How's D&D Working Out For You? First official feedback survey looks at CLASSES and FEATS!

D&D 5th Edition has been out for 7 months now, with a boxed Starter Set, a free basic game, three core rulebooks, two hardcover adventures, and range of accessories. and WotC has just launched the first of its feedback surveys. From the start, WotC promised 5E would be a "living game" and that they would periodically survey the fan base to find out how the game is working and what areas need to be looked at. This first survey is focused on character classes and feats. "Future surveys will touch on other areas of the game. We’ll also launch more detailed surveys of classes or feats as needed to refine the information we gather and better understand your feedback."

You can take the survey here. It can take up to about 18 minutes to complete if you answer all of the questions. But once you've done it, please do feel free to comment here and share what you think for others to read, too!

Most of the released products have high ratings when looking at consolidated ratings from fans and reviews from popular sites like GeekDad, Forbes, The Escapist, Examiner.com, The Mary Sue, Aint-It-Cool-News, Boing Boing, and iO9. The Player's Handbook and the Dungeon Master's Guide both current have 92.5%, and the Monster Manual is not far behind with 91%. The Starter Set, also, has a strong 84%. The adventures have not fared quite so well; Hoard of the Dragon Queen has only 55%, although Rise of Tiamat is more popular with 76.5%. The initial DM Screen from Gale Force 9 is unpopular with a rating of 30%, but the new one from WotC was much better received with 84.5%.

 

[Nebulous]

Being asked to compare classes to say which was more powerful seemed a bit odd. I skipped that bit.

I didn't understand that part.

 

[painted_klown]

I just took the survey as well.

Like many of you, I wasn't too keen on the comparing the 2 classes to say who was most powerful. IMO, it all comes down to the situation at hand.

I would have also liked to have seen questions based on rules clarity. My biggest "problem" with 5E isn't necessarily the rules themselves, it's making sure I have a clear understanding of them, so that I'll be able to play them as intended.

 

[Rhenny]

While I was taking the survey, I found it difficult to rate the feats most. So many of them rely on situation or roleplaying, character development. I am very satisfied with most of the game, and I think that WoTC really scored big on the cleric. I love the variety and options available to that class particularly.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I took the survey and was unhappy with the inability to fill out comments on each class... I also thought it odd to compare classes the way they did. I ended the survey asking why warlords and warlord style play was ditched, and stating that battle master fighter was a poor substitute.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Would have loved to tell them that the eldritch knight subclass is missing the ability to channel spells through a weapon strike and that is a hge part of what appeals to some people about a "gish" build. Oddly enough the paladin feels closer to what I was hoping for (especially the oath of vengeance). Refluffing for now I suppose.

Yeah, the Paladin is really badass as a swordmage type. Their faster spell progression and ability to smite AFTER they hit kind of skews it for me. Also the paladin in my group has ended virtually every "boss" type fight with a crit/smite combo.

Incidentally, the class comparison pairings seem random. For me it was barbarian/rogue, warlock/monk, druid/sorcerer, paladin/bard and fighter/wizard.

I was hoping they'd ask about the warlord. There's already the watered down fighter carefully designed to not offend anyone's precious little v-tude. Where's the one for those who want a more complex and badass version?

 

[Bugleyman]

Glad they're asking for feedback.

Not sure they'll appreciate my feedback of "Hi, I'm a 30 year D&D player who loves 5E, but won't play it ever again unless/until you release it in PDF."

At least they asked.

 

[Grainger]

I feel the need to point out, if the results of this [and presumably other] survey is indeed to be taken for alterations and inclusions in a "living system" then it is imperative for those who LIKE what they see and feel of the game to get in there and make remarks!

Sitting back and saying "well I like it all/most/whatever. Nothing really needs to be said" then that vocal minorities of tech/online savy "ragers against the machine" [for lack of a better term] will have more impact/effect on WotC's future choices and decisions. The results, predictably, will be an ever-changing/-shifting game and feel moving away from/no longer be what you like.

So, get in there with the "likes" and "no need to/don't change this/that" folks!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

As someone who loves the new edition - the whole approach, the whole ethos, as well as the vast majority of the details - I say "a thousand times yes" to this! I'm not against them making minor fixes and improvements, but I wouldn't like to see the system change to any great degree.

In my group alone, 5e has got me back into D&D (and indeed RPGs) after almost a decade's absence, and has helped bring back three other players to RPGs, one of whom hasn't played since 1e, as well as bringing a new player who (I think) had only ever played once. That's not bad going. Admittedly, the other players would probably have played had I been running any edition, but the fact that it's so friendly to players who haven't played recent editions has helped enormously; feeling like the D&D we remember, while feeling "modern" too. Wizards have done good with this.

 

[was]

I hope this doesn't end up in a new PHB. That could get a bit pricey.

 

[GX.Sigma]

They asked if I wanted books or boxed sets. I took the write-in option and said "digital."

 

[MoonSong]

I have a complaint, the survey ocked me out of giving feedback on sorcerers, all of it because I said I had mostly run low level PCs (from both sides). But that is why I'm dissatisfied with sorcerers, they feel like wizards-- at early levels.

They asked if I wanted books or boxed sets. I took the write-in option and said "digital."

I said: softcovers and pdfs.