D&D 5E Last bets before final playtest packet release

[Li Shenron]

It might be released later today, or perhaps on Monday. What are you guesses and expectations about the final additions before public playtest is over?

Overall I have the feeling that the last packet will be a minor update only, and that what has been already announced is basically all we get: the Bard class, multiclassing rules and maybe (but I wouldn't count on it) the interaction rules.

IMO the rest will be only slight updates to numbers and details, to equipment (again), monsters stats and spells.

I don't think we'll see any changes to Races (despite some of them being still half-done) or additional subclasses, except hopefully Cleric Domains which seems like more were near-ready but dropped last minute in the previous packet. I was hoping for all subclasses to be moved to 3rd level but it seems it's not as popular an idea as I thought. No Sorcery or any other spellcasting variant, there just hasn't been enough time for these, and IIRC it was announced they will be previewed later, not in the last playtest packet. No new feats probably, even tho they repeatedly asked in the survey which classes needed more feats (I voted all of them, feats are abysmally few), but I also think now feats are so large that they might not have had time to design new ones.

What's your bet?

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

That sounds about right unless they surprise us.

I hope they surprise us.

 

[Li Shenron]

That sounds about right unless they surprise us.

I hope they surprise us.

Sure I do as well, but somehow I don't feel any surprise coming

 

[Paraxis]

I don't think it will be this weekend at all. They said middle of the month, then later said it was going to be pushed back a bit so considering the 15th is Sunday I expect it wont come out till next Friday the 20th.

As to what is in it, I hope for a lot of changes but I doubt they will be there.

I would like to see the inspiration point rules they talked about, the new idea for the skill system, better monsters and more of them, the bard, warlord options for both the fighter and bard class, plate mail that doesn't weight 110 lbs, no extra feats for fighters, more feats to choose from, lots of stuff.

What we will get, not sure but since the last packet was a huge let down for me I hope they take a lot of stuff in a different direction.

 

[Kinak]

The only thing I'm really curious about is how they handle alternate casting styles. But, I agree, we're unlikely to actually see any of that.

I'm guessing Bard, one more Domain, and a handful of new monsters. Outside chance of skills coming back, looking very much like they did two packets ago. We might see some rough multiclassing rules, but I wouldn't be surprised if that got pushed back.

My expectations are very low, but that leaves open the possibility of being pleasantly surprised.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I think we might see one more Wizardry tradition, though it might be Transmuters or Necromancers, Conjurers they probably still need to work out monster summoning, and Abjurers and Diviners are probably too challenging right now for making them a compelling player choice.

My guess is we'll see one of the Warlord subclasses, though it might only be the Bard one and not the Fighter one.

 

[Sadrik]

This seems as good as any spot to put my list of what I think is wrong with the latest playtest pack. I want to say there is a lot that is right about it. Here is what is wrong:
Feat complexity is too simple in the selection process. For players and DMs looking to buy into the complexity of feats, they would prefer to select them every level with a minor benefit, not the macro triple feats they are now, just one benefit instead of three.

Class features are too many. I think people who are looking for the simple game do not want to deal with little mini class features every level. They want them still but perhaps at fewer intervals and make them macro like the feats are now.

Backgrounds are too entrenched in class/subclass. Enhance creativity and campaign design by allowing easily ported backgrounds to set up your world rather than trying to ban certain classes because they do not thematically fit. It is a really cool mechanic and by removing background from classes you enhance creativity. So, Class/Subclass is how you do it. Background is why you do it.

Contests are bad game mechanics, modifiers don't work the same, the 39 possibilities vs the 20 possibilities of the d20 is just bad. It is so easy to remove this too. If the game were written to always use the opposed mechanic it would be ok. It is written to use the standard d20 vs DC. Contests are tacked on and most don't see the math problems. Wotc won't too.

Hit Dice for healing and dice pools in general. This is for another game. If you want to give people on board healing, just give them a reserve pool equal to their HP.

Caster methodology, this is just a hope of mine that caster methodology is stripped from class/subclass. Everyone is vancian to start. But if you want to apply a different casting methodology such as warlock (at-will) or power points. You can do that. The DM might say all casters use power points in my campaign and that is it. It looks like they are moving in that direction.

Inclusion of barbarian as its own class, and monk too.

I am not completely sold on the math yet. This is a big one.

Have to run but there are other little niggles...

 

[jodyjohnson]

What I'd like to see is a 90% finished Core (which Bruce Cordell said was done) and Standard game I can use for the next 9-18 months as a weekly ruleset.

What I think this phase of the ruleset needs is probably another batch of stuff tossed at the wall to see what sticks. Basically a public litmus test of any of the other mechanics they are thinking about trying.

The best example of this IMO would be showing the Warlock, Artificier and Psion under the Mage subclass umbrella because even after trying to sell it for a month between Gen Con, Legends & Lore, and Q&A I'm still not buying that it makes sense.

 

[Jester David]

Given it's been a month since the last package, we'll likely see precious few big changes, likely a couple class features. Most of the changes will be the additive changes: new races and classes. I imagine it will be like the package in the spring where the package and survey focus entirely on the new content.

I just hope they get the bard right the first time, as they won't be able to post a revision for easy approval if the first draft is unpopular.

I really want them to revise the races. The new races haven't been changed at all and have some balance problems.

 

[Salamandyr]

I've got a feeling we're going to see a change to skills, either something new or a variation on something we've seen already.

Multiclassing...yeah, that's going to be in.

I think they'll include the bare bones of the interaction system, just to get an idea of whether it's something we like or find valuable. Unfortunately, it's going to be an extremely rough alpha, and the community will loudly complain about it, so even if the core principle is good, it will get dropped.

Some tweaks to the numbers. It'd be awesome if there was some change to hit point accumulation post 10th level, similar to 1/2/BECMI. I don't expect this, I just really want it.

I'm hoping for the new healing rules they were talking about in L&L a while back.

I'd like to see them go back to the previous packets deities rather than domains, but I doubt they will.