D&D General Stuff 5E Did Right

[Oofta]

People who say 5E isn't complex will never not be funny. I plead for you to play like OSE or Shadowdark and see D&D boiled down to "simple to play and run".

I wouldn't say 5E is less complex than 4E. 3rd ed down, sure.

Complexity is always going to be relevant. It's more complex than flipping a coin. It's less complex than 3.x D&D where the complexity was a barrier of entry for some people. Personally I liked 3.x, but there could be massive differences between a well made PC and one that was just adequate depending on how well you understood the rules.

 

[Wolfram stout]

You know, I would be highly interested in a 2014 d&d or 2024 d&d style game that was built around capping everything for PCs around level 10 give or take. Maybe someone can start a thread on it and link here?

If you can do without spellcaster (but with scholars and other ways to enchant items) you should look at The Lord of the Rings RPG (for 5e) by free league. They go 1-10 levels but again no spellcasting.

 

[FrogReaver]

If you can do without spellcaster (but with scholars and other ways to enchant items) you should look at The Lord of the Rings RPG (for 5e) by free league. They go 1-10 levels but again no spellcasting.

Cool. I’ll take a peak.

 

[Zaukrie]

Must be an insane number of block posts in this thread....as some pages are short for me....

I think 5e is simple enough to pick up, and complex enough to be interesting for long term players. I think it's great for both casual and serious campaigns. There is so much to like in 5e for the most part. Would I like some things to be different (esp monsters) yes. But for it's faults, it mostly hits a sweet spot that appeals to a wide variety of styles.

 

[Reef]

Didn't the original Starter Set come with pregen characters? I don't have mine handy right now, but I could swear it did. Or do you just think the ones from the Essentials Kit were better?

It definitely did.

 

[PurpleHazy]

Yeah, I enjoyed it. Still do. l also enjoyed AD&D, B/X-BECMI editions as well. To state the obvious, every edition has its pro/cons, yet it endures 50 years later. Must be doing something right (even if all the internet experts don't think so... ).

edit: typo

 

[SteveC]

I think the biggest thing 5E did well is something I want to compare against 3E. I went from playing a high level (we were 13th level at the time) 3E game in the Shackled City AP. We almost had a TPK and the party was close to having multiple players rage quit the game. This was with a low-key, friendly game with an excellent DM. The DM reloaded the game with 5E and everything has been great since then. We've gone up three levels since then, and had a fun game.

High level play is something I would never do in 3E. 5E does a perfectly cromulent game at those same levels.

Now I am a 4E fan, and so I'll say that it did much the same thing, but I get how many people don't like 4E. I think the second thing that 5E did was to completely not be 4E.

And you know what? Those are some pretty big things to do to make a game fun.

 

[mamba]

half casters get 3rd level, 1/3rd casters get 2nd level so it's fair that fullcasters get 6th level.
and it's only 1 slot per day

nah, limit it to 5th level spells, that is plenty

 

[Zardnaar]

You know, I would be highly interested in a 2014 d&d or 2024 d&d style game that was built around capping everything for PCs around level 10 give or take. Maybe someone can start a thread on it and link here?

Erm B/X?

Level 14 but classes are weaker so its functionally 11 or 12ish

 

[Zardnaar]

Didn't the original Starter Set come with pregen characters? I don't have mine handy right now, but I could swear it did. Or do you just think the ones from the Essentials Kit were better?

It did the new ones ate better both in design and tying them to the adventure.