D&D 5E First Time DMing 5E - What Should I Look Out For?

[Lokiare]

I guess there were thousands of "master DMs" out there during the public playtest, then?

Seriously, I think that this is nonsense- 5e looks fine, plays fine, runs well (and fast and furious) and is not all that hard to adjudicate for anyone with a touch of judgment and common sense. At least, that's how my group found it.



This, on the other hand, is very true. You can either run 'em as is or turn them up a notch, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

One thing you might want to do is include a "proficiency bonus" on attacks for some monsters, and maybe add a few hps here and there. Or just let it ride.




When my group fought an ogre at 1st or 2nd level, they killed it in two rounds.




This is very much a matter of playstyle. Some groups love save or die; some hate it. Either way, I don't recall a ton of these kinds of effects in 5e, and most are "fail two saves and die", at least the last time I really went through the Bestiary.

I doubt there were thousands of people playing in the play test at all. Those big numbers Mearls likes to throw around are just the number of people that downloaded the packets, that includes people like me that couldn't get anyone to play it.

There are several monsters that have instant death effects. Just thumb through the most recent bestiary. They are also not warned against using them in random encounters. Which means some DMs will make the mistake of throwing them out there and angering their players because instant death for no reason is never fun. (I played 2E for quite a while so I know what I'm talking about)...

 

[Halivar]

Those big numbers Mearls likes to throw around are just the number of people that downloaded the packets, that includes people like me that couldn't get anyone to play it.

So... uh... if you didn't actually play it....

 

[Wulfgar76]

I doubt there were thousands of people playing in the play test at all. Those big numbers Mearls likes to throw around are just the number of people that downloaded the packets, that includes people like me that couldn't get anyone to play it.

There are several monsters that have instant death effects. Just thumb through the most recent bestiary. They are also not warned against using them in random encounters. Which means some DMs will make the mistake of throwing them out there and angering their players because instant death for no reason is never fun. (I played 2E for quite a while so I know what I'm talking about)...

 

[grafikchaos]

Hi All, new guy here and just had to comment on this thread.

There are lots of valid points made, for and against, but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in as well. I've been running 5E for a while now, and sure, there are issues. The math hasn't been perfected, low-level monsters are easy to kill, all of that. If you're someone who likes lots of strict rules, then as 5E is at the moment, you will be disappointed. However, if you like things to be a bit more loose and free, then 5E will be a blast. You can make it YOUR game. It's open enough to do that with how it stands right now.

Sure, it has many shortfalls, but they are easy to overcome. Low-level monsters getting wiped out by the party? Double, or triple their numbers, or double their hit points, or double their damage. Worried about slaughtering your PCs? Adjust on the fly with the monster stats. Actually killing a PC outright is never difficult as a DM, but they have death rules in place that make it harder to kill them outright. I think death saves are great, and really add to the tension. Have a monster that has a save versus death attack? Make it a save versus the rest of their hit points and falling unconscious, and then start making death save rolls.

The last fight my first level PCs were in, they were battling a 3rd level necromancer and his 5 cultist followers. Of the 6 PCs, three of them were dropped in the middle of the fight and all three of them were sweating bullets on their death saves. Fortunately, the remaining PCs cleaned up the necromancer (who had been healed twice from his followers) and were able to stabilize and heal their fallen comrades. No one likes getting taken out of the fight, but considering it was a "boss" the players had a blast.

My best advice is look over the rules, use what sounds good, ignore what doesn't, and just PLAY! Don't be afraid to adjust on the fly, and don't be afraid to scare the crap out of your PCs.

 

[Halivar]

My best advice is look over the rules, use what sounds good, ignore what doesn't, and just PLAY! Don't be afraid to adjust on the fly, and don't be afraid to scare the crap out of your PCs.

Welcome to EnWorld!

 

[Mercurius]

1st-level characters are easily capable of slaying 1st-level monsters in one hit

Good! No more fighting orcs with 46 HP at 1st level.

If you just want to see what the 5E play test was like, sure go play it, but you'll not be playing what will come out on shelves in summer 2014. That's just a fact.

True, but....I'm fairly certain that the playtest is more like 5E will be than any other edition is (Like 5E will be). So if the OP is like me--wanting to start a new game now/soon, but planning on playing 5E when it comes out--then it makes sense to start with the playtest to get a sense of the feel of the game-to-be, then it should be relatively easy to convert to 5E when it comes out.

My best advice is look over the rules, use what sounds good, ignore what doesn't, and just PLAY! Don't be afraid to adjust on the fly, and don't be afraid to scare the crap out of your PCs.

