D&D (2024) One D&D Overly Complex

[Belen]

Am I the only one who enjoyed the relative lack of complexity of 5e? I am not enjoying what I see with the latest play test material or most of it, in general. They seem to be adding a lot of complexity to the game (weapon mastery) etc that I just do not enjoy.

The weapon mastery items would be complex to manage. It creates complexity with weapons and adds a lot of special rules to the game. It is akin to the feat mess from 3.5.

I would rather see some extra spell slots like from high ability scores (1 still feel that 1 9th level spell is lame) than all of the complexity around sorcery points etc. I ended up quitting 3.5/PF1e because of the sheer rules complexity and I see a lot of the same red flags here.

 

[Remathilis]

I thought One D&D was about dumbing down D&D to appeal to the broadest common denominator casuals?

 

[Vaalingrade]

On the one hand, there's a lot of wholly pointless fiddliness to make everything into spells and every caster into wizards.

On the other, I was one of those chased away by the dearth of complexity and interest in 5e Prime. We need more complexity, just not this complexity. PF1 was where it's at in terms of knowing where to apply its complexity.

 

[Charlaquin]

Weapon mastery? Complex? I struggle to imagine a less complex mechanic that differentiates weapons in any meaningful way.

 

[Belen]

I thought One D&D was about dumbing down D&D to appeal to the broadest common denominator casuals?

It just looks exhausting to me when I read through the materials.

Maybe it will work well on their new VTT. I am not against some upgrades. I do miss things like masterwork items and decent crafting rules; however, I liked the simplicity of 5e. It was easy to prep and run. I do not have the time I had in my 20s.

 

[Belen]

On the one hand, there's a lot of wholly pointless fiddliness to make everything into spells and every caster into wizards.

On the other, I was one of those chased away by the dearth of complexity and interest in 5e Prime. We need more complexity, just not this complexity. PF1 was where it's at in terms of knowing where to apply its complexity.

Pf1 was basically 3.5. I got so bored of 3 hour long encounters and rules lawyers.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Weapon mastery? Complex? I struggle to imagine a less complex mechanic that differentiates weapons in any meaningful way.

Just giving them different names and hoping like we had previously?

 

[Morrus]

Fans: They're making it too simple!

Also fans: They're making it too complex!

I guess you'll never please everybody, so you just make the best game you can and accept that whatever you do a third of the people will think it's the best thing ever, a third will think it's the worst thing ever, and a third will not care much either way.

I think the problem is that D&D is designed for a really broad tent, so there's no possible way it can appeal to its entire audience the way a smaller niche game can.

 

[Remathilis]

It just looks exhausting to me when I read through the materials.

Maybe it will work well on their new VTT. I am not against some upgrades. I do miss things like masterwork items and decent crafting rules; however, I liked the simplicity of 5e. It was easy to prep and run. I do not have the time I had in my 20s.

I don't imagine much of that will change. We're looking at things kinda scattershot and moving. I think when it all gels together next year, it will be about the same amount of complex as it is currently.

 

[Charlaquin]

Just giving them different names and hoping like we had previously?

That’s why I stipulated “in any meaningful way.”