D&D 5E Mathematical Underpinnings of D&D Next

[Tequila Sunrise]

It's been so many years since I stopped playing Magic the Gathering, so I don't know how balanced the current "edition" is.

I don't pretend to be an expert on modern Magic, but I think it's about as balanced as a duel between two 3.5e dragons min/maxed with all the game's best options. In other words, it's rocket tag.

...Assuming that both players can afford the good cards. If one can't, he's at a huge disadvantage.

 

[skotothalamos]

1. Over 2 yrs ago, so prob not relevant
2. He doesn't inspire confidence from the posts ( but hell its the interweb)

uh... two years ago, he says he's going from Magic to work on D&D.

Two months after that, WotC announces D&D Next.

In today's article, he says he worked on D&D maths for a year and then came back to working on the Magic set that's coming out soon. Magic sets have about a year lifespan from design to publication, so he would have been back on Magic about a year ago, or about a year after he left Magic to work on D&D for "about a year."

I think it's exactly relevant.

 

[DMZ2112]

Interesting comment from one of the Magic developers posted on the WotC website today.



http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/282

Does this help you feel better about the math for the final game?

I'm not sure, but it's given me an entertaining mental image of Walter White taking some time off to open a bakery.

Just kidding, Magic. Thanks for the pallet of cash. You're the best.

 

[Jan van Leyden]

Even if the underpinnings turn out well, doesn't this just mean that the core D&D team is going to be losing one of the people who actually understands the math?

Not necessarily. Without knowing the (mathematical) status of magic and the way sets are designe, it LaPille could have done the mathematical analysis and writing rules and algorithm to actually calculate values.

The whole bounded accuracy thing could profit from such an approach, e.g. And with this rules an algorithms in place, his job is actually done. Whether future designers heed his advice or not, remains to be seen.