Unearthed Arcana Poll: How will the US Class Feature Variants be brought to Market?

[Sunsword]

To sell another book of options, as with XGtE or any of the Setting books, simple enough. These are fully compatible with 5E as-is, being an exceptions based system, and doesn't entail a re-writing the way a .5 edition would be. Whats more, 3.5 was apparently a bit of a disaster marketing wise, so WotC has discounted that as a future possibility.

DnD 4E Essentials was 4.5. And 3.5 wasn't a disaster, it spawned Pathfinder. I think we just disagree and I'm content with that. I don't see them as exception-based, they are buffs to existing classes. Applying these changes is a big deal, IMO. If they are beginning to expand internationally then what better time to make these changes? As someone who has seen WotC make terrible decisions with Magic: the Gathering, I won't assume they won't make 5.5.

 

[Leatherhead]

It's not 5.5 edition.
It's Advanced 5th edition!

 

[Sunsword]

1. Re-released PHB, that incorporates these changes into a re-printing. I really doubt it is this because it will make people confused and talk about "Is this 5.5?" but it is also not unprecedented in game systems. Hey, Tyranny of Dragons just happened too.

That option is 5.5, pure and simple. I've watched WotC do their darndest to destroy Magic: the Gathering at the local store level in the last 2 years. I don't trust them because of Hasbro has some kind of mandate, they will follow it. I do respect the team running D&D more than M:tG, but those enhancement, IMO, spell trouble.

Even, if it's just Xanathar 2, tables will have to figure which version to play and it will impact organized play and it might cause more casual players and new DM's to get confused and possibly lose interest.

Either way, I don't like the enhancements. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ad_hoc]

God, no. Beyond not wanting it, though, they won't do that. PHB+1, however, is a solid design strategy. This stuff is +1 material.

Designing assuming that players might only have the PHB is good design.

Designing assuming that players are not allowed to use any books other than the one you are making is not. Which is what I was responding to. The idea was to make the book the new PHB so that people could use these new rules along with a +1 book.

99% of players are not in that situation.

 

[ad_hoc]

As far as making this as part of a new supplement I am all for it.

If the next Xanathar's was just more of the same sorts of options - spells, subclasses, feats, races, etc. I wouldn't buy it.

I'd probably buy something with this and more rules modules and such (Xanathar's downtime rules was a good thing to add).

 

[Parmandur]

As far as making this as part of a new supplement I am all for it.

If the next Xanathar's was just more of the same sorts of options - spells, subclasses, feats, races, etc. I wouldn't buy it.

I'd probably buy something with this and more rules modules and such (Xanathar's downtime rules was a good thing to add).

If it is XGtE2, I'd expect to see a Mass Combat rules test soon.

 

[Parmandur]

Designing assuming that players might only have the PHB is good design.

Designing assuming that players are not allowed to use any books other than the one you are making is not. Which is what I was responding to. The idea was to make the book the new PHB so that people could use these new rules along with a +1 book.

99% of players are not in that situation.

You'd be surprised at what different tables do.

Listening to Mearls go through the design process in the Happy Fun Hour, focusing on PHB+1 as the design assumption is helpful for balance.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Well, we do have a fairly detailed overview of the multiverse in the Core books to start with, and heavy deep dives are well suited to Adventure products like Descent to Avernus. A new book containing a multiverse Gazeeter, however, inevitably with Sigil in the center as Sharn is in RftLW based on what we have already outlined in the DMG, seems like any play options and monsters would be...Planescape options, basically by default.

Sure, but I don’t think any book will center Planescape. The core books are planescape books.

 

[Parmandur]

DnD 4E Essentials was 4.5. And 3.5 wasn't a disaster, it spawned Pathfinder. I think we just disagree and I'm content with that. I don't see them as exception-based, they are buffs to existing classes. Applying these changes is a big deal, IMO. If they are beginning to expand internationally then what better time to make these changes? As someone who has seen WotC make terrible decisions with Magic: the Gathering, I won't assume they won't make 5.5.

3.5 leading to Pathfinder within 5 years was a failure state. WotC has gone over the reasons they won't do a "5.5" many times, but it boils down to it being bad business to do so. Hasbro wouldn't want them to do that, because of the bottom line. If corporate mandates anything at this point, it will be Edition conservativism because it has been what works so far.

These new options aren't unbalanced with what came before. A handful of variants for each Class and some retraining rules a new edition do not make.

 

[Parmandur]

Sure, but I don’t think any book will center Planescape. The core books are planescape books.

Certainly more Planescape than they are Forgotten Realms, funny enough.

Now, Planescape is a top tier setting for D&D, in terms of popularity. If Setting books continue to do well for WotC, a book focusing on the Factions and Sigil with planar monsters and player options seems likely sooner or later.