D&D 5E Mearl's Book Design Philosophy

[delericho]

"This book is worthless to me."
"Well, what do you want?"
"I'm not paid to tell you."

It's not a difficult question to answer, and is not a trick question.

Speaking for myself, I'd like to see Eberron and Dark Sun support as a matter of some priority (these may or may not be coming in the "Big Book of Mechanics"), and I'd like a book of modular rules options (similar to 3e's "Unearthed Arcana") - that was something that was discussed during the development of 5e that seems to have fallen by the wayside, but I'd certainly appreciate it.

And, yes, I'd like to see more subclasses for almost all the classes and more backgrounds. (Not so bothered about races, spells, or feats - though I'm sure many people would like these.)

Finally, I'd like an MM2, but given that they're doing VGtM I've come to terms with the likelihood that that's not happening.

 

[Zardnaar]

What does gish mean?

Fighter/mage in a modern context blending arcane magic and weapons.

A broad defination weapons and magic so Paladins and some clerics would count.

5E lacks an effective arcane gish the Paladin is great.

 

[Shasarak]

"This book is worthless to me."
"Well, what do you want?"
"I'm not paid to tell you."

It's not a difficult question to answer, and is not a trick question.

Of course I can tell you what I want but Mearls has specifically said that he does not want to give us a Forgotten Realms campaign guide so where does that leave us?

Personally I would have loved to see a Spelljammer hardcover for 5e but failing that I am just doing my own Pathfinder version because there is much more support for non-vanilla fantasy.

 

[Tony Vargas]

What does gish mean?

Psychotically Evil psionic humanoid descended from human slaves who rebelled against their Mind Flayer masters, who happens to have studied both arcane magic and weapons.

 

[Zardnaar]

Psychotically Evil psionic humanoid descended from human slaves who rebelled against their Mind Flayer masters, who happens to have studied both arcane magic and weapons.

Gith not gish. Gish was a Githyanki fighter/mage.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Gish was a Githyanki fighter/mage.

That's what I said.

 

[SkidAce]

...But I'm sure a lot of us were delighted to have Complete Warrior after having been suckered into Sword & Fist...

I hear yah man, I hear yah....

 

[Zardnaar]

I liked Paizos approach at least early in the run.

Ultimate Combat
Ultimate Magic
Advanced Players Guide

Never really bought or wanted beyond that, bought the Advanced Races PDF but those were bought hardcover. They looked nice as well circa 2011/12.

Never really got on board the Pathfinder bloat train and I am the DM and just say no to a lot of their stuff when I did run it.

Paizo never made a Psionics book though so IDK if Mearls working on a Psion is the best use of his time. I would not mind some more options but there are others I would want before the Psion. Psionics should be early in an editions run IMHO even though I do not like them (unless they do not sell IDK Paizo did not do them with Pathfinder).

They could always rubber stamp some 3pp as well and make it official if they picked the right stuff.

 

[Maxperson]

How???
Where will this magical increase in profits come from?

There's this new fangled invention called money.

Are there a hundred thousand D&D fans waiting in the wings for crunch focused books?

Yes.

History shows that once fighter players have a book with a significant number of new fighter options, be it Complete Fighter's Handbook, Complete Warrior, Martial Power, or Ultimate Combat, they don't generally buy a second.

I suppose I could have won the roleplaying lottery. Literally dozens of people that I games with bought most or all of those splat books. That or zero. I know of no one that bought one book and stopped. It could be chance, but the odds are probably better that I will winning the real lottery.

 

[Maxperson]

Sorry, but I gotta call you out on this. First, you complain you're not getting what you want because "It's not splat.' When it's pointed out how what is being put out IS splat, you say "that doesn't do me any good, so I don't count it. I'm not spending my money on something I won't use most of." so then you're asked for specifics of what you would consider worthy of your $, and you give generics, which helps no one. When asked to clarify specifically what you're asking for, you come up with a reply like this.

I have been consistently saying general release. My position has not wavered one iota.

As for generics, I was very specific. He asked what sort of rules I would buy. I would specifically buy general rules about new classes, subclasses, races, magic items, spells, equipment, new optional rules, and so on. I'm actually very easy to please.