D&D 5E New D&D Next Playtest package is up (19/9/2013) [merged threads]

[RevTurkey]

Well...had a look...

Still with the ridiculous Human across the board stat mods...I don't like that.
& The Proficiency system is clunky as hell for me. Must be a nostalgic throwback.

As it stands, I am not feeling the love for this. I actually liked the very first playtest packet more. Oh well. I am going to leave the whole development process alone and just go to my local game store and see what I think when it comes out eventually.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Multiclassing -- simple and straightforward, looks like it will work well for spellcasters. Some classes like fighter will definitely be worth a 1-level dip, so we'll see how this gets abused.

Wish they'd have changed the human ability score thing -- +1 per ability is just boring.

 

[MoonSong]

Yeah. On the one hand, it's a way to reduce abuse, but it's also an unnecessary impediment. I'd probably ignore them, and will suggest in the survey that they be removed.

The rest of the multiclassing rules look pretty solid, though.

Indeed, that will be my first commentary in the next poll, and the loudest and the last one. I don't mind them as an optional rule for people who really cannot stomach Rogue1-druid3-sorcerer4-Mystic stalker of the wild10. But I thought we had outgrown that kind of limits, specially considering the multiclass rules are very balanced without them already. but my biggest grip is that when finally it seems they overcome the mage-as-wizard by default they relapse immediately. Their Int 15 mage prerrequisite ignores people who want to be mage-sorcerers (Cha based) or mage-warlocks (Con/Cha based) because they haven't forsaken us already do they?.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Background & Skills: I like the proficiency and skills but i think its too narrow and there could be more. I like that some background grant additional language on top of your Race.

Classes: I miss Rage granting advantage on Strenght attacks. Glad to see the Barbarian Thick Hide back. I like the change to Extra Attack to now stack with Two Weapon Fighting. Il love the Bard and its Bardic Performances and Colleges. I'm good with Second Wind granting temporary hit points. I like the Fighting Styles a lot. I like that Cunning Action was transferred to all Rogues. The Rogue still go by without Extra Attack so i guess they feel Sneak Attack compensate enought DPR wise. I like that Fast Hand enable using object in the environement like we've seen during the A1Livestream with Rodney Thompson's Rogue.

Equipment: Glad the plate's weight was lowered to 65 lb. I wish the Thrown property would allow the choice between Strenght or Dexterity for ranged attacks like Finesse does.I find odd that the Quatterstaff is Versatile rather than Two Handed. I think Unarmed Strike should have the Light Property to allow Two Weapon Fighting with it. I miss the Halberd's Special effect and thought it was cool and that more weapons should have such property-inducing effects. The Herbalism Kit is still missing from the price list.

Races: I like the Dragonborn and how Dragon Ancestry regiment its Dragon Breath and Damage Resistance. The Drow is quite good with Lolth-Touched Magic, Darkvision and all the other Elf traits and it could probably loose Keen Senses. I think Sun Sensitivity should also break concentration to impede spellcasters as well. I like the Kender's Fearless and Taunt traits too. I dislike Kender Pocket and fear it could be too easily abused. Pulling off your pocket anything from the equpment list 25% of the time is just unrealistic. It should have more limitations based on price, weight and be from the adventuring gears list only to avoid Kender handing out Mithral Scale and Spyglass like candies. I like the Tiefling but find Infernal Wrath seems a little weak. The Warforged's Living Construct is well made even though it feels a bit lackluster.

Multiclass: I like the multiclass rules and how Advancement works but i find Multiclass Prerequisits too limiting.

How To Play: I find Carrying Capacity to be too high and think it should be STR x5 rather than x10. I like the Interaction rules, Attitude & Reactions remind me a lot of the AD&D Reaction tables. Ideals, Flaws & Bonds sounds like a good way to flesh out characters and have it interact in the game. I'm good with Variant Rules: Movement on a Grid except for Moving Diagonally which i think should cost 1 square rather than 1 1/2 to keep things simple. I like the new Charge action even though the movement is limited, and i think it should allow you to push rather than attack if you want, like a Bull Rush. I like that Two-Weapon Fighting now allow movement between attacks. I also like the Critical Hits rules of max damage + 1[W]. I thought Short Rest duration would be more flexible as heard in recent talk. I'm ok with the change to Death Rolls.

Feats: I like the new Athlete feat and how it incorporate ability score improvement + skill proficiency. I think Charger should should let you move all your speed rather than half and allow the normal Charge action to push.

 

[ppaladin123]

The paladin actually gets a spell list that isn't just a subset of cleric spells! There all sorts of aura and smite spells unique to the paladin that make can really boost the defenses and damage of the paladin while offering a lot of party support too. Smite is now just a way to spend down spell slots that you'd rather covert into damage. Of course the actual smite spells are often quite cool given their extra effects. I am very happy that the mount will now be a spell rather than a feature imposed on us. And the extra immunities gained as you advance are a nice bonus.

Overall I think things are really shaping up. I liked the bard and the monk got a lot of love too. Some of the crazy stuff like elves being immune to charm has been toned down. Progress all around.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Yeah. On the one hand, it's a way to reduce abuse, but it's also an unnecessary impediment. I'd probably ignore them, and will suggest in the survey that they be removed.

Avast! I be happy to see multiclass prerequisites back in. Back in the days of 2e, multiclassin' was considered to be something ye did rarely, like set foot on land. However, when all t' restrictions were lifted in 3e, almost every character was multiclassed and it removed t' point o' havin' a class based system.

(apologies for the ease of readin' my posts today. It be Talk Like a Pirate Day and it can't be helped if landlubbers are havin' trouble understanding the lingo)

 

[the Jester]

Back in the days of 2e, multiclassin' was considered to be something ye did rarely, like set foot on land.

I don't believe I have ever played a game of 1e or later D&D in which multiclassing was not very common, so this is clearly a playstyle thing.

 

[Talath]

I don't believe I have ever played a game of 1e or later D&D in which multiclassing was not very common, so this is clearly a playstyle thing.

Must be. We didn't multiclass all that much in 2e, but when 3e came out, holy crap, multiclassing everywhere. It would probably have been more prevalent if multiclassing pre-3e didn't suck so much.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I don't believe I have ever played a game of 1e or later D&D in which multiclassing was not very common, so this is clearly a playstyle thing.

Yeah, every demi-human was a multi-class when we played; that was the benefit from playing a demi-human.

Dual-classing, on the other hand ... that was extremely rare.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

I don't believe I have ever played a game of 1e or later D&D in which multiclassing was not very common, so this is clearly a playstyle thing.

Multiclassin' was something we that people wanted to do. Me mateys and I had many an ARRgument about it. Whether it be better to get to as high level as possible or if it be better to multiclass. After enough parley we mostly agreed that if the group be starting at high level, it be best to single class or be a human and dual class. The XP loss was just too great, savvy? At 1st level, it be a different story. Everyone in the group would be triple classed.

Many of our DMs applied social pressure to convince our mates to single class. We all agreed that multiclassing was cheesy and overpowered most of the time. However, we are all powergamers and that was precisely why we chose to multiclass when given the chance. Mostly the combination of social pressure from the DM and the other players sayin' things like "We already have a Wizard, we don't need another one. Why don't you just be a fighter? I don't want our fighter wearing no armor because he's also a Wizard" is what made the difference.