D&D 5E Tired of doing WotC's job

[DND_Reborn]

I don't mean to be as dismissive as some of the other posters in this thread... but, honestly, if there are older versions of the D&D rules that contain the rules you need, that feel more comfortable for you, that work better for you, then by all means play those versions.

I'm running an AD&D 2e game right now. My next D&D game is going to be a horrible kludge of BECMI and Player's Option. There are groups still playing 4e, still playing 3.X and PF1, playing PF2, playing AD&D, and playing Classic. There are communities dedicated to keeping those games alive.

I ran a game of 5e for a few months, and I don't like it and I won't run it again... and my friends are still pissed at me for asking them to buy the books. You don't have to love the most current version of D&D to love D&D, just because it's the most current version and the most popular version (ever); you can love the D&D that you love, and you can find people to play it with you, and you're still a D&D fan.

Oh, it is fine. I expected the bulk of responses to be "the game is designed that way" and "it isn't a bug" and "it is what I love most about 5E". So, not big surprise as to the nature of most of the responses. For me it is like I have a person build a custom furniture, but they leave it unpainted and tell me "hey, I left it that way so you can paint it with whatever color you want." So people would say that is fine and enjoy painting it. I expect the work to be finished and 5E simply is not to my taste.

And yes, I have every intention of running earlier versions which were more robust in systems, rules, and content. I have multiple copies of the books, so I can give other players those. I ran a 1E session a couple times for one of the players, and he really loved it. I hope the others will enjoy it (and 2E etc.) as much.

So, as long as I can find players for it, I'll play other versions of D&D. If one of the other guys wants to keep running 5E, I don't mind playing it as much because if they want deal with the holes (a.k.a. the beloved design aspect others rave over) I'll leave it to them.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Is the OP's post satirical or serious? I really can't tell which.

Yes, completely serious.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Assuming this wasn't a joke, I wish the OP luck. I don't think what he's asking for exists, but I could be wrong. Personally I like leaving some decisions up to the DM. But no game can be right for everyone.

But I was also trying to remember if any edition ever had a price list for a cloak. Only place I could think was Aurora's Whole Realm Catalogue back in 2E. Which answered other such burning questions such as "how much is a pair of pliers or Turmish brick cheese?"

I think 5E is great in a lot of ways, it just feel incomplete. I know it was meant to be, but there are too many things I keep running up against that was included in other editions.

1E and 2E both had cloaks. And boots, belts, etc. (What can I say, I like to accessorize LOL). 2E went much further with the Arms and Equipment Guide, but at least they were there.

The point is a simple table of maybe a couple inches in the book could have had 15-20 pieces of clothing to base the rest on.

 

[TwoSix]

Your posts have always been thoughtful and enjoyable; I hope you continue to post even if you move on to other systems.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

@dnd4vr I get where you're coming from because this is exactly how I felt about 5e when it came out. I had been used to having full stats provided for every encounter, and now I can only get a bolded word telling me to look it up. The options for characters are very simple and narrow. The details are vague and sketchy. Everything built into previous editions is not coming back unless I do it myself.

So, I went looking elsewhere and tried other systems for a change. Not just dnd clones or spinoffs, either. I looked for something completely different to take me as far away from this game as possible. I finally settled on the Star Wars RPG from FFG. It was great! It was so different and innovative. But the first thing I had to learn was to stop playing it like DnD.

Years later, I am back to give DnD another try. But this time, I had a new perspective and appreciation for what 5e is and what it isn't. First, it is not the be all/end all of game systems or editions. There are much better systems out there to give you a different kind of game and a different kind of experience. And that's a good thing. 5e only need to do DnD well, and for the most part, it does.

As far as WotC pulling their weight, I can understand why they have taken this new approach. They've done the work before and it never played out so well. They can't make everyone happy because everyone wants different things. This is the unburdened edition now. Less is more, and let DMs be DMs. They won't waste time to fill in all the gaps because we always tend to fill in our own, anyway.

Those of us who have been around a while already have a wealth of experience and materials to mine and utilize for our games, while newcomers are blissfully unfettered by the weight of past edition bloats and controversies.

