D&D (2024) First playtest thread! One D&D Character Origins.

[Maxperson]

I hope Fred is the one that sticks. "Hey, everyone, let's play Fred!"

"I don't wanna. That game sounds kinda Weasley. Let's play Harry instead!"

 

[Bill Zebub]

But I guess WotC thinks people can't handle one more decision point.

Why so caustic? Can’t people just have different preferences? Believe me, I can handle complexity, but over the decades I’ve come to the conclusion that complexity, especially for the sake of realism, doesn’t enhance my RPG experience.

Maybe it’s not that the masses of players can’t handle complexity, or want an MMO, or are “kids” with short attention spans. Maybe it’s just that the people who geek out over crunchy verisimilitude, who prefer gaming on that basis, are not in the majority anymore

 

[Horwath]

Exactly. So, we can easily support the idea that the population of dwarves or elves typically have some usual stats, without having every single individual follow that pattern.

exactly.

I can support as an optional rule min and max of starting abilities if all want that option.

I.E: elves must have Min of 12 dex and 10 int and max of 14 con at character creation

dwarves might have min of 12 str and con and max of 14 in dex and cha.


but that is only an option, not a default rule.

 

[MarkB]

crit no longer doubles sneak attack?

No, nor paladins' Smites.

On the other hand, rolling a natural 20 does gain you Inspiration.

 

[Plaguescarred]

I have a feeling being Surprised will now makes you Incapacitated until the end of your first turn in combat and that you have Disadvantage to initiative to increase the chance of lower turn count.

 

[Nikosandros]

I have a personal observation about "kids and complexity". I don't know if it is universally applicable, but - personally - as a teenager, I loved complexity. I considered reading rules for wargames such as Advanced Squad Leader and Empires in Arms great fun. Nowadays... not so much.

 

[MoonSong]

Hi, I have a huge doubt. Can I get into the playtest without having a D&D Beyond Account? I don't have one, and I'm not sure I can justify spending money just to enter the playtest.

 

[Charlaquin]

Yeah perhaps it was done to nerf attack roll spells doing critical hits, but it also nerfs Sneak Attack, Superiority Dice and Smite, so the martial classes get screwed over even more. Not a change I like.

The thing is, the ability to crit with SA, Superiority Dice, and Smite made them harder to balance. Removing the 5% chance to randomly deal twice as much damage as expected opens up space to push those class’s base damage higher.

 

[Horwath]

No, nor paladins' Smites.

On the other hand, rolling a natural 20 does gain you Inspiration.

yaaaay....

 

[MarkB]

Hi, I have a huge doubt. Can I get into the playtest without having a D&D Beyond Account? I don't have one, and I'm not sure I can justify spending money just to enter the playtest.

Signing up to D&D Beyond is free. It's only subscriptions and purchases that would cost you money.