don't actually add any new decision points, but they each add crunch/weight to an existing light-weight one, which is close enough.

 

[Ristamar]

Voted for CLASSES mostly because I'd like to see a finalized rework of the Ranger class, a rework of the Druid class (only hinted at by questions from Mearls on Twitter), and whatever comes from the UA Mystic. I'd also like to see setting specific (sub)classes (Solamnic Knights, Wizards of High Sorcery, Preservers, Defilers, etc) with new mechanics relative to their respective worlds.

 

[Eltab]

I said More Spells, but what I really want is updates of older spells.

5e Dream = old Dream + Nightmare, so I don't need Nightmare any more. But I don't know that if I look for Nightmare first.
Upcasting a low-level spell means I don't need "a Fireball (under another name) at every level" any more.

Elemental specialists are kind of short in the toolbox right now (as noted above). Emotion-manipulators are also. There should be conversion steps - or an example - to turn Fireball into Coldball, Forceball, and all the other damage types. So not all Wizards look alike.


Something else desired is a way to convert spells into ritual-castings or into something like 3e's Incantations.

 

[Sacrosanct]

For instance:
- adding bloodlines or wild talents
- racial levels*
- expanded backgrounds*: your choice of background giving access to unique abilities or perhaps starting gear
- adding a new class framework ("advanced player's handbook") where you don't get bonuses automatically but instead get to choose at each level. Essentially redoing classes to feature fewer automatic class features.
- prestige classes
- etc

.

So you're basically asking for a rewrite of the rules so expansive that it would be an entirely new edition? I say that because I don't see how you can get what you're asking without completely overwriting the existing rules. For example, with your background changes, all existing backgrounds would be moot because you're adding a ton of power to your suggestion. Same with racial levels, prestige classes, etc. Those are all major things that have a significant impact to the existing structure.

Needless to say, I don't agree that what 5e needs the most right now is a rewrite second edition. But obviously opinions vary.


*********************

Back to the op...

I voted feats, but into that I'd also like to see more things like BM fighter maneuvers. Basically, more options for existing PCs to expand customization. I don't see any need to alter the actual rules or mechanics at all.

 

[Li Shenron]

No. That's just more breadth. Sure, you can take both the new feat and an old one (unlike a subclass where you can pick only one per class)... but it is still breadth.

The difference is -

Breadth: add more items to an existing menu of choices.
Depth: add an entirely new menu.

A new menu adds a new decision point to building and levelling up your character. This is what I mean by depth. And we have gotten exactly zero such options so far. Always breadth, never depth.

For instance...

Oh I see what you mean... I thought that feats qualified to " can be used with an existing character" and "add complexity to the build for all characters" (when compared to the ASI alternative).

But entirely new frameworks on top of the current ones? Sorry, not gonna happen. We may get alternate class features (mildly probable) or prestige classes (minimally probable) but we won't likely ever get anything that adds on top of the existing frameworks because they would render characters that use those straight better than characters who don't, while one of the founding principles of 5e is the coexistence of characters of different complexity at the same table. I don't think WotC wants to embark in the design of a framework that would separate players into incompatible gaming groups, and the target audience of which will be particularly demanding in terms of game balance, meaning such design would be more costly than valuable.

 

[Li Shenron]

I voted feats, but into that I'd also like to see more things like BM fighter maneuvers. Basically, more options for existing PCs to expand customization. I don't see any need to alter the actual rules or mechanics at all.

Well it wasn't a poll option, but I totally second your opinion on those!

More maneuvers for fighters, more totem animals for barbarians, more elemental powers for monks, more hunter's abilities for rangers, more metamagic for sorcerers, more pact boons for warlocks... it's ok whether they are class or subclass options.

 

[Satyrn]

Admittedly, I wouldn't mind seeing more Backgrounds, but I'm taking the PHB's advice to heart and just letting players craft their own. By RAW, backgrounds are completely customizable anyways.

Aye. I'd like ever more personality traits, though. Bonds, ideals and flaws, too. Like a whole set of them for each class (maybe even subclass) so I have a greater variety of choices to draw inspiration from.

Did Mord's Tome provide sets for more than just the gnome? I haven't read it yet.

 

[Legatus Legionis]

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