D&D 5E 5th ed D&D general impressions from a new player and DM.

[Oofta]

Thanks. Just read through it.

Frankly, it sort of sucks I think and doesn't describe any kind of real play I've see or been part of.

Anyway, thanks for posting.

For what it's worth, I find it ... clumsy as well.

I think the important thing is that everyone needs to find their own style and figure out what works for them and their group. Personally I have no problem with people using shortcuts (i.e. can I make a ___ check). If it's not clear I'll just ask for clarification.

 

[fearsomepirate]

Along the lines of useful things, here is some anydice code I wrote to account for all relevant variables in computing damage curves: chance to hit, advantage/disadvantage, critical chance, and possible reroll of damage dice:

AnyDice

AnyDice is an advanced dice probability calculator, available online. It is created with roleplaying games in mind.

anydice.com

To calculate the damage a longsword-wielding, 20th-level Champion fighter with +14 to hit and +8 damage would do to a monster with 22 AC

CHAMP: [hit 1d20 mod 14 crit 18 dmg 1d8 bonus 8 ac 22]
output CHAMP+CHAMP+CHAMP+CHAMP

You get the idea.

 

[JimmyG]

Rude.

Your the one who cut my post short. I can say it sucks "I think" if I do. Not rude, just honest.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Along the lines of useful things, here is some anydice code I wrote to account for all relevant variables in computing damage curves: chance to hit, advantage/disadvantage, critical chance, and possible reroll of damage dice:

AnyDice

AnyDice is an advanced dice probability calculator, available online. It is created with roleplaying games in mind.

anydice.com

To calculate the damage a longsword-wielding, 20th-level Champion fighter with +14 to hit and +8 damage would do to a monster with 22 AC

CHAMP: [hit 1d20 mod 14 crit 18 dmg 1d8 bonus 8 ac 22]
output CHAMP+CHAMP+CHAMP+CHAMP

You get the idea.

It's a useful website, but I do most of my stuff in excel. Glad you can code in it.

 

[Charlaquin]

Your the one who cut my post short.

I didn’t. I included your whole post.

I can say it sucks "I think" if I do. Not rude, just honest.

It being honest doesn’t make it not rude.

 

[JimmyG]

I didn’t. I included your whole post.

It being honest doesn’t make it not rude.

Fine, then you broke it up. You made it fit your purpose by ending my quote where you wanted with abrupt "sort of sucks" and no more until later. Nice manipulation.

Also, has nothing to do with you.

 

[Charlaquin]

Fine, then you broke it up. You made it fit your purpose by ending my quote where you wanted with abrupt "sort of sucks" and no more until later. Nice manipulation.

I wasn’t manipulating anything, I was inserting my response where it was most relevant. It’s a very common forum communication behavior.

Also, has nothing to do with you.

It’s a public forum. What you post on it is subject to public critique. I found your post to be rude.

 

[Asisreo]

Certainly a lot of people who don’t like the 6-8 encounter adventuring day guideline seem to think that those who do are “treating it as holy writ.” The truth, however, if you look closely at the game’s math, is that the 6-8 encounter adventuring day is simply an underlying assumption the designers used to balance the math. Just like starting with a 16 in your primary ability and increasing to 18 and 20 at levels 4 and 8, just like getting +1, +2, and +3 weapons at levels 5, 11, and 17. None of these things are requirements. The game runs fine even if you don’t follow any of these guidelines. They’re just the assumptions the system math is built around.

I wouldn't call them assumptions, rather an expected average.

I mean, from level 1, the math actually is extremely...off ran the way its said its expected.

A medium encounter from the game at level 1 would be a single encounter bugbear.

Now, I'm not sure if you've ever played through LMoP, but there's an infamous bugbear that definitely DOES NOT feel like a "medium" encounter. Many PCs have fallen due to his impressive 11 average damage against PCs whose health is around 7-13. Meaning he can take out a single PC in a single hit, crits notwithstanding.

Now, imagine a party of level 1 players having to run through 6 of these bugbear encounters and you'd probably TPK after the 3rd one, even with a paladin, cleric, or bard amongst them.

And going higher, at level 10, a medium encounter involves 2 Young White Dragons. Are you certain that an average party can really expect to be fine after 6 of those fights?

Because by my calculations, if the dragons get only their first turn in a round, they can do enough burst damage to take out a cleric's 63 HP and turn what should have been "medium" by calculation into actually deadly basically immediately.

And this is assuming the party was topped off. If the party was in a position where their 5th and 4th level slots are exhausted (basically the 3rd fight in a day), the party is going to have an even harder time and the danger has only remained the same.

I still think the 6-8 encounters is a ceiling for the average player. Sure, a party of optimizers might be able to survive or even surpass this, but I don't believe the game is designed around the hardcore fans.

 

[Charlaquin]

I wouldn't call them assumptions, rather an expected average.

Sure. Seems like 6 of one, half a dozen of the other to me, but I tend to use “assumption” over “expectation” because people tend to read “expectation” as “requirement.”

I mean, from level 1, the math actually is extremely...off ran the way its said its expected.

A medium encounter from the game at level 1 would be a single encounter bugbear.

Now, I'm not sure if you've ever played through LMoP, but there's an infamous bugbear that definitely DOES NOT feel like a "medium" encounter. Many PCs have fallen due to his impressive 11 average damage against PCs whose health is around 7-13. Meaning he can take out a single PC in a single hit, crits notwithstanding.

I do think the math of offensive CR vs. defensive CR is a little wonky, especially at early levels.

Now, imagine a party of level 1 players having to run through 6 of these bugbear encounters and you'd probably TPK after the 3rd one, even with a paladin, cleric, or bard amongst them.

And going higher, at level 10, a medium encounter involves 2 Young White Dragons. Are you certain that an average party can really expect to be fine after 6 of those fights?

Because by my calculations, if the dragons get only their first turn in a round, they can do enough burst damage to take out a cleric's 63 HP and turn what should have been "medium" by calculation into actually deadly basically immediately.

And this is assuming the party was topped off. If the party was in a position where their 5th and 4th level slots are exhausted (basically the 3rd fight in a day), the party is going to have an even harder time and the danger has only remained the same.

I still think the 6-8 encounters is a ceiling for the average player. Sure, a party of optimizers might be able to survive or even surpass this, but I don't believe the game is designed around the hardcore fans.

Right, all of which is why I find it pretty incredible that 5e has a reputation for being “easy mode D&D.” If you follow the adventuring day guidelines, it’s quite deadly.

 

[Asisreo]

Sure. Seems like 6 of one, half a dozen of the other to me, but I tend to use “assumption” over “expectation” because people tend to read “expectation” as “requirement.”

I do think the math of offensive CR vs. defensive CR is a little wonky, especially at early levels.

Right, all of which is why I find it pretty incredible that 5e has a reputation for being “easy mode D&D.” If you follow the adventuring day guidelines, it’s quite deadly.

Personally, I think the 6-8 encounters should serve as the benchmark for hardcore fans and optimizers. Those rare few who have a knack for TTRPG's and Turn Based Combat in general.

However, thats probably an extreme minority. I think roughly 4 encounters of medium difficulty should be more than enough to seriously challenge a party of typical gamers.

But the important part is that interparty balance is something only the DM can truly provide. It requires the DM to be aware of the relative power of each character and the proficiency of each player to use their characters well, and allow them to have spotlight moments in ways that might even have to transcend beyond what a class can provide.