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  1. mcbobbo

    D&D 3.x What are the major differences between 5E and 3.5E?

    Another change vs 3e - the gotchas are gone. Druids don't cease being druids if you trick them into wearing metal. Paladins don't fall by a difference of opinion. And if they do stray, there's no specific requirement for a spell casting. They can just declare they feel bad about it. You're...
  2. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    Even if 5e fails to be the best universal system, it is well poised to be the best known/most played system in the hobby. That alone is cause to overlook the warts. Sort of like how English is a terrible language, yet is the most desirable one to know.
  3. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    Modularity is present. See Feats. Multiclassing is also not a requirement for a universal system. Maybe it's a forum culture thing, but I am not familiar enough with your arguments for this shorthand to make any sense at all.
  4. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    Honestly that feels like a generic prepared list of things you dislike about 5e. For example why does "has a DM" make it non universal? Same with "reprints rules" how is this fantasy specific?
  5. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Shields and Somatic Components: Will you play it "as is?"

    So wait. All I can find, and I mean ALL that seems to be in the rules is saving on materials through the use of a focus item. It's in the same phrase as the component pouch, and performs essentially the same function. So, yes, bards can sing, and do not require any instrument at all, as far...
  6. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Avoiding the 15m workday.

    I think the module reflects that a straight up fight is tough going. There are multiple Charisma - based ways through encounters listed, and good places to rest are often called out in the module text. It could be the group is used to encounters being balanced. Just FYI, they're not. And not...
  7. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Would you buy an updated PHB every year?

    At $50? Probably not. But then I never paid that. For the $29.97 I actually paid? Probably. If not every year, maybe every other year. It isn't as if they're going to take away my old copy, so as long as it isn't hurting my table, why would I object?
  8. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Perception/Investigation/Medicine?

    The underlying stats probably factor in - Wisdom: Easy - Horses are dead due to arrows. Harder - This happened about a day ago. Intelligence: Easy - The arrows aren't like the ones in your quiver. Harder - Goblins make arrows that look just like that. The latter might be Wisdom if you're...
  9. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Shields and Somatic Components: Will you play it "as is?"

    It meshes with the rules concept well enough, but in anything close to reality I can't see it working. A mace weighs a bit more than a Wiimote, and is longer too. If you're gesticulating much at all, you're going to whack yourself. And with it's length and downward angle... Sounds like a...
  10. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    Let's look at the basics: 1) The six attributes with checks and saves 2) d20 and advantage/disadvantage 3) Backgrounds 4) Proficiency Starting with just those four you have a basis for lots of different genres. It only builds from there.
  11. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    I'd say the expectation that any adaptation should survive core abandonment by the system's creator is unfair. OGL was Y2K, if you recall. Lots of systems have come and gone in the intervening 14 years, 4e being one of the more significant among them. Not that it isn't awesome when it happens.
  12. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    We get it. You're a "true savage". Rhetorical: Why were there so many d20 publications by that company up until 2006? Also, I would suggest that if it wasn't possible to adapt the system to match the genre, there would be criticism for that. For example, not every genre works well where...
  13. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    They also share classes, levels, skills, feats, attributes... Does SW Supers not use a variant damage system? As well as other incompatible systems? I clearly recall regretting that purchase... Savage Worlds didn't exist as a universal system (October 2007) prior to WotC abandoning the OGL...
  14. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e as an universal gaming engine ?

    I'll break from the majority here - yes 5e can do it, and do it well. You see d20/3e did it, and wasn't completely horrible at it either. Cthulu was already mentioned, but also there was Mutants and Masterminds, Traveller, Deadlands, etc, etc, etc. And 5e has a lot of 3e heritage without...
  15. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) wands

    I think the most interesting will be the healing wand, whatever form that takes.
  16. mcbobbo

    XP as dated?

    If that year included nothing other than plying his craft, I'd find it ridiculous that he not get better at it. And if your progression along the wizard track runs you into quadratic power issues, you might take that up with the game system rather than XP rewards in general. Put it this way...
  17. mcbobbo

    XP as dated?

    I'm sure you could award the portions against any criteria you wanted. The point would be emphasizing steady progress, and if you link it to participation you could have the carrot factor, too.
  18. mcbobbo

    When you're preparing a session...

    This, plus if the players accidentally suggest something even mildly entertaining, I roll that in as though I had planned it all along. "Hey Bob, are there any pies on the counter?" "Why yes, yes there are. Lots of flavors, all cooling." It's a collaborative game, right?
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