Level Up (A5E) GMing and High Level play

[dave2008]

You say that the CR is rebalanced. Does that mean that building an encounter will actually feel as easy or deadly as indicated?

This really depends. I can't really speak to A5e specifically, but in O5e the encounter guidelines work - for a specific group of players. D&D is not a board game, people play it different ways. An encounter guideline, any guideline, cannot account for all of the different ways it can be played. You need to be flexible as a DM and understand how the guidelines relate to your group. Once you do this, they become more useful generally. I assume this holds true for A5e as well.

 

[dave2008]

1. Does it work at higher levels? Many people thinks 5e does not work at higher levels. How does a5e compare?

O5e works at higher levels, really well IMO, and I assume with all the extra work put into it that A5e works even better.

PS my group is lvl 15 in O5e now and having a great time and I find it very easy to DM. But I have also DM'd D&D for a long time.

2. Is it easy to GM? Many people feel that the GM is left to themselves in 5e, how does GMing feel in a5e

I'm not sure what you mean by "left to themselves" as there is ton of DM content in 5e. And since A5e builds on O5e, even more for A5e. Do you care to clarify what you mean?

FYI, there are resources in the DMG that allow you to run pretty much run any encounter with just a sheet worth of easy rules/tables. I use these all the time to improv encounters and it works really well for me. I will admit that these are not in all one convenient place in the DMG though.

 

[dave2008]

Thanks for the answers

A follow up question:
How is the economy working? Is there enough things to use gold on? Or will gold become meaningless after a few levels?

Can't help you here, we haven't kept track of money since the late 80s/early 90s. Never been a part of the game we are interested in

 

[AK81]

I used the travelling rules on the fly for the first time last night. If you think on your feet you can get a really nice organic encounter. I used to hand wave travel because it thought wandering monsters were too gamey but the two harpies that randomly rolled up when looking for fire wood deved up to a nice little side qu

O5e works at higher levels, really well IMO, and I assume with all the extra work put into it that A5e works even better.

PS my group is lvl 15 in O5e now and having a great time and I find it very easy to DM. But I have also DM'd D&D for a long time.

I'm not sure what you mean by "left to themselves" as there is ton of DM content in 5e. And since A5e builds on O5e, even more for A5e. Do you care to clarify what you mean?

FYI, there are resources in the DMG that allow you to run pretty much run any encounter with just a sheet worth of easy rules/tables. I use these all the time to improv encounters and it works really well for me. I will admit that these are not in all one convenient place in the DMG though.

I may actually be a bit unfair to DnD 5e with that comment. I am pretty new to the hobby and I think my view of DMing 5e have been negatively colored by reading post on Reddit and watching YouTube.

I'm on my first campaign with a group of all new players. And we are actually having a really good time.

 

[AK81]

I used the travelling rules on the fly for the first time last night. If you think on your feet you can get a really nice organic encounter. I used to hand wave travel because it thought wandering monsters were too gamey but the two harpies that randomly rolled up when looking for fire wood deved up to a nice little side quest.

The exploration pillar is actually the reason that makes me most interested in a5e

 

[AK81]

O5e works at higher levels, really well IMO, and I assume with all the extra work put into it that A5e works even better.

PS my group is lvl 15 in O5e now and having a great time and I find it very easy to DM. But I have also DM'd D&D for a long time.

I'm not sure what you mean by "left to themselves" as there is ton of DM content in 5e. And since A5e builds on O5e, even more for A5e. Do you care to clarify what you mean?

FYI, there are resources in the DMG that allow you to run pretty much run any encounter with just a sheet worth of easy rules/tables. I use these all the time to improv encounters and it works really well for me. I will admit that these are not in all one convenient place in the DMG though.

And I'm really happy to hear that you think 5e works well at higher levels. My campaign is at level 9 now, and I guess I am a bit worried that it will fall apart at higher levels.

 

[dave2008]

And I'm really happy to hear that you think 5e works well at higher levels. My campaign is at level 9 now, and I guess I am a bit worried that it will fall apart at higher levels.

It hasn't for us, and I have seen a lot of people on these forums have successful 5e campaigns that reach lvl 20.

 

[tetrasodium]

And I'm really happy to hear that you think 5e works well at higher levels. My campaign is at level 9 now, and I guess I am a bit worried that it will fall apart at higher levels.

There are things that change & things that can help as you keep going. I know it's a bit of a threadjack but it gives a good opportunity to talk about relevant elements of a5e, what warning signs are you seeing at level 9 & what kinds of worrisome expectations do they give you about higher level play?

 

[dave2008]

I may actually be a bit unfair to DnD 5e with that comment. I am pretty new to the hobby and I think my view of DMing 5e have been negatively colored by reading post on Reddit and watching YouTube.

I'm on my first campaign with a group of all new players. And we are actually having a really good time.

Being a new DM can be hard, it is just difficult for me to remember because that was over 30 years ago! The important thing to remember, no mater what you advice or warnings you read on redit or watch on Youtube, every group is different. You need to find what works for your group.

Also, I suggest throwing in some Epic Encounters every now and again.

 

[AK81]

There are things that change & things that can help as you keep going. I know it's a bit of a threadjack but it gives a good opportunity to talk about relevant elements of a5e, what warning signs are you seeing at level 9 & what kinds of worrisome expectations do they give you about higher level play?

I guess the two "problems" I have and may become even more pronounced at higher levels is encounter balance. I think it's often difficult to judge how difficult a fight will be.

I want my players to have exciting and challenging encounters, but I do not want to kill their characters.

Also I think combat can often drag a bit. At least on my side of the screen. I've talked to my players and they seems to find it exciting so far.