D&D General Dnd and what has changed

[Shiroiken]

From a mechanical perspective, math is more simple: roll 1d20 plus modifiers vs. a Difficulty Class (or Armor Class) with higher rolls always being better. Characters all progress as the same speed (xp chart), and in theory are fairly balanced against each other (there's an ongoing martial vs. caster debate that I won't get into). There's lots of customization available, from backgrounds, subclasses, and feats, allowing two characters of the same class to feel completely different. Unfortunately ability score benefits became linear, so they're super-important (and generally bloated). Speaking of bloated, hitting is easier, but everything has way more HP, making combat less swingy (and more of a slog).

There's been a lot of changes to social conventions as well. Since I'm old, I don't want to get into that. Now you kids get off my lawn!

 

[Tonguez]

For me, 5e felt like a very comfortable return to D&D for someone who played the heck out of 1e, played a little 2e here and there, and dabbled in 3e. I basically took 4e off - it feels like the outlier, to me. For some folks in a good way, and it has a lot to recommend, but it wasn't my jam and felt unfamiliar. But 5e got me in a big way, so if you are coming back I think you'll find that the essence of the game feels familiar.

I agree, I loved the options and variety of 3.x, its the closest DnD has gotten to a 'build your own' system while still being class-based, and I liked that. I didnt like the presentation of 4e, got turned off and so didnt play it (Pathfinder and FATE were there).

However after (reluctantly) shifting to 5e I started actually reading 4e and some of its ideas like monster roles and weapon groups are good, if only they could have been presented differently. I still havent played 4, still prefer 3e/Pathfinder, but can enjoy 5e as a player.

 

[sevenbastard]

Hmmmm well you used to roll your characters, now you build your charachters.

Plus some other things, but that would be my top change in philosophy of the game.

 

[GMMichael]

For me the game feels much the same (as 3e), just a bit more streamlined and less finicky.

Yup. But OP needs to know that it's on the 6th edition now.

Meet the new (D&D). Same as the old (D&D).

 

[AlViking]

Yup. But OP needs to know that it's on the 6th edition now.

Meet the new (D&D). Same as the old (D&D).

Talk about edition wars. The "edition" we should be changes based on what you take into consideration. If we were like software we would have had things like 2.0.10 for Skills & Powers, maybe 5.0.12 for Tasha's. We should have editions like "Let's try to clean up the mess", "Now we need to clean up that mess", "Let's write different game", "That didn't meet expectations either, time to punt", "Wait, that last one actually worked, so what do we do now" versions of the game.

 

[Clint_L]

I'm pretty sure we're still on 5e because I updated the books on DDB without telling my players (who don't care about such things) and most never noticed, aside from having a few new character options (which some still haven't bothered with).

If folks are calling games like Level Up 5e, then it seems pretty odd not to include the much, much more compatible 2024 rules update under the same banner.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Why are you all even answering? If the original poster can't be bothered to take 60 seconds to do a google search and receive more than enough information to answer their own question... why are you all wasting your time doing it for them?

 

[Charlaquin]

Why are you all even answering? If the original poster can't be bothered to take 60 seconds to do a google search and receive more than enough information to answer their own question... why are you all wasting your time doing it for them?

I don’t think the OP was actually seeking that information. Rather, they were using the question as a litmus test for whether or not the ENWorld community’s perspective around edition changes aligned with their own.

 

[mamba]

Incidentally, one of the favors WotC (well, Ryan Dancey, who should probably have a statue of him in Waterdeep or something) did by putting the game out into an open license is that if you don't like any given version of D&D (well, maybe not 4E), you can go back to it, because a ton of retroclones recreating older versions of D&D are on the market today.

I agree for BX and 1e, but 2e and 3e retroclones? At best few and far between from what I have seen

 

[Voadam]

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?

I can't tell if you are asking what has changed between AD&D and 5e or if you are asking what changed between 3e, 4e, and 5e.

For the former:

stats are standardized bonuses, +1 every two points above 10 instead of AD&D reverse bell curve.

No class or race or level or alignment restrictions.

Some new core classes and races.

AC starts at 10 and goes up, instead of THAC0 you have an attack bonus that goes up as you level.

A skill system where you add stat bonus and if trained in skill a level based bonus (this is how saves are done as well). Always trying to roll high on a d20 add bonuses against target number.

Saves are based on stats (dex save) instead of category.

Multiclassing is take individual levels in different classes when you level up and not split xp between multiple classes.

All classes are designed to be balanced in combat at every level and use the same xp chart.

More class powers for everybody.

Magic slots are more flexible and easier to cast in combat, but many spells require concentration so less stacking spells and none go up by caster level.

Spell save target is based on caster stat bonus and not an unchanging base.

Initiative is one at a time, only roll once at beginning of combat.

Fully heal up and regain powers at end of day.

Regain less powerful things and can nonmagically heal some after short rest during day.

At 0 hp you go unconscious and start making death saves instead of going to negative hp.

Alignment is not mechanically important.

Monsters have full stats including con bonus to hp, many have a ton more HD.

Instead of energy drain monsters reduce max hp (so affects healing up only) until long rest at end of day removes that condition.

Many powerful magic items require attunement to work, can only have three attuned items.

Core rules are free online in basic set and SRD.

Those are the big ones I'd say.