Good advice and welcome!

 

[Cybit]

So, since Lokaire didn't actually play the game it seems - don't worry too much about those comments

1) Freeform - the game lends itself to much more freeform action than 3E or 4E. The idea of "move" "action" lends itself to a simple repeatable phrase when a player starts their turn

"Where do you want to go, and what do you want to do?"

2) Spells - all spellcasters are hybrids of prepared / spontaneous. They have spells known, and spells prepared, but they don't have to prepare how many times they want to cast each spell. At level 1, this is fairly simple, as they have two spells known, two spells prepared, and two open spell slots.

3) low level combat is fast and furious - while it can be hard to hit (most level 1 characters have a +3 to +5 to hit, aiming at an AC of 14+), usually one shot drops a monster, while two shots will drop a player.

4) Tip I learned: I increased the proficiency bonuses by one across the board - having folks start at +2 instead of +1. Has helped immensely. Makes being proficient much more useful initially.

5) Level 1 rogues have hilarious skill checks if they roll well. Just a heads up.

6) Remember, no F/R/W - checks are by ability. Use this as an opportunity to let your players BS / roleplay their way into using a better attribute (for them) on a given skill check.

 

[Lokiare]

So... uh... if you didn't actually play it....

I played it, I just wasn't able to find people to play it through all the packets, however I did a thorough analysis of the math involved and some simulations and it didn't look good. The times I did get to play, it was the players or the DM that made the game fun and not the rules. When I play 3.5 or 4E the players, DM, and the rules make it fun. See the difference?

 

[Lokiare]

Hi All, new guy here and just had to comment on this thread.

There are lots of valid points made, for and against, but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in as well. I've been running 5E for a while now, and sure, there are issues. The math hasn't been perfected, low-level monsters are easy to kill, all of that. If you're someone who likes lots of strict rules, then as 5E is at the moment, you will be disappointed. However, if you like things to be a bit more loose and free, then 5E will be a blast. You can make it YOUR game. It's open enough to do that with how it stands right now.

Sure, it has many shortfalls, but they are easy to overcome. Low-level monsters getting wiped out by the party? Double, or triple their numbers, or double their hit points, or double their damage. Worried about slaughtering your PCs? Adjust on the fly with the monster stats. Actually killing a PC outright is never difficult as a DM, but they have death rules in place that make it harder to kill them outright. I think death saves are great, and really add to the tension. Have a monster that has a save versus death attack? Make it a save versus the rest of their hit points and falling unconscious, and then start making death save rolls.

The last fight my first level PCs were in, they were battling a 3rd level necromancer and his 5 cultist followers. Of the 6 PCs, three of them were dropped in the middle of the fight and all three of them were sweating bullets on their death saves. Fortunately, the remaining PCs cleaned up the necromancer (who had been healed twice from his followers) and were able to stabilize and heal their fallen comrades. No one likes getting taken out of the fight, but considering it was a "boss" the players had a blast.

My best advice is look over the rules, use what sounds good, ignore what doesn't, and just PLAY! Don't be afraid to adjust on the fly, and don't be afraid to scare the crap out of your PCs.

The problem is you can make any edition of D&D 'yours' because rule 0 allows the DM and players to change the game however they want. The balance of 5E and the system itself actively worked against my enjoyment of the game.

When we fought a dragon and my Wizard unloaded on it, the combat was over in 3 rounds (about 7 minutes). It was anticlimactic and the party was nearly undamaged.

When I had my BBEG do a monologue the Wizard player cast a save or die spell and instantly killed it.

The Cleric never failed a diplomacy check because the math for skills was so far off.

I'm serious when I say you'll probably have a better time with an older edition if that's what you are looking for.

If you want the feel of old school, why go for something that isn't old school and doesn't emulate old school well?

 

[Mistwell]

The biggest thing you should look out for is that the math isn't very tight, mostly meaning the game is too easy. 1st-level characters are easily capable of slaying 1st-level monsters in one hit before the monsters even get to act. Also, note that a single monster (no matter what it is) cannot challenge a whole party of PCs. This kind of breaks old adventures: for example, the 7 HD minotaur in the Caves of Chaos is the easiest fight ever.

Uh, none of that comports with my experiences playtesting these rules (though we have not used the Caves of Chaos or the minotaur).

It sounds like you have a DM who isn't utilizing the guidelines for challenges. And who is not using any wandering monsters to interrupt those one hour short rests.

There are definitely single monsters than can challenge the whole party, no question about it. And I've definitely challenged the part with 1st level monsters, like Kobold Dragonshields, Skeletons, and Zombies.