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I would prefer the base rules to have mechanically simple versions of each of the classes suitable for use by new players (that aren't hopelessly gimped compared to the more complex builds). Players connect better with characters they generated themselves, or at least contributed to. My...

I voted healer because this has been the traditional responsibility of the cleric class. Also, I prefer focussed classes, and while there are character concepts that that are holy warrior without any healing, I think they are better represented by classes that aren't clerics with the closest...

I prefer combat as sport as both a player and a referee, as it's less stressful and easier to play and run in (less preparation as both a player and a referee, less ad hoc rulings for the referee to make). It's also easier to implement and justify a low casualty rate in. I also like old school...

Wizards have been vulnerable in every edition of D&D. Once their defences go down, they are easy to kill. Every group settles on a particular style of play. Every DM will have a default targetting style (or range of styles) for their monsters. Every player in the group will inevitably take this...

I'm strongly opposed to common immunities to the core abilities of a class. This often ends up in a situation in a themed adventure that the class concerned is crippled, much weaker than normal, and unable to make a full contribution. I much prefer the 4e stance of making immunities very rare...

In a group game like D&D, the stealth reconnaisance is a potential problem, like netrunning is in cyberpunk, in that it involves a fraction of the group, often just one player, can take a long time, can be dangerous, and doesn't automatically involve the other players. It can get harder and...

Remember when having certain magic items was more important than anything else on your character sheet. One belt of giant strength in a party of fighters of average strength and the person who gets the belt totally outclasses the others in combat. The combination of overpowered magic items and...

4e classes never felt generic to me, while the character sheets are superficiallly the same devil is in the details, in play they feel different to me. Partially that's the referee's responsibility in making sure to describe the differences between different PCs in interesting and evocative...

I used to be concerned with detailed world building, it can be a fun subgame. However, I learned over time that most players aren't interested in deepliy delving into a setting. Fuirther, a very detailed system can be inflexible and exclude playing styles and character concepts that some...

I don't think one PC should be able to do all the things the OP mentioned, as being able to do everything means they don't need the other PCs. I could live with specialist casters who can do a subset of these things, but unless there are tradeoffs, or the magic is weakened in power, casters...

I intensely dislike "all or nothing" mechanics and think they are bad design for keynote abilities. If a PC is dependent on a particular mechanic for his usefulness and it doesn't work half the time, should he retire the PC for one who isn't so handicapped? If he doesn't enjoy the depowered play...

I've played in and used FR for decades, and have enough material to continue doing so regardless of what world is supported in the new edition. I suppose it's because the first setting I learned something about in D&D. Greyhawk always feeled too old-fashioned and peculiar to me. God knows FR...

These issues can arise in long running 3.x games even when players aren't trying to exploit class imbalance. Every new spell, every summonable monster increases the potential power of spellcasters, while non-spellcaster power grows slowly if at all. Some of the solutions put forward in this...

I for one like that in 4e 1st level adventures aren't accompanied by 50% death rates. In earlier editions I and the people I gamed with often rushed through or skipped the early levels, as we had all played through them before, and lost lots of 1st level Pcs to one shot kills. I can understand...

I would like single classed PCs to be viable in the next edition, they were marginalised in 3x in many cases, . I would prefer to avoid multilclassing being compulsory. Single classed pcs are iconic and simpler for new players to just grab and play. Any multiclassing needs to avoid the pitfalls...

In my 3e and 4e games I generally give the PCs opportunities to acquire property and responsibilties as they grow level, as it connects them better to the setting, gives them something to work with, and something to lose. Some extra content to help with stronghold/estate management would be...

While arguments have focused on magic being broken in combat, it's also broken out of combat, which is relevant given how many people have asked for more non-combat emphasis in the new edition. I've played and run a number of games that went to high levels, and it was noticeable that the...

I strongly prefer point buy, and think a standard array should be the default, for ease of play for new players . I've seen too many people roll poor stats, or stats that don't allow them to play the concept they want to play. I expect there will be options for standard array, point buy and...

Some of the 4e issue may be a style vs substance thing. Different 4e classes feel different to me because I can see the differences despite the similar presentation. The 4e presentation is better for me because it is clearer, more transparent. The special effects of different power sources...

One thing is clear. The new edition will initially be much simpler in its core than 3e or 4e. It probably won't be possible to do a direct translation of many old characters to the new edition, at least till more modules come out. Now, I expect similar PCs can be achieved for the concepts that...