What I learned from another game system was how to improvise more in the moment and not worry about having everything prescribed and predetermined for me in advance. Perhaps this edition could use more of that. But that is something you don't need to learn specifically from one author, or company, or even a product. There are a lot of great games with a lot of great ideas out there past the DnD veil. The slow release for this game ensures it will still be here when you're ready to get back!

 

[Ruin Explorer]

The one good thing with playing a D&D-type game is, if you don't enjoy it, there are a whole bunch of other D&D-type games, and you probably will like one of them!

I heartily recommend Dungeon World, by the way, as a break from D&D.

 

[Oofta]

I think 5E is great in a lot of ways, it just feel incomplete. I know it was meant to be, but there are too many things I keep running up against that was included in other editions.

1E and 2E both had cloaks. And boots, belts, etc. (What can I say, I like to accessorize LOL). 2E went much further with the Arms and Equipment Guide, but at least they were there.

The point is a simple table of maybe a couple inches in the book could have had 15-20 pieces of clothing to base the rest on.

Where does it end? I would just say that cloaks have been subsumed into other gear in 5E, in particular traveler's gear. That doesn't mean you can't have a cloak. It's just such a miscellaneous thing that it doesn't matter. Just like we don't have a half dozen or more types of polearms. There are always going to be compromises on what belongs in the book and what doesn't.

For you it's a cloak, for someone else it's exotic cheeses or details on all the equipment needed for setting up a bakery. In Aurora's they tried that. Take a look at just the clothing list

Spoiler

Underclothes
Bustles • Fullcloth • Hosiery • Hose supporters • Loincloth • Lounging robes • Nightshirts • Money belt • Stockings
Overclothes
Breeches • Cannons • Chemise • Codpiece • Cote • Doublet • Dress • Girdle
Outerclothes
Belts • Capes • Caps and hats • Cloaks • Gloves and mittens • Hoods • Jerkins • Purses • Robes • Sashes • Scarves and mufflers • Surcoats • Suspenders • Tabards • Togas
Footwear
Baby shoes • Dancing shoes • Dwarf boots • Elf shoes • High boots • Hip boots • Low boots • Moccasins • Orc-spiker boots • Riding boot • Sandals • Slippers • Snowshoes (clothing) • Tabi

I mean, I really need to know what a Cote is and how much it costs. Of course you could probably get a PDF version of Aurora's and just use it with some minor tweaking here and there.

No game can cover every option. Then again no game is for everyone. Good luck!

P.S. I'm not arguing with you or trying to persuade you one way or another. It's just ... interesting reason.

P.P.S. Has any edition ever discussed how you detect lycanthropy in detail?

 

[Umbran]

And you definitely should not be sitting in the Game Masters seat.

Mod Note:

So... this was insulting and inappropriate. Please take your assumed privilege and authority to gatekeep the hobby to some other site in the future.

 

[dave2008]

The point is a simple table of maybe a couple inches in the book could have had 15-20 pieces of clothing to base the rest on.

Someone already pointed out that there are costs and weights for different types of clothing in the books (PHB pg 150) which does what your asking for in this statement.

However, having seen many of your posts, I don't think it was one specific thing. I do find it interesting what you think is missing though. They seem like frivolous things to me, but we all have our own expectations and desires. Personally, I find 5e to require the fewest house rules of any D&D I have played yet. We had up to 20 pages in 1e, 2+ pages in 4e, and about 1 page in 5e.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

They seem like frivolous things to me, but we all have our own expectations and desires.

For sure everything seem "frivolous" to somebody. Even pretty major rules-systems being missing from certain RPGs are frequently defended, because other people don't see the need. Which is fine.

Personally I do think that 5E's equipment section is a bit sad/lacking, and it's a bit weird some of the stuff that's missing, but I don't think it's a major issue.

My experience with 5E is similar to yours re: house rules. I've needed decreasing numbers in every edition. We had multiple pages in 2E, a few pages in 3E, less than a page in 4E (mostly "this still works the way it did before it was errata'd" for certain abilities, and a couple of nerfs), and none in 5E, right now.