Anyone else 'seeing' this?...

[steeldragons]

My first thought on reading the OP is all of those classes have WAY too many powers-abilities-etc. for being only 1st level; and aren't skills supposed to be really simplified this time around e.g. Alertness and Perception being the same thing?

I thought the idea was to keep this as simple as possible, at least for the basic core.

Lanefan

Yeah, I suppose. The Class Abilities I presented are just a guesstimate of what might be available. It could very well be that the default/simple/basic game would simply state: This class gets these abilities. Done. No choosing necessary. OR it could be that they say this class gets this, singular, class ability with others coming into play/getting chosen as you level up...or every other level...or what have you.

The Racial abilities, for the core, I would assume to be the racial tropes we all know (but oddly, not all love). In which case, and based off of multiple "Race" threads supposing about 5e, I would hope the options are available for people to separate the innate/genetic abilities of a race (like vision and ability mod's) and allow options/choice to tack on whatever cultural style abilities they like (your campaign world has/wants some mountain elves? Ok, give them Stonecunning instead of Woodlore, Resistance to Cold instead of Enchantment magic. etc.). In the case of the core/basic game, this would likely be what I put forward as the "standard/default Race X package", iow, "This default race starts with XYZ" and the players wouldn't have to worry about anything beyond that.

We've already been told that use of themes and backgrounds will be presented with 3 or 4 abilities (skills and/or feats) built-in...for those that want to use them as such or may be swapped out, or chosen/created whole hog on whim (and DM's discretion) regardless of theme or background. And/or I would expect the game is likely playable without the use of Theme or Background at all if that's how the group decides to play.

So, even minimalizing/defaulting the Class and Race components and taking the BG's and Themes as written, there will still be, again I guesstimate, 6-8 additional skills and "feats" for a starting, level 1, PC through their BG and Theme.

Again, its a question of the level of modularity you want...which it sounds like 5e is being designed to accommodate. A group could just go "default/as presented" all across the board and be sated with their possibilities. OR a group could customize across Class/Race/Background/Theme (or choose for some and not others) as desired...which obviously would make for a more complex game and diverse characters (more possible combo's of abilities) out of the gate.

--SD

 

[Frostmarrow]

I'm really excited and I think your guess is well aimed. I could puzzle together four pieces of character for years and it will never grow dull.

Exiled Elven Fighter Envoy. Alchemist Dwarven Rogue Explorer. Orphaned Human Fighter Archer. Et c. It's really interesting.

My main fear now is that Wizards will derail themselves by coming up with too fanciful and self-referential themes and backgrounds that will be impossible for me to identify with. It was the same with prestige classes; I envisioned getting a cool knightly order or two but was given a Mirkford Blood Gorger-Schmorger and a Sick Crimson Fnord Pirate of The Whillicule Pond. I just hope they will make the pieces simple and recognizable and leave the fancying to me.