D&D General 6E But A + Thread

[Faolyn]

Okay.

When has that ever been true for the D&D Wizard? When has it ever lifted even a finger to show the academia from which these powers derive and to which these powers are directed? Or to show the hermetic mysteries and transcendental enlightenment Faustian archetypes sought?

Both Greyhawk and Faerun have magical universities which have been discussed in various products for decades. I haven't read a great deal of supplements for either setting, but I wouldn't be surprised if they got written up in depth at one point or another.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The issue is that some people are stuck in this mindset where no-one who doesn't have completely explicit magical powers can do anything that they can't personally imagine happening IRL (which we've seen from arguments even includes things which have happened IRL, but that person didn't know could happen).

It's a very silly situation, because Monks can get away with literally anything merely by vaguely muttering "It's Focus, ok" under their breath as they do the most anime stuff imaginable (even if they don't have to spend Focus or w/e to do it, and Focus isn't some well-defined or even necessarily supernatural ability), but it's TOTALLY ILLEGAL WRONG AND AGAINST THE GODS to have a Fighter or Rogue do the same thing. Unless you refer to "psionics" or "shadow magic" or something. Then suddenly it's totally fine!

And the same exact people are mostly aggressively opposed to the very obvious and simple solution which would be to have another class, one which uses Focus like the Monk but is an armoured, martial-weapon-using melee combatant (called, say, the Warrior), which could do all this stuff and just shrug and say "Focus, man" if asked how they did it. Maybe also add a light-armoured guy called the Skirmisher or something better (not good class name imagination right now!) who does the same for Rogues and Rangers.

I am completely in favor of the supernatural warrior class. Wrote up a concept a while back and posted it here.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I dont think I'll ever accept a level 1-3 Fighter cutting the mast of a ship with the force of air off his sword, at 20 feet away.

To be fair I don't think a level 1-3 Fighter should have distance cutting stuff either!

In fantasy where this happens, this is something really experienced or really spiritually powerful weapon-wielders can do. I would say like, level 7 or 8 is where you'd probably seeing it, in current 5E terms. And it wouldn't be something you could "spam", you'd have some kind of limitation to match D&D's general approach. Maybe that limit would come off at 15 or something.

 

[Scribe]

Then why does 5.5 seem very clearly marketed to these nearly non-existent brand-new customers?

It doesnt? Its marketed to the (supposed) influx players, who are part of the post-Tashas design/presentation group of players.

Its not looking for new players or markets, at all, its INTENTIONALLY more of the same post-Tashas.

 

[Scribe]

To be fair I don't think a level 1-3 Fighter should have distance cutting stuff either!

In fantasy where this happens, this is something really experienced or really spiritually powerful weapon-wielders can do. I would say like, level 7 or 8 is where you'd probably seeing it, in current 5E terms. And it wouldn't be something you could "spam", you'd have some kind of limitation to match D&D's general approach. Maybe that limit would come off at 15 or something.

I could get on board with that.

 

[Faolyn]

Excellent points!!! I know it will make me sound old, but kids today (shakes fist at sky!!!) don't grow up like I did in the '80s and '90s. I experienced more unstructured time outside and more scripted television, and it's the latter IMO that contributed more to different styles and philosophies.

Basically, my generation (our generation for a lot of us over 40 here) grew up on scripted television. We sat through many, many more TV shows with a scripted arc -- a plot with a beginning, middle and an end. The characters and sets were clear. I think that contributed to an intrinsic understanding of drama that many younger folks (sorry!) simply do not have.

YouTube Shorts and TikTok do not replace the thousands of hours of TV story arcs we watched.

Now...let the hate flow from my 30-something-year-old brethren! I'm ready for you!!!! Commence flogging now!!!!

...You're saying that like there aren't tons of scripted shows readily available today, of just about every genre imaginable, from lots of places that aren't your home country.

(Signed, someone who is closing on 50)

 

[Micah Sweet]

Know what you mean! I haaaate that. RPGs are supposed to bring fun, fantastical stories to life. They aren't supposed to mimic the banality of real life because...we have real life for that! We don't watch movies and TV shows to see our boring real lives reflected back at us. We want amazing stories. We want to see heroes vanquish evil (or vice versa). We crave drama. We want the excitement of a swordfight without the risk of being stabbed. WTF, right? How is that so controversial nowadays?

I just present a world with interesting things in it. It's up to the players to generate drama, and all the fantasy stuff is accounted for in the supernatural elements of the world. I don't tell a story.

 

[Minigiant]

To be fair I don't think a level 1-3 Fighter should have distance cutting stuff either!

In fantasy where this happens, this is something really experienced or really spiritually powerful weapon-wielders can do. I would say like, level 7 or 8 is where you'd probably seeing it, in current 5E terms. And it wouldn't be something you could "spam", you'd have some kind of limitation to match D&D's general approach. Maybe that limit would come off at 15 or something.

It's literally just level ranges.

Dandy fans have no problem categorizing what power level a magical effect is within the number range of 1 to 9 for spell levels and 20 class levels.

But categorizing where a long range sword strike or a high damage siege worthy axe strike belongs in a level range is impossible

 

[Scribe]

Do we really need Proficiency? We have ability scores, adv/disadv, is Proficiency a variable that added value to your game?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Nah I think the people want 6E.

The issue is the designers and fandom can't get over their own personal biases to facilitate fans not like themselves

Why should the fandom do that? They're not getting paid to make product that doesn't suit their personal needs. The designers at least have $$ in the game.