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Fifth Edition.....Why?
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<blockquote data-quote="Keravath" data-source="post: 7281231" data-attributes="member: 6916036"><p>As most other folks in the thread have said ... play what you like. No one will tell you what to play. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>That said, I started with AD&D1e and have played at least a few games (and purchased the books) for all the editions in between. In my opinion, my impression is that 5e gets back more to the roots of the D&D game system. Classes get some mechanical uniqueness while also adjusting class balance so that most classes can contribute over the range of levels. Earlier editions would often be dominated by melee classes at the lower levels and caster classes at the high level. Overall, I like the feel of 5e, the possible emphasis on roleplay with reasonable but not overly complex mechanics while more or less preserving the unique character of the different classes and more or less balance.</p><p></p><p>Although I hesitate to comment, some of the experiences you cite would be very uncommon if actually ever occur ... I've never even heard of let alone seen 40/40/40 level character ... I've never actually seen a game with any level 40 character though I have heard it is possible playing some of the D&D video games. As someone else mentioned, a 1st edition human multiclass with comparable experience to the 40/40/40 elven multiclass would have far more levels than your 20/5/5/5/5 example .. if only because level 5 requires a trivial level of experience to achieve.</p><p></p><p>In addition, 5e does include feats which can be chosen as an alternative to increasing stats. The selection is more limited perhaps than compared to 3e or 4e but they do provide for some interesting choices without hugely disrupting the game balance. The concept of "bounded accuracy" on which 5e is based means that most character builds can be constructed around a role-playing concept without causing a significant mechanical disadvantage for the character in actual play. </p><p></p><p>Anyway, some folks like it, some prefer earlier editions, and that is exactly as it should be <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> ... there is no wrong choice. </p><p></p><p>-----------</p><p></p><p></p><p>I'd also point out that some of the games you describe as starting play with weren't even in print until the middle or late 90's ... long after the original D&D boxed set was out of print (though its always possible a copy was kicking around a store somewhere). </p><p> </p><p>West End Games Star Wars : 1987 (1st Edition) 1992 (2nd Edition) 1996 (2nd Edition Revised and Expanded)</p><p>TSR Star Frontiers: produced by TSR beginning in 1982</p><p>Top Secret: first published in 1980 by TSR, Inc</p><p>Shadow Run 3e: 1998 (Third Edition)</p><p>Werewolf the Apocalypse: 1992 (1st edition) 1994 (2nd edition) 2000 (Revised edition) 2013 (20th Anniversary Edition)[</p><p>Vampire the Masquerade: 1991 (1st edition) 1992 (2nd edition) 1998 (Revised edition) 2011 (20th Anniversary) 2018 (5th edition)</p><p></p><p></p><p>AD&D: </p><p></p><p> 1974 (original)</p><p> 1977 (D&D Basic Set 1st version)[1]</p><p> 1977–1979 (AD&D)</p><p> 1981 (D&D Basic Set 2nd version)</p><p> 1983–1986 (D&D Basic Set 3rd version)</p><p> 1989 (AD&D 2nd Edition)</p><p> 1991 (D&D Rules Cyclopedia)</p><p> 2000 (D&D 3rd edition)</p><p> 2003 (D&D v3.5)</p><p> 2008 (D&D 4th edition)</p><p> 2014 (D&D 5th edition)</p><p></p><p>The 1991 release of the boxed set was black. The blue and red version of the D&D boxed set was out of print before some of the games in the list were even first published.</p><p></p><p>Actually just for interest:</p><p>D&D</p><p>1e - 1978 - lasted 11 years </p><p>2e - 1989 - lasted 11 years</p><p>3e - 2000 - lasted 8 years (due to the free licensing issue?)</p><p>4e - 2008 - lasted 6 years</p><p>5e - 2014 - ???</p><p></p><p>So ... is the release cycle getting shorter as a method to generate revenue? Or was 4e the shortest because it was less popular? I haven't seen any numbers on the popularity of each edition so I'm just curious ...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Keravath, post: 7281231, member: 6916036"] As most other folks in the thread have said ... play what you like. No one will tell you what to play. :) That said, I started with AD&D1e and have played at least a few games (and purchased the books) for all the editions in between. In my opinion, my impression is that 5e gets back more to the roots of the D&D game system. Classes get some mechanical uniqueness while also adjusting class balance so that most classes can contribute over the range of levels. Earlier editions would often be dominated by melee classes at the lower levels and caster classes at the high level. Overall, I like the feel of 5e, the possible emphasis on roleplay with reasonable but not overly complex mechanics while more or less preserving the unique character of the different classes and more or less balance. Although I hesitate to comment, some of the experiences you cite would be very uncommon if actually ever occur ... I've never even heard of let alone seen 40/40/40 level character ... I've never actually seen a game with any level 40 character though I have heard it is possible playing some of the D&D video games. As someone else mentioned, a 1st edition human multiclass with comparable experience to the 40/40/40 elven multiclass would have far more levels than your 20/5/5/5/5 example .. if only because level 5 requires a trivial level of experience to achieve. In addition, 5e does include feats which can be chosen as an alternative to increasing stats. The selection is more limited perhaps than compared to 3e or 4e but they do provide for some interesting choices without hugely disrupting the game balance. The concept of "bounded accuracy" on which 5e is based means that most character builds can be constructed around a role-playing concept without causing a significant mechanical disadvantage for the character in actual play. Anyway, some folks like it, some prefer earlier editions, and that is exactly as it should be :) ... there is no wrong choice. ----------- I'd also point out that some of the games you describe as starting play with weren't even in print until the middle or late 90's ... long after the original D&D boxed set was out of print (though its always possible a copy was kicking around a store somewhere). West End Games Star Wars : 1987 (1st Edition) 1992 (2nd Edition) 1996 (2nd Edition Revised and Expanded) TSR Star Frontiers: produced by TSR beginning in 1982 Top Secret: first published in 1980 by TSR, Inc Shadow Run 3e: 1998 (Third Edition) Werewolf the Apocalypse: 1992 (1st edition) 1994 (2nd edition) 2000 (Revised edition) 2013 (20th Anniversary Edition)[ Vampire the Masquerade: 1991 (1st edition) 1992 (2nd edition) 1998 (Revised edition) 2011 (20th Anniversary) 2018 (5th edition) AD&D: 1974 (original) 1977 (D&D Basic Set 1st version)[1] 1977–1979 (AD&D) 1981 (D&D Basic Set 2nd version) 1983–1986 (D&D Basic Set 3rd version) 1989 (AD&D 2nd Edition) 1991 (D&D Rules Cyclopedia) 2000 (D&D 3rd edition) 2003 (D&D v3.5) 2008 (D&D 4th edition) 2014 (D&D 5th edition) The 1991 release of the boxed set was black. The blue and red version of the D&D boxed set was out of print before some of the games in the list were even first published. Actually just for interest: D&D 1e - 1978 - lasted 11 years 2e - 1989 - lasted 11 years 3e - 2000 - lasted 8 years (due to the free licensing issue?) 4e - 2008 - lasted 6 years 5e - 2014 - ??? So ... is the release cycle getting shorter as a method to generate revenue? Or was 4e the shortest because it was less popular? I haven't seen any numbers on the popularity of each edition so I'm just curious ... [/QUOTE]
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