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Yeah, I think there's a real tension between the desire to maximize options and the cost to those decisions. Real Paradox of Choice stuff. Deciding between options is kind of inherently satisfying! But it also takes time and analysis and cognitive load. The usual resolution to that paradox is...

Yeah, but the delta doesn't HAVE to be as big as it is. There's formulas, shortcuts, impactful choices, things that can be turned into mechanics and made swifter. Like, if you just look at combat (since it's probably the biggest thing), a well-done action scene in a TV show or a movie resolves...

An episode of prestige TV is about an hour. If I can go on an entire emotional journey in an hour, it'd be exciting to be able to run a game of D&D in about an hour. I'd bet there's some tradeoffs, but the old criticism of "20 minutes of fun packed into 4 hours" has only become slightly less...

The prospect of playing a solid game in 1 hour gets me tornt. Like, hooting and hollering like a chimp over here, at the prospect of 1 hr of gameplay turning into a solid progression of narrative. 🐒

I don't think it's really a need. You could probably get away with combining the Big 4 with each other, and even that has some work that's already done for you (EK = Fighter + Wizard, Ranger = Fighter + Druid, Paladin = Fighter + Cleric, Bard or Arcane Trickster = Rogue + Wizard, etc.) Having...

I think there's a strong bias in most design that favors complexity. More decision points, more granularity, more control, more options. 3e and 4e D&D probably show the apex of this, and it's probably not a coincidence that this is when bonus action (and reaction) options were at their highest...

I like it! It's a cool idea, runes are very Law-coded, and it weaves the modrons together with other elements of D&D lore quite well.

People are coming to D&D with outdated assumptions? The heck you say? ;) I think I see the problem as one of design, as the intent of the rules is pretty clearly spelled out. If play isn't lining up with intent, that's a design issue in my mind. I think there's broad variance. I'd call for a...

Heh, it's just that the "D&D needs noncombat mechanics!" discussions I often engage in get grabbed by the d20 mechanic and become about that specific mechanic rather than about what non-combat mechanics can look like more broadly. I try really hard to create a space between the binary of "we...

It is tragic to me that this argument conflates "mechanics" with "rolling dice to resolve uncertainty." Like, the radius of light that a torch gives is an exploration mechanic. Alignment (for all its faults) is a roleplaying mechanic. Mechanics come is so many flavors that are not rolling a...

WotC is part of a massive, publicly-traded corporation, so anything that cuts costs, appeases investors, or otherwise increases shareholder value is in generally in-play. And it's reasonable to ask (and speculate about) how this change in survey strategy helps them with that. FWIW, I think that...

Microcosm of the internet (and maybe society at large) these days. There's little trust, especially in faceless institutions. The assumption is that someone is a position of power is exploiting something. When you can't trust the fundamental claims of a group, then conspiracies flower like...

I want the new math SO bad! I like that they're paying attention to higher CR monsters, too - higher level play needs some goosing. And the new titans sound interesting. I was also a fan of 4e abominations, which are kind of in the same wheelhouse. I do anticipate being a little...

I think I need a bit of clarification. If the question is why are there stat blocks for Good creatures, the answer is, primarily, so that they can be fought. Not all PC's are Good, not all "Good" creatures are benevolent or helpful for the PC's goals. Good creatures can make for some...

This is a very good breakdown. The name ain't great. It's got some niche legacy reference, but that's a reason, not an excuse. That said, it's not a dealbreaker for me. Blood Hunter is also a bad name. So is Barbarian. And Fighter. Sorcerer doesn't tell you much about a class. Illrigger can...

There's a family similarity, for sure, especially in 2024's revision, but "action" is a much broader and less strictly defined group of verbs in practice. Actions and powers aren't the things that a skill system is really meant to support, anyway- they're combat language. And skills have...

Maybe. Though, I'd consider that damning with faint praise. The 4e system was a big improvement on 3e to my mind, but there's a few huge glaring weaknesses, and skill powers was one of those weaknesses. Can't have something outside the Powers system, gotta make skills relevant by making...

Some questions you might want to consider: Are you providing them with bears, or is it on them to acquire the bears in play? Having the first few levels be "befriend these bears" might be pretty impactful, but you also might just want to give them free bears. Are you running them through...

Everything that's not Perception. Followed closely by Perception.

Don't make me get up on my soapbox about how bad D&D's skill system has been for the last 25 years. ;)