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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Artamo" data-source="post: 9841819" data-attributes="member: 7046798">I guess I look at simplicity in TTRPGs a bit differently.I said earlier that I’ve watched my kids tackle video games and card games that can be highly complex with multiple different builds and factors to consider, enough to make me spout the classic parent line: “If you put that much effort into your math homework, you’d have an A right now!” I tease them but it was as true for me when I was their age as it is for them. If I could sit and muddle through the purple prose of a 40-something year-old fan of sword and sorcery fiction and the game he created when I was 10 years old, surely simplicity is not the be-all, end-all. Creating the desire to learn the game is more important, IMO. This is why the renaissance of D&D in other venues and is broader popularity has been so key - be it Stranger Things, or Critical Role, the D&D movie, video games, animes and the like, interest in playing the game has probably never been higher. When people want to play something, they’ll take the time to understand it.With that said, I don’t think simplicity needs to be present at all levels of the game. Most 1st through 3rd level characters are simple enough for people to understand, and a couple of those choices are simpler still, like the Champion and, IMO, the Warlock. Those are going to allow your most casual player to get into the game and start playing and hopefully have enough fun to want to keep playing.I don’t think reading through a bunch of options but only having to pick one or two is all that complicated. Could it be improved by including information in the Player’s Handbook such as: “Do you just want to shoot stuff out of your fingertips? Try Eldritch Blast or Ray of Frost. If you want to protect yourself in fights, choose Mage Armor or Shield.” Sure, that would help the truly green player. But even then, there’s resources for those players and I think one of them are other players who can steer them to a couple of good choices based on their interests (I really don’t think there are bad choices at early levels. I’m sure others will take exception with that, but it’s a game - you try things out.) The other options are the numerous YouTube and online articles about what are the best spells, abilities or feats to choose for a given class. Just a few minutes time will steer new players towards good choices that will be just fine for their first few games, if they’re struggling at all. Again, I think over-focusing on simplicity forgets the greater ecosystem that has been built up around D&D specifically to make playing the game easier.Just my two cents.</blockquote>

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