D&D (2024) Have the 2024 PHB Reveals changed your intentions re: purchasing D&D 2024/25?

[Quickleaf]

A friend of mine runs a FLGS and they are having a midnight release party. They asked if I’d run a game for guests running up to the release. So I said yes. If I can I’d get a copy before so I could run that game using the new book.

Otherwise I would have probably waited.

Party time!

 

[Quickleaf]

5e was fun. I've been already drifting away from it however, and 2024 feels like it's doubling down on things I didn't really like in 5e, without adding much I do like. For my D&D itch, we've got Level Up. When we're craving something lighter, there's Shadowdark, OSE, and others in the N/OSR market. I'm fortunate that my circle of gamers are always up for trying new games.

There are a lot of rpgs that are exciting me right now. D&D just isn't it.

That's my take too! Lots of games that I feel are ahead of what D&D is doing.

I was undecided before, leaning on the negative side but waiting till I saw more. I'd say I moved from Undecided > Will Not Buy.

From what I've seen in the flip-throughs many of the underlying rules changes have made me more negatively inclined. Four things:

1. Core rules changes to stealth, surprise, the influence action, and implementation of weapon masteries are not at all to my liking.
2. Sections where I was hoping for more succinct clear rules writing – e.g. spells – seem to be just as verbose as before.
3. The areas of the game I felt needed the most attention – e.g. exploration – don't seem to have been addressed at least in the PHB.
4. Monster stats aren't noticeably improved to my eyes based on the few we've seen so far. As an example of what I mean by "other games feel ahead" – the whole d6 table on the skeleton entry...OSR games have been doing that sort of thing for years, and doing it better.

I'm normally the type of GM to roll with what my players want to play – I'll run most games at least once – but if they insisted on playing a game using the 2024 rules, so far I don't think I'd want to GM that.

It does seem like a fun game to be a Player in though, and I'd try playing it. But GMing 2024 D&D? Nah.

EDIT: Listening to Mike Shea's walkthrough of PHB and agree with many of his points!

 

[Corinnguard]

Core rules changes to stealth, surprise, the influence action, and implementation of weapon masteries are not at all to my liking.

If Deception, Intimidation, Performance and Persuasion were folded up into a single skill, Influence would probably be the name of said skill. As all four skills were designed to influence others in and outside of Combat.

As for weapon masteries, I tend to think Combat Traditions and Combat Maneuvers would work better for a character.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

This makes me think masterpieces are subjective to the individual... but thanks for the reply

Well sure, because everyone will evaluate things somewhat differently, but I think the general criteria I laid out for a masterpiece as opposed to merely a "good game" are pretty solid, and that if people are really honest about design, and understand design, whilst our lists won't be identical, they will have a lot of crossover.

They'll also feature games you don't, personally, enjoy all that much, most likely. I know MASKS wasn't something I leapt at - I only got it because I kept seeing it on lists of the best superhero RPGs, and I'd tried loads of been disappointed by them. The idea of being teen heroes with angst (which is a lot of supers, to be fair) wasn't one I was keen on. But good god the focused design, and the way it all works together - it was so far beyond what I expected, that it actually turned me around and instead of running a more standard grown-up supers game, I ran this.

On that note I'm probably going to go buy Shadowdark, though I'm not sure I want to run it - I kind of want to try Draw Steel first if I'm going to annoy my main group by making us play a new RPG! And that is apparently out in August (in a KS backer playtest form), inshallah.

 

[Quickleaf]

If Deception, Intimidation, Performance and Persuasion were folded up into a single skill, Influence would probably be the name of said skill. As all four skills were designed to influence others in and outside of Combat.

As for weapon masteries, I tend to think Combat Traditions and Combat Maneuvers would work better for a character.

GM: "Looks like you've failed your Performance check with your sword."
Me: "Aw man, what happens now?"
GM: "Indiana Jones shoots you of course."
Me: "B-but what would have happened if I succeeded?"
GM: "Indiana would have been impressed! ....And then he'd have shot you."

 

[Reynard]

For my own part, it just doesn't look like this revision has changed any of the issues I have with 5E. I mean, I like 5E and it's generally a fine version of D&D, but I am definitely not interested in a half-edition. I am ready for a full bore edition change. I know D&D is an outlier for doing that, but I like "finding D&D" in a new ruleset.

If I do decide I need a revised 5E I'll just go ToV, because I'm really not interested in giving WotC money for this.

 

[Von Corellon]

EDIT: Listening to Mike Shea's walkthrough of PHB and agree with many of his points!

Now that’s a person I will check out, thank you!

 

[Quickleaf]

@SlyFlourish

Now that’s a person I will check out, thank you!

Mike is prolific, the author of The Lazy GM, and on these very forums!

I started following him in 4e years, and he had the sort of “aha” pivot into a slightly rules lighter, prep lighter mindset that many folks at that time did. He’s a great person to follow and support in the RPG space.

 

[mamba]

This makes me think masterpieces are subjective to the individual... but thanks for the reply

I would be surprised if they weren’t

 

[DragonLancer]

As my way back in to D&D since 3.5, I'm still buying into it.