D&D 5E D&D Unboxing Starter Set Video is on Youtube

[Remathilis]

@Morrus;Worst case scenario is all PCs take 1 level of fighter, and everyone has unlimited free healing. I have a hard time thinking of a more broken mechanic.

And if they take two, they can get ULTRANOVA as a free power.

 

[CasvalRemDeikun]

So... wasting three hours of time isn't going to have consequences? Are the goblins just morons without sentries and scouts looking for people in their hideouts? The dragon MUST wait for the party to show up before he can attempt to eat the princess or burn the town down? The charismatic BBEG has amassed even more troops in the interim?

So much for immersion.

I came in late for the video, so all I saw was the monster stats, which look pretty good so far. They appear to have toughened them up a bit.

 

[Tony Semana]

1. Why do people still engage with certain people that they know will just continue to complain. I've ignored them and I think it would benefit these entire boards if others did as well.

100% agree with this, and done so early on. Though, I still see the inane prattling as quotes in responses

2. Do we even know if a bonus action can be used out of combat?

Not yet. T minus 8 days (at most) before we do for sure.

 

[Maliki67]

Getting away from the second wind, short rest "debate".

I wish they could have gotten a better shot of the monster section. I am curious to see how they compare to the last play tests. (Monsters are one the first things I check when I start looking at a new system.)

 

[thunktanker]

Getting away from the second wind, short rest "debate".

I wish they could have gotten a better shot of the monster section. I am curious to see how they compare to the last play tests. (Monsters are one the first things I check when I start looking at a new system.)

Merric has done a nice job on this. I'd post a link but apparently I'm not allowed. Google "merric's musings" though and you'll find it.

 

[Maliki67]

Merric has done a nice job on this. I'd post a link but apparently I'm not allowed. Google "merric's musings" though and you'll find it.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[hbarsquared]

Because fighters shouldn't remain at max HP entering into every battle without expending daily resources from any source maybe?

You didn't even have that in 4th edition. Even in 3rd, you still had to buy those wands of CLW, and they might not be available. In all editions, cleric's surgeless / external healing is limited in terms of castings per day.

Unlimited free healing with no cap per day is broken. On the fighter too, no less. Why ever buy a healing potion? Or use your own hit dice? You can use your free, surgeless healing aka Second Wind, and not spend HD or your allies' Cure Wounds spells.

Fighters with max HP at zero cost, every battle is broken, dude. Sorry.

You are incorrect.

First, the cost is: several hours worth of short rests.

Second, fighters, and all PCs, get more out of a long rest, no? And there is nothing, mechanically, preventing any group from taking a long rest after every encounter.

It is the responsibility of the group, and the DM, to decide the style of game they are playing. Being 100% effective every encounter is not broken if 1) every character can do so, and 2) that's how the group wnts to play.

Dude.

 

[Nemio]

Some newbie DND / wannabe DM questions:

1. Would you recommend playing with the one set of dice that is included or is it more fun / faster if everyone can roll at the same time?

2. Should you use a DM screen? Perhaps use the top of the box in this case, buy one or make one yourself to add some mystery, hide your book & dice rolls, etc.

3. I would consider using the Starter miniatures even if it's only to show relative positions.
What's the most easy way to use a map considering I'm not that good at drawing.
- Copy the map from the book (but perhaps that has numbers / notes on it?)
- Draw as they go along anyway
- Draw nothing and use objects to show relative positions
- etc.

 

[jadrax]

1. Would you recommend playing with the one set of dice that is included or is it more fun / faster if everyone can roll at the same time?

Touching other peoples dice is pretty much wrong. It is maybe allowable in private if you know the other person very well and intend to to align yourself in some form of sanctified partnership, but definitely not something you should do in public.

2. Should you use a DM screen? Perhaps use the top of the box in this case, buy one or make one yourself to add some mystery, hide your book & dice rolls, etc.

Really this is down to whatever makes you feel comfortable. I haven't bothered with a screen since I was a teenager, but some people like them. Its also down to where you intend to play and how much space you have.

3. I would consider using the Starter miniatures even if it's only to show relative positions.
What's the most easy way to use a map considering I'm not that good at drawing.
- Copy the map from the book (but perhaps that has numbers / notes on it?)
- Draw as they go along anyway
- Draw nothing and use objects to show relative positions
- etc.

I tend to quickly sketch things if we end up in a situation where positioning is unclear. Again this is pretty much a comfort issue.

 

[Klaus]

Some newbie DND / wannabe DM questions:

1. Would you recommend playing with the one set of dice that is included or is it more fun / faster if everyone can roll at the same time?

2. Should you use a DM screen? Perhaps use the top of the box in this case, buy one or make one yourself to add some mystery, hide your book & dice rolls, etc.

3. I would consider using the Starter miniatures even if it's only to show relative positions.
What's the most easy way to use a map considering I'm not that good at drawing.
- Copy the map from the book (but perhaps that has numbers / notes on it?)
- Draw as they go along anyway
- Draw nothing and use objects to show relative positions
- etc.

1. You can play with only one set of dice (since everyone acts in turns, not simultaneously), but that'd slow things down. At the very least, I'd recommend two sets of dice (one for the DM, one for the players). Ideally, everyone should have their own set.

2. That's more of a personal taste. Some DMs like rolling behind the screen to hide notes and to be able to "adjust" their own rolls to make the story more interesting. Some DMs prefer to roll in the open, letting the dice fall as they may. Use whatever's more comfortable for you.

3. For basic mapping (general layout of a dungeon), you could get away with just lines marking corridors and squares/circles marking rooms (with a "D" here and there for doors), so the PCs don't get lost (this responsibility could be passed to one of the players). For actual combat maps, you could easily print out a grid (such as this one: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hmnumlu_jdE/UZ9irPUFLUI/AAAAAAAAAGE/AFAWn8Xou0o/s1600/Grid+JPG.jpg ) and just mark down walls, doors, furniture, etc, as the situation warrants (D&D maps use the 1-inch square = 5 feet scale). Don't feel the need to map out every single corridor as they go along, as that tends to slow things down.

Try different approaches and see what works best for you.

And happy gaming!