D&D 5E Anyone else finding character advancement pretty dull?

[Kite474]

I looked at it - it looks pretty amazing.
Out of interest what do you mean by in the fluff department?

Mostly to do with the prepackaged setting. The default, setting the game comes with tends to go into MAXIMUM EDGE sometimes which is a bit annoying. As it feels like its trying to real hard.

At the same time, fluff is mutable so hey.

 

[ad_hoc]

Vanilla ice cream is by far the best selling flavour of ice cream, yet there aren't too many people who would list it as their favourite. It has two great selling points - firstly, it's a wonderful common ground (group A likes rocky road but not mint choc chip; group B likes mint choc chip... they compromise on vanilla because while it's not their favourite they don't mind it); secondly, it's a really good base for adding other flavours.

D&D 5e of course has a third great selling point - it's much easier to find a group playing D&D than any other RPG. And, indeed, it's much easier to find a group playing 5e than any other edition.

5e is ice cream. Every other RPG is different flavours of sorbet.

We have drifted from the original point. People put a responsibility on 5e to be everything for everyone then complain when it isn't. They will say that it is poorly designed because of this. This is the fault of their expectations, not the game. Not being able to make a particular character concept is not the game's fault.

 

[ad_hoc]

It's probably lucky that that's not my position, then.

I don't pretend to know why 5e is so hugely popular. I doubt anyone truly knows, with the possible exception of WotC.

My best guess is that there almost certainly isn't any one single reason - a lot of things seem to have come together just right for this product at this time. But even that is speculation.

I know a bunch of non-gamers from different social circles who play.

This is anecdotal of course, but they mostly like it because it is inclusive, intuitive, and fast.

 

[pming]

Hiya!

The main reason we're not getting much crunch is because we're collectively letting WotC get away with not providing it.

...or, the main reason we're not getting much crunch is because we're collectively encouraging WotC to not provide it.

That works too.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[Invisible Stalker]

wrong post

 

[Maxperson]

Those are all good things to gain, but the majority of those features are passive bonuses. The only features gained that enable choices are Reckless Attack and Extra Attack, and even those choices are slightly different modes of attacking. You're certainly better at running up and attacking, but you're still running up and attacking, just like you were at level 1.

I don't entirely disagree with you, but I think you and [MENTION=56051]Raith5[/MENTION] might have differing definitions of "significantly changed".

Those are two different things, though. Options do not equal significant change. Compare a level 1 barbarian to a level 7 barbarian and they will be very different, even if the abilities are passive. That's why I said that I can understand wanting to have more choices. Lack of choice doesn't make the two barbarians the same, though. The level 7 barbarian still has more things that he can do and are a part of him. That level 7 barbarian is much better at running up and attacking, due to those active and passive abilities.

 

[Parmandur]

Those are two different things, though. Options do not equal significant change. Compare a level 1 barbarian to a level 7 barbarian and they will be very different, even if the abilities are passive. That's why I said that I can understand wanting to have more choices. Lack of choice doesn't make the two barbarians the same, though. The level 7 barbarian still has more things that he can do and are a part of him. That level 7 barbarian is much better at running up and attacking, due to those active and passive abilities.

Different Subclass powers will have an outsized influence in how two level 7 Barbarians feel in play, as well: in Critical Role, Yasha and Grog Strongjaw feel quite different.

 

[ccs]

The main reason we're not getting much crunch is because we're collectively letting WotC get away with not providing it.

Well, what would you have me do about that?

You've been ***ing at them (or at least about them) on this subject for years now. How's that worked out?
You're frustrated with nothing to show for it.
Why should I join you in that category?

 

[CapnZapp]

If I have any complaint, it's that the levels go by too quickly to actually settle into them.

But that's the easiest thing to change. It is hardly even a house rule.

And if you ditch xp and simply level up your heroes when the DM tells you to, you don't even need that.

If you play at conventions it's one thing, but at home it's the simplest thing in the world to cut progression by half (or 10%, or 90%, or whatever the group prefers)

Literally no balance or gameplay issues arise from playing two adventures on each level instead of one.

Tweaking this is much simpler than, say, introducing a magic item or new subclass. There simply are no consequences down the line, so I have to confess I've always treated this particular complaint with a certain measure of
incredulity.

Best regards,

 

[CapnZapp]

Well, what would you have me do about that?

Does everything have to revolve around you?