D&D (2024) The Ray Winninger Era of D&D 5e

[kayakingpoodle]

I hadn't thought about it much, but this timeline coincides precisely with my loss of interest in buying new D&D books.
I own several of them, and even use stuff from some of them. The Winninger books at best just underwhelm me, and at worst I find barely usable. I don't know how much of this is Winninger's fault or is just coincidental with the time he was in the position.

That said to me the Mearls era is far superior to the Winninger era.

 

[Azzy]

To me, it's been very hit and miss. But I can say that of any point in D&D's past.

 

[EthanSental]

More of Ray as of late, mainly cause he’s not Mr negative dnd like Mike has been lately so that taints my view right now. I’m glad they made a few different products, book of many things and planesscape come to mind that I’ve enjoyed.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Monsters are with power creep. I used one last night they shut it down with level 1 spell.

It got 1 action once. CR 14.

Which is possible using only 2014.

Not obsolete or incompatible, new monsters are just better made and tougher.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Anyway I prefer 5e right now over five years ago. Winninger ftw. I never liked Mearls, even when he seemed okay as a guy. And I’ll take MMotM over Volo’s and MToF any day.

 

[Zardnaar]

Which is possible using only 2014.

Not obsolete or incompatible, new monsters are just better made and tougher.

Monsters may not be better hot mine last night. Even more hit point bloat so the extra damage from class features is mostly an illusion.

Noticed one NPC that's a new design has 100 odd more HP tgan sonthing 3 CRs higher.

So old designs got tweaked slightly new designs a lot tougher.

Bos fights may br better a lot still have gaping holes vs buffed 5.5 class design.

 

[aco175]

I do not have any of the mentioned campaign books and are waiting on the new FR book. I'll likely buy the new box set this year. Those campaign books looked like not my style. Not sure if that is Ray or not.

 

[Parmandur]

Anyway I prefer 5e right now over five years ago. Winninger ftw. I never liked Mearls, even when he seemed okay as a guy. And I’ll take MMotM over Volo’s and MToF any day.

I'd compare Volo's and MToF less to MotM and more to Fizban's and Bigby's, the latter two will age much better as sources of usable Lore IMO.

 

[Parmandur]

The Phandelver update is a real stinker, but I’d say that’s more on Amanda Hanson than Ray Winninger.

I actually think it makes more sense to compare different product lead designers more than who is on top of the Org chart, and unfortunately by that metric picking out the products made by Amanda Hamon are unfortunately standouts in a not-great way (Vam Richten's Guide and Golden Vault being exceptiona, albeit ones on which she had co-leads in Wes Schneider and Chris Perkins, respectively).

 

[mamba]

Not sure how much credit / blame they should get, but I like the Mearls era better, things went downhill starting with Tasha’s