D&D (2024) Dungeons and Dragons future? Ray Winninger gives a nod to Mike Shea's proposed changes.

[Micah Sweet]

A cash grab wouldn’t be a change to a cash cow, which the OHB appears to be. Not normally anyway.

If anything they are taking a risk.

What's the OHB?

 

[darjr]

What's the OHB?

PHB.

 

[darjr]

I am constantly bewildered that people play this game 'sober' (not in the 'not-drunk sense, but in the 'completely serious, we are dour men enjoying a stiff brandy and a cigar and laughter shall be confined to harrumphs' sense).

If you're going to get together with your friends to play make believe, I say own it.

I have. Though it’s not my preferred style. It can be fun in a way.

I have also played in campaigns that were not “serious” but also decidedly not “goofy”, which I didn’t completely like either.

 

[Charlaquin]

I don't get why put the restrictions on it then?

Because it wouldn’t have “felt like D&D” without them. Remember, so much of 5e design was ultimately about finding the aesthetic that would bring the 4e haters back.

 

[Argyle King]

The rules compendium was released after the 4E announcement so

Sorta. Regardless, 4E was denied for a while, as books were still squeezed out.

Even after 4E was a sure thing, "ze game will remain ze same" was a big part of early advertising.

 

[Charlaquin]

If you're supposed to have Sneak Attack all the time, what's the point of there being conditions on it at all? Why not just add the damage straight to their attacks as a class feature?

Because then it wouldn’t feel like a rogue.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Because it wouldn’t have “felt like D&D” without them.

Ah, the nail D&D keeps stepping on, but refuses to hammer down or even wear shoes around.

 

[billd91]

Re: Steady Aim and sneak attacking. Dragons tend to be very hard to hide from and are, frankly, terrifying to be around. Being able to gain advantage without hiding is very important for rogues fighting dragons if they want to do some damage.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Because it wouldn’t have “felt like D&D” without them. Remember, so much of 5e design was ultimately about finding the aesthetic that would bring the 4e haters back.

"How do we trick people into playing the game we want to make?"

 

[overgeeked]

I have. Though it’s not my preferred style. It can be fun in a way.

I have also played in campaigns that were not “serious” but also decidedly not “goofy”, which I didn’t completely like either.

I couldn't stand to play an RPG drunk. But then I'm constitutionally incapable of playing an RPG straight or seriously. I simply cannot play these games with a serious, dramatic, or whatever vibe. It's make believe with homework and math rocks. It's inherently silly. I can't take something this silly at all seriously. But then I also can't take most serious things seriously.