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%.

 

[Parmandur]

Mearls has said on Twitter that the point of this survey is developing future products, not revising the Core with Errata.

 

[painted_klown]

If getting 5E "fixed" involves changes that make it so new core rulebooks will need to be published, I would prefer they leave it alone!

Truth be told, I love it "as is". No need for a bunch of changes and new core books IMO.

 

[Doctor Futurity]

If you are only using the Basic rules or Starter set, like I have, the survey is gonna be kind of pointless

Not really because the survey lets you focus on or ignore elements not in the basic game (i.e. you only need to pick the classes you are familiar with to provide feedback on, for example, and ignore the feat questions).

Anyhoo....count me in the boat with people who'd like to see more domain options (and multiple domain elections) for clerics, as well as a more robust ranger beastmaster. But don't touch the rogue, that dude's perfect.

 

[Li Shenron]

Specific surveys don't work in this context. At all. There's plenty of research on this. If you want specifics then you interview and ask subject matter experts or you read the ample space provided for feedback..

Surveys are for trends and generalities. The best way to get generalities is through your classic 5 option really good to really bad survey. Same thing goes for comparisons. Comparisons are extremely useful.

I would expect these questionnaires to be specific, not generic surveys. They had 2 years of playtesting for getting generic feedback. Further generic feedback it might be more disruptive than convergent.

If now they are just asking "which is better, Bard or Fighter", and they plan to use this generic info to re-balance classes, it might be even worse than fixing specific fiddly bits. Because they would not know which fiddly bits to touch, and so it might result in touching the wrong ones (or adding new, untested ones), getting even more unintended consequences, that will feel they need to be fixed.

Mearls has said on Twitter that the point of this survey is developing future products, not revising the Core with Errata.

Well this is certainly new info. Let's hope it's true. My problem is not with new material (even if it would be released in re-printed core books) but with books obsolescence.

 

[Falling Icicle]

Mearls has said on Twitter that the point of this survey is developing future products, not revising the Core with Errata.

I wonder how questions like "which is more powerful, barbarian or fighter?" are going to help them do that.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I wonder how questions like "which is more powerful, barbarian or fighter?" are going to help them do that.

that one atleast makes sense to compare...

 

[painted_klown]

Mearls has said on Twitter that the point of this survey is developing future products, not revising the Core with Errata.

I didn't see that when I posted my comment. Knowing this makes me feel MUCH better. Thanks for the info, for us non-twitter using gamers.

 

[scruffygrognard]

As the player of a halfling rogue who can't use his naturally stealthy and cunning action abilities to hide behind friends and foes in combat, I'd like to see clarification on hiding/stealth.

I know that WotC wants to leave rules open to DM interpretation BUT a FAQ on stealth really seems to be in order.

 

[painted_klown]

As the player of a halfling rogue who can't use his naturally stealthy and cunning action abilities to hide behind friends and foes in combat, I'd like to see clarification on hiding/stealth.

I know that WotC wants to leave rules open to DM interpretation BUT a FAQ on stealth really seems to be in order.

I see nothing wrong with rules clarifications and such. In fact, I agree there are some that need to be done. However, I would prefer a clairfication on the rules already in place, not an alteration of the current rules. If that makes sense...

Even if that were to be done, a book realy isn't required IMO. Simply have a FAQ page on their website to cover these clarifications, and a PDF with these same FAQs, that can be downloaded & printed if players choose to do so.

 

[lkj]

Since it might be informative-- the twitter conversation with Mearls:

Question: "Do you anticipate using the survey data for errata'ing the core books or more for future creations?"

Answer: "future creations - errata is the domain of correcting mistakes in text (we say X when intent is Y)"

And:

Question: "Out of curiosity, is this still the plan for #dnd5e? http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/living-rule-set …"
(referring to living ruleset article Mearls wrote awhile back)

Answer: "yes, but the surveys will be monthly"

Question: "And major rules changes will still be presented as optional alternatives?"

Answer: "yes"

Hope that helps.

AD