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%.

 

[Uder]

This survey looks like it's going to feed into and inform further surveys. Very "low level" questions. I wish it didn't have random questions though. I had to take the survey several times until all class balance choices I wanted to vote on came up.

 

[Evenglare]

You guys aren't thinking about the big picture of the "Which is more or less powerful". If you look at it singularly, then I agree it doesn't make any sense. But if you look at 100,000 of these you get a very nice picture of where the classes sit compared to one another in the perception of the community. Now this does actually mean that your opinion isn't worth anymore than anyone else so, if you want to grip about anything start with that.

 

[zicar]

Any bets on where the ranger will fall on the power scale?

 

[Chocolategravy]

So which do you guys think is more powerful: Barbarian, or Fighter?

There are table differences that would impact this (second wind can be hugely powerful or worthless), and it doesn't reference if you're using feats or magic items or not, both of which will alter the answer. Also if you're using the flanking optional rule (which is very common) which has a huge boost to the fighter but not nearly so much to the barbarian.

Without sorting those things out first, the question is completely worthless.

It also doesn't differentiate low level or high level. Most people will respond with a low level answer where the barbarian is more effective.

And then of course, the main thing is multi-classing. With MC in the mix, the question is worthless because the answer is "both."

 

[Fralex]

I love how meta this is getting. People are reviewing the survey itself!

And with that comment, you just reviewed the thread reviewing the survey! WHERE WILL IT END

 

[gyor]

I imagine that the Rise of Tiamat is more popular is because those who didn't like the first one where more less likely to buy the second adventurer.

 

[Fralex]

I didn't think the "which class is stronger?" questions were pointless, but they really should've had a neutral "they seem pretty balanced to me" answer.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

You guys aren't thinking about the big picture of the "Which is more or less powerful". If you look at it singularly, then I agree it doesn't make any sense. But if you look at 100,000 of these you get a very nice picture of where the classes sit compared to one another in the perception of the community. Now this does actually mean that your opinion isn't worth anymore than anyone else so, if you want to grip about anything start with that.

unless you cheat...

This survey looks like it's going to feed into and inform further surveys. Very "low level" questions. I wish it didn't have random questions though. I had to take the survey several times until all class balance choices I wanted to vote on came up.

 

[Mistwell]

There are table differences that would impact this (second wind can be hugely powerful or worthless), and it doesn't reference if you're using feats or magic items or not, both of which will alter the answer. Also if you're using the flanking optional rule (which is very common) which has a huge boost to the fighter but not nearly so much to the barbarian.

Without sorting those things out first, the question is completely worthless.

It also doesn't differentiate low level or high level. Most people will respond with a low level answer where the barbarian is more effective.

And then of course, the main thing is multi-classing. With MC in the mix, the question is worthless because the answer is "both."

It earlier specified what levels you've played to as DM and as Player in the survey, so they control for those issues. They're asking based on your experience playing 5e, not what you think other tables might be doing.

So which do you think is more powerful at your 5e tables : Barbarian, or Fighter?

 

[Chocolategravy]

So which do you think is more powerful at your 5e tables : Barbarian, or Fighter?

Neither even exists at my tables. We use MC rules. No one takes just a fighter or just a barbarian.