CapnZapp
Legend
What I think 5E is lacking the most at this point in time are two things:
* not crunchy enough chargen
* not enough support for games with feats and magic items, especially at high level
What I would LOVE to see is one or two official hardcovers that remedies this. Without removing the things I love about 5th edition: the caster martial parity or the easy monster stats.
Advanced Player's Handbook
One book that offers a completely new alternative set of building player characters, with a substantial increase in build choices at various levels, a more finely detailed set of bonuses. That still results in characters fully comparable to regular 5E characters that make good use out of feats, magic items and possibly multiclassing. That is, of comparable power level: rougly the same amount of hp, the same offense bonuses, the same skill bonuses and so on. While creating characters, there is more crunch, and yes, fiddliness. But once you have all your numbers on paper, the game of 5E runs just like before.
The point is, as a DM I should not need to change MY game in any shape, way or form. A "classic" character should be able to adventure just fine alongside an "advanced" character (assuming it gets access to PHB options of course). There's no good reason why an advanced player should get higher bonuses, after all. Only difference would be you need more downtime when levelling
As an aside, it would have been wonderful if Paizo's Pathfinder 2 was this (instead of their current trainwreck of a fiddly incompatible heartbreaker D&D clone).
Advanced Monster Manual
This book would upgrade every CR 10+ monster of the regular MM and VotM. At the very least. It does not need to add any new monsters. It would not maintain compatibility, in the sense that monsters would be straight up harder. (It would still be compatible with 5E of course). The reason for this is to offer monsters geared for well-built characters with feats and magic items that cooperate effectively. In short, characters generated by the first book, the APHB.
All monsters would get a revision with a specific eye on: "does this monster get the tools it needs to deliver its attacks against high-level characters that know how to play?". Every high-level monster needs a trick or three up its sleeve, or it is hopelessly easy to shut down.
It's fine to answer no to this question - if that results in a hefty CR downgrade. All legendary monsters should answer yes, of course.
There would be a new category for Solo monsters. Solo monsters are Legendary monsters that additionally are built to take on a party completely alone (zero adds/mooks/lieutenants that aren't part of the stat block - summons are still fine). Of course, a DM is free to add some mooks to make the encounter more difficult. But the monster stat block should all by itself be able to handle 4-5 level-appropriate heroes, so that's beside the issue.
Edit to add: any time a monster can cast a spell, it's effects will be summarized right there in the stat block. Concentration is clearly indicated.
In fact, any high-level monster that is wizard-like (most prominently, the Archmage NPC and the Lich) could well be given a signature spell or two which it can cast ignoring Concentration.
Both books have real indexes. No "for X see Y". Monster listing by CR.
* not crunchy enough chargen
* not enough support for games with feats and magic items, especially at high level
What I would LOVE to see is one or two official hardcovers that remedies this. Without removing the things I love about 5th edition: the caster martial parity or the easy monster stats.
Advanced Player's Handbook
One book that offers a completely new alternative set of building player characters, with a substantial increase in build choices at various levels, a more finely detailed set of bonuses. That still results in characters fully comparable to regular 5E characters that make good use out of feats, magic items and possibly multiclassing. That is, of comparable power level: rougly the same amount of hp, the same offense bonuses, the same skill bonuses and so on. While creating characters, there is more crunch, and yes, fiddliness. But once you have all your numbers on paper, the game of 5E runs just like before.
The point is, as a DM I should not need to change MY game in any shape, way or form. A "classic" character should be able to adventure just fine alongside an "advanced" character (assuming it gets access to PHB options of course). There's no good reason why an advanced player should get higher bonuses, after all. Only difference would be you need more downtime when levelling
As an aside, it would have been wonderful if Paizo's Pathfinder 2 was this (instead of their current trainwreck of a fiddly incompatible heartbreaker D&D clone).
Advanced Monster Manual
This book would upgrade every CR 10+ monster of the regular MM and VotM. At the very least. It does not need to add any new monsters. It would not maintain compatibility, in the sense that monsters would be straight up harder. (It would still be compatible with 5E of course). The reason for this is to offer monsters geared for well-built characters with feats and magic items that cooperate effectively. In short, characters generated by the first book, the APHB.
All monsters would get a revision with a specific eye on: "does this monster get the tools it needs to deliver its attacks against high-level characters that know how to play?". Every high-level monster needs a trick or three up its sleeve, or it is hopelessly easy to shut down.
It's fine to answer no to this question - if that results in a hefty CR downgrade. All legendary monsters should answer yes, of course.
There would be a new category for Solo monsters. Solo monsters are Legendary monsters that additionally are built to take on a party completely alone (zero adds/mooks/lieutenants that aren't part of the stat block - summons are still fine). Of course, a DM is free to add some mooks to make the encounter more difficult. But the monster stat block should all by itself be able to handle 4-5 level-appropriate heroes, so that's beside the issue.
Edit to add: any time a monster can cast a spell, it's effects will be summarized right there in the stat block. Concentration is clearly indicated.
In fact, any high-level monster that is wizard-like (most prominently, the Archmage NPC and the Lich) could well be given a signature spell or two which it can cast ignoring Concentration.
Both books have real indexes. No "for X see Y". Monster listing by CR.
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