D&D General 6E But A + Thread

[EzekielRaiden]

No. That's completely nonsensical. There's a reason games start set to "Normal", not "ULTRA VIOLENCE" or "Nightmare".

It makes the game much harder to balance if the default assumption is max difficulty. That, unlike some things, is not an opinion. That's a demonstrable fact that's been repeatedly shown to be the case across many different kinds of game. The default assumption should be the mode one, the one the largest group of people are likely to want to use.

Good luck on convincing Lanefan about this. I've tried before, you can see the lack of fruits of my labor.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I will be astonished if 6E is backwards compatible. It does mean they have to wait longer to do a new edition, but still not very long from now.

My bet, as I've stated before, is somewhere between (very roughly) 4 and 7 years after launch. Hence why I've said if we haven't heard relatively reputable rumors/"my secret sources"-type stuff that there's a 6e playtest in the works by the time we've hit the 5 year mark (so late 2029/early 2030), 5.5e will have done quite well, because the playtest is gonna take 2-3 years and the rumors should arrive well before the public portion of the playtest.

 

[kermit4karate]

D&D typically doesn't create stuff that can take it.

D&D is written as an attrition game and relies on difficulty is based on PCs running out of stuff due to inefficient usage.

Very true. One way I've messed around to influence that is to generally reduce damage. I started playing a rules-lite D&D-like system where most attacks only do 1HP damage. Strength adjustments affect probability to hit but don't add to damage.

Moderate spells and larger weapons only do 2HP damage. High-level spells and serious effects only do 3HP damage.

Leads to longer battles with more trading blows. Fun twist.

Just something your comment reminded me of.

 

[Scribe]

Are people generally satisfied with the PHB species of 5.5?

 

[Chaltab]

Very true. One way I've messed around to influence that is to generally reduce damage. I stsrted playing a rules-lite D&D-like system where most attacks only do 1HP damage. Strength adjustments affect probability to hit but don't add to damage.

Moderate spells and larger weapons only do 2HP damage. High-level spells and serious effects only do 3HP damage.

Leads to longer battles with more trading blows. Fun twist.

Just something your comment reminded me of.

Huh. In my experience, low damage and longer fights makes things feel like a slog. The most exciting fights I've ever run or played in D&D are ones where both players and monsters were hitting like a Japanese truck sensing an otaku in the road. The tension is higher when you have more risk.

 

[Chaltab]

Are people generally satisfied with the PHB species of 5.5?

I can't speak for people in general but I find them fine in a vacuum. I like how Tieflings and Goliaths have been expanded with new lineages. Out of the context of WOTC-created material, they're kind of underwhelming when other 5E variants and games like Draw Steel are doing interesting stuff with ancestry.

 

[Scribe]

Draw Steel are doing interesting stuff with ancestry.

I'll have to see if there is a Draw Steel SRD?

 

[Chaltab]

There isn't, but the game has open content and a wiki for it is being slowly put together.

 

[Minigiant]

Are people generally satisfied with the PHB species of 5.5?

Mostly

I'd

1. Add back in subspecies to dwarf and halfling.
2. Remake half elf and half orc as lineages
3. Redo vision
4. Add a "Dungeonborn" species for symmetry

 

[Scribe]

Add a "Dungeonborn" species for symmetry

What would that look like?