JiffyPopTart
Bree-Yark
I'm going to try to put this discussion back on the track it started on by restating the OPs original thread discussion topic. (as I understand it from the OPs original post).
Restated: The lack of danger from 5e monsters towards the players (with emphasis on the lack of one-save long-term effects) hampers the design. A side effect of this is that the game seems too focused on HD and HP effects to the exclusion of other, long term, maladies that can affect the player characters.
When discussing this one position, I do agree with you OP. In my opinion I would rate the lethality from highest to lowest as follows.
3e: X3 and X4 crits landed by low level enemies can easily take down a character above their CR in one swing. Once you started to gain some levels and equipment you could more easily mitigate these one-big-hit but low levels were always one orc crit away from instant death. Resurrection was fairly easy, but a slight ding on the wallet.
1e: Lower HP for the PCs and an optional (I believe) deaths door to -10 rule meant low level characters were always in danger from an errant swing, although the lack of X3 and x4 damage is why I rank this lower. As in 3e, once the players started ramping up in loot and spells they were fairly safe mitigating danger. Resurrection was fairly easy and didn't require expensive components.
2e: Pretty much similar to 1e, however the addition of all the kits and the now standard (I believe) deaths door rule gave you a little space to get saved by the cleric and made it a bit less lethal.
5e: It's difficult to take down a PC. Crits drop to only x2. The monsters in the Monster Manual seem to lack enough damage on their basic attacks although the special attacks seems appropriately dangerous. HD keep you adventuring longer in the day but can't keep you up during a battle. Healing items WAY less common than in 1-3e to make up the difference. Almost every PC can go from comatose to 100% in two long rests making "road encounters" a waste of time.
4e: The edition I can't think of one character having been killed in. Even playing stupidly and getting yourself knocked out in combat on purpose and left to bleed out you still weren't very likely to die (unless the GM targeted your KOed character to kill them).
Restated: The lack of danger from 5e monsters towards the players (with emphasis on the lack of one-save long-term effects) hampers the design. A side effect of this is that the game seems too focused on HD and HP effects to the exclusion of other, long term, maladies that can affect the player characters.
When discussing this one position, I do agree with you OP. In my opinion I would rate the lethality from highest to lowest as follows.
3e: X3 and X4 crits landed by low level enemies can easily take down a character above their CR in one swing. Once you started to gain some levels and equipment you could more easily mitigate these one-big-hit but low levels were always one orc crit away from instant death. Resurrection was fairly easy, but a slight ding on the wallet.
1e: Lower HP for the PCs and an optional (I believe) deaths door to -10 rule meant low level characters were always in danger from an errant swing, although the lack of X3 and x4 damage is why I rank this lower. As in 3e, once the players started ramping up in loot and spells they were fairly safe mitigating danger. Resurrection was fairly easy and didn't require expensive components.
2e: Pretty much similar to 1e, however the addition of all the kits and the now standard (I believe) deaths door rule gave you a little space to get saved by the cleric and made it a bit less lethal.
5e: It's difficult to take down a PC. Crits drop to only x2. The monsters in the Monster Manual seem to lack enough damage on their basic attacks although the special attacks seems appropriately dangerous. HD keep you adventuring longer in the day but can't keep you up during a battle. Healing items WAY less common than in 1-3e to make up the difference. Almost every PC can go from comatose to 100% in two long rests making "road encounters" a waste of time.
4e: The edition I can't think of one character having been killed in. Even playing stupidly and getting yourself knocked out in combat on purpose and left to bleed out you still weren't very likely to die (unless the GM targeted your KOed character to kill them).
