D&D General Dnd and what has changed

[0000000000]

So I peaced out of DnD with the introduction of 3rd ed. I understand it did well, then 4th came out and bombed and now there is 5th ed. What has changed?

 

[payn]

Not much.

 

[AlViking]

How much time do you have?

The big things from 2e to 3e were of course changing the math. No more THAC0, all numbers go up, higher is (almost) always better. They took some ideas from Skills & Powers and implemented skill proficiencies and feats.

My very short version (differences from 3e to 5e)

• The approach to AC and skill proficiencies has been flattened, it's called bounded accuracy.
• There are fewer feat taxes than there were, you no longer feel like you have to take a specific feat.
• They've gotten rid of a lot of the resistances and immunities (even more so in the 2024 revision) so no more "I need adamantium for this and cold iron for that". In addition the bonus energies you can add to weapons are largely gone.
• Classes have been tweaked and modified, for example most casters have cantrips they can use as often as they want. You still have spell slots for your more powerful spells.
• They simplified the healing spells, you now just cast them at a higher level.
• You don't have prestige classes any more, you pick a subclass at 3rd level instead.
• From the DM's side of things they lean heavily into rulings not rules, we no longer have nit-picky rules for every skill, I like it but some people don't.

For me the game feels much the same, just a bit more streamlined and less finicky. YMMV of course.

 

[Reynard]

then 4th came out and bombed

 

[Tonguez]

D20+ maths, HP bloat, over generous healing
ubiquitous Magic everywhere

 

[aco175]

I tend to like every edition while that edition is out. 3e was fine with the skills and prestige classes. 4e was fine with the powers that recharged every encounter or day. It was a bit video gamey, but they might be tending that way for a long time already. 5e tried to bring some of 3e back and it is fine. Some of the mechanics like advantage/disadvantage is cool.

Would I want some of the older things back, sure. Is it that bad of a system I want a 6e, no not yet.

I guess the question is how far from 1e/2e does it need to go before not being what one would think of as D&D? Is it the Odysseus' boat question?

 

[Charlaquin]

I’m one of the folks who would normally argue the point, but it seems completely orthogonal to the actual topic

 

[Tonguez]

I guess the question is how far from 1e/2e does it need to go before not being what one would think of as D&D? Is it the Odysseus' boat question?

Ship of Theseus,
Odysseus boat wasnt in question

 

[Deset Gled]

I’m one of the folks who would normally argue the point, but it seems completely orthogonal to the actual topic

 

[AlViking]

Can we not have edition wars yet again?