D&D 5E Advanced D&D or "what to minimally fix in 5E?"

[Stormonu]

No, they're just striking out on their own, while I want to keep playing 5E.

I'm not interested ≠ their effort is bad.

One aspect of those efforts can be considered bad or misguided, however. That is if they started out with aims similar to mine - to "fix 5E". Then it represents losing their way if they end up with something new, something other than 5E.

You don't fix 5E by trying to compete with it, is what this boils down to. Most likely, competing with D&D is a fool's errand, as evidenced by the long long trail of the forgotten carcasses of failed D&D heart-breaker games. In the happy case they achieve some modicum of success, it still means that they have split off a fraction of the user base that no longer plays 5E.

Really, why is it a problem to fix it in the core book rather than spend $30+ on a supplement that you're going to end up ignoring a swath of the PHB anyway?

What your asking is akin to using the 1E core books and trying to make Xanathar's work with it. After a certain point, it just doesn't make sense. If you're going to change things, just fix it at the core like each edition of the game has tried to do. Find someone who does it to your liking and go on with that.

 

[FrogReaver]

The issue here is that 5e also retains players. Which means advertising isn't the sole cause of the popularity. There has to be something else. This retention is really hard to explain if 5e is a bad game.

This is my issue. There's 1000 reasons to excuse why it's popular. You can just look at the feedback to my argument for some examples. It amounts to "You mean you don't think it's ignorance?" Or let's blame the bandwagon fallacy. or brand loyalty. Or any other of a slew of ideas throughout the forums here. The only one it can't be is that the game is good.

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the wrong class. I have my qualms with 5e, as I do with every system, but I have fun with it. And everyone I've played with has as well. But then again, maybe I'm in the minority in that I like the systems I play.

i don’t believe long term popularity requires an exceptionally good game, but it sure as heck requires a not-bad game (at least compared to competitors).

 

[ECMO3]

You can't have a preference unless you have something to compare that preference to. There are a huge number of new players who have only played 5e. That doesn't mean 5e is bad, but it does mean 5e can't really be their preference, because one point of data isn't conclusive.

As I stated I don't really believe that is true. I think most new players have played other games and prefer D&D to those other systems.

It is "possible" that is not true, but it is what I believe and what I think.

 

[Distracted DM]

As I stated I don't really believe that is true. I think most new players have played other games and prefer D&D to those other systems.

It is "possible" that is not true, but it is what I believe and what I think.

To be clear, you think most new D&D players have played other TTRPGs before they've played D&D?

 

[Minigiant]

5,e is popular.
Very popular
Some people use that popularity to claim its flaws or incomplete parts are minor or uncommonly spoke about.

But that very popularity means many have spoken about 5e's flaws and and missing bits.

For example it's roster of skills is unbalance. This warps 5e skill use to a few skills which PCs can focus on too easily.

 

[Vaalingrade]

As I stated I don't really believe that is true. I think most new players have played other games and prefer D&D to those other systems.

Which game would this be?

Zoomer favorite Blue Rose? Hasbro's Power Rangers* / Gi Joe / Transformers games? Traveller? FATAL?

It's FATAL isn't it? Yeah, pretty sure it's FATAL.

Proof that after 5e, Hasbro knows how to fulfill class fantasies and offer lush customization.

 

[Zardnaar]

5E the Big Mac of RPGs.

There's probably better RPGs out there but I want a big Mac.

But some hipster insists that their local burger joint is better. But I want a big Mac.

Tbh I don't like big macs maybe cheeseburger might be better.

You may need to cook the Big Mac yourself.

 

[Micah Sweet]

As I stated I don't really believe that is true. I think most new players have played other games and prefer D&D to those other systems.

It is "possible" that is not true, but it is what I believe and what I think.

What other games do you think these new players are familiar with? TTRPG examples, please.

 

[Minigiant]

Which game would this be?

Zoomer favorite Blue Rose? Hasbro's Power Rangers* / Gi Joe / Transformers games? Traveller? FATAL?

It's FATAL isn't it? Yeah, pretty sure it's FATAL.

Proof that after 5e, Hasbro knows how to fulfill class fantasies and offer lush customization.

It's less that Wizards knows how to fulfill class fantasy and offer deep customization and more that they're the only company focusing hard on broad appeal and putting money behind marketing.

Really most RPG designers are selfish in design and put their own desires heavily over broad appeal. And the ones who do attempt brought a pill typically don't have the marketing power or money behind them to come big. Then you get to the fact that many other RPGs straight up copy D&D and don't set themselves apart enough to directly compete with it.

5E has serious flaws but has ZERO competition at being a gateway fantasy RPG.

 

[Maxperson]

No, a new game is (drum roll please) a game that is self-contained: you only need that book or those books to play.

But that branches off from 5E. That's an attempt to start something new. Away from 5E. Something that isn't 5E.

I want to keep playing 5E. I want to play 5E, but better. And so I want an add-on to 5E that doesn't replace the 5E core books. Unless, of course, it is WotC that does the publishing. Best of course would be if the items listed in the first post were incorporated by the official 2024 D&D update!

The game doesn't stay 5e when WotC adds something new, but change away from 5e and become a new game when someone else adds the same thing. If the game is overwhelmingly 5e, but adds some new stuff, like A5e does, it's still 5e. It's not a new game.