D&D (2024) Command is the Perfect Encapsulation of Everything I Don't Like About 5.5e

[Lanefan]

Sure, if you have a stable group that's been gaming together for two decades? Of course this is a total non-issue for you.

But, I'm going to suggest that the majority of groups out there have a half-life of three years or less. Five years at the absolute outside. Granted, me and one other in my group have been gaming together for the better part of twenty years, but, in that time, we've seen well over a hundred players pass through our table. And that's not an exaggeration. We actually tallied it up some years ago, and, yup, over a hundred players have passed through our table in the past twenty years.

Wow, and I thought I had player turnover.

Even more reason to make sure you're recording your rulings and houserules etc. as you go. And yes, this means that over the long run you'll probably rewrite or augment most of the spell write-ups in the PH. So be it.

Our longest unchanged group was about five years. But, heck, in the past three years I've had over a dozen different players cross my table. My current group, barring myself and the one other player, have only been gaming together for less than a year. Our dreaded "fifth seat" strikes inevitably. Every time we get a fifth player, someone leaves the group. 99% of the time amicably I should add. Just life stepping in. But, yeah, again, if your perspective is that groups are long standing like that, sure, we're not going to be coming at this from the same direction.

Spinal Tap drummers gonna Spinal Tap drummer, eh.

 

[the Jester]

I think the crux of the issue is that on the DM side it was clearly designed for first and second edition DMs. But first and second edition DMs for the most part did not stick with the game or switch over at all.

5e somehow attracted audience much different from what it was designed for due to its ease of playing.

I think it was clearly designed for dms and players from all editions, as a "best of DnD" edition.

Again, though, do you have any evidence that the lion's share of 1e and 2e dms didn't stick with it? I have never seen any kind of study or anything.

 

[the Jester]

Again

Expectations

Most 5e DMs do not like older edition play.

I have no idea where you're getting this from. Every 5e DM I know loves older editions, even if maybe not every edition.

 

[Minigiant]

It's just that it implies that everyone has a preference for how much they like the rules to be vague/codified. It's a spectrum and different people fall on various places in the spectrum. It's not that more codified = "rules that work," because things can be so codified that they become a "step too far." A step too far, in that that the codified rules of 4e did not allow for creativity and versatility for some. The OP of this discussion is simply stating that 5.5 goes too far in one direction for them.

I go back to what I said earlier.

D&D today is more diverse in demographics, genre, and tone than it's ever been.

WOTC struggles with the fact that they want all but can't provide a "one side fits all" option. And there is a prevailing thought amongst many D&D fans that their way is the best way and avoids most problems.

I have no idea where you're getting this from. Every 5e DM I know loves older editions, even if maybe not every edition.

I personally know of more than 2 DMs who hate everything before 4e.

 

[KYRON45]

I go back to what I said earlier.

D&D today is more diverse in demographics, genre, and tone than it's ever been.

WOTC struggles with the fact that they want all but can't provide a "one side fits all" option. And there is a prevailing thought amongst many D&D fans that their way is the best way and avoids most problems.



I personally know of more than 2 DMs who hate everything before 4e.

Do they hate the older stuff because they have tried them and it didn't suit them?
Do they hate the older stuff because it's cool to hate things?
Do they hate the older stuff because most younger people look down on most of what came before them?
I think you might need a larger sample size.

 

[Belen]

I personally know of more than 2 DMs who hate everything before 4e.

So 4e fans that are still angry that they were abandoned?

 

[Minigiant]

So 4e fans that are still angry that they were abandoned?

Only one of them played 4e before 5e. And he barely followed any of the rules.

 

[KYRON45]

Only one of them played 4e before 5e. And he barely followed any of the rules.

Isn’t possible that you guys just don’t like D&D?

 

[DinoInDisguise]

Isn’t possible that you guys just don’t like D&D?

Is it possible they like it?

 

[Minigiant]

Do they hate the older stuff because they have tried them and it didn't suit them?
Do they hate the older stuff because it's cool to hate things?
Do they hate the older stuff because most younger people look down on most of what came before them?
I think you might need a larger sample size.

T: Too restrictive in character and monster archetypes. Too restrictive supported styles

D: Some things are restricted and some things are open ended to meet somebody's preference. And he ain't me.

T: Also overreliance of DM gotcha for balance

M: (censored) What balance?

Then a bunch of laughing emojis

M: Also Vancian magic is a poor magic system. I ain't read dem books and I ain't gonna. YOU CANT MAKE ME.

T: If you want my money

3 other nicer folk haven't responded.