News of D&D Next from PAX East

[Morrus]

Snippets of news are emerging from PAX East. The Future of D&D seminar took place yesterday, and the video will be available some time over the next week. In the meantime, techno reports the following; mainly reiteration of things we already know:

• Campaign settings as modules that can alter core rules.
• Grids and minis optional in the core.
• Will not let the wizard overpower martial classes.
• About 20% done and on 4th iteration of DND Next.
• Perception will be an ability check.
• Focus on non-combat roles and abilities returning.
• Giving more power back to the DM.
• Unusual classes may be better as option for core classes.
• Bringing back step-by-step adventure creation instructions.
• Focus on shorter games.
• Skill challenges not in core.
• No info on public playtest date.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

The public playtest on Friday was the same one as at DDXP - The Caves of Chaos. It was also the same rules iteration and characters.

 

[GX.Sigma]

@<!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention -->NicoleWakelin<!-- END TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --> has more, including (but not limited to):

• The DM will have the tools to run the campaign they want, could be low magic, no magic, whatever...the DM can decide.
• DMs will be creating campaigns like a player creates a character.
• Much more conservative in introducing new chars and classes. They will be fully fleshed out and supported.
• Re: How close to done are they? "Nowhere near done! Maybe 10%" The play testing keeps evolving what they're doing.
• No plan for skill challenges in baseline rules. Perhaps as a module Vision is a core set, a "kernel" to use at every table.
• They play tested it last night. NDAs and such. People said they were VERY happy with the changes.

That last one, along with the "what happened to Turn Undead" topic at the panel, suggests that the playtest at PAX East was a newer version than the playtest at DDXP. Possibly Piratecat was mistaken?

 

[Piratecat]

Hmm, I might be. I know the characters were the same, but it very well may have been the latest iteration of the playtest rules.

 

[the Jester]

Mearls mentioned that it was the same ruleset iteration with a few changes.

 

[TarionzCousin]

• Giving more power back to the DM.

How exactly will they do this--have fewer rules? That would create more situations where there aren't specific rules to cover the scenario exactly.

I'm not opposed to this. I just wonder if I'm interpreting this correctly. What are some other ways that they could give power back to the DM?

 

[Blackbrrd]

I think they are focusing on the right things for the next dnd, I am looking forward to the result.

 

[nedjer]

How exactly will they do this--have fewer rules? That would create more situations where there aren't specific rules to cover the scenario exactly.

I'm not opposed to this. I just wonder if I'm interpreting this correctly. What are some other ways that they could give power back to the DM?

Just finished a post about a possible approach to this: Why RPGs Rely on GMs.

In practical terms that could involve leaving GMs to choose which modules are in play alongside the core and which groups or 'tiers' of magic items operate as a pool within both the core and thematic modules. Switches like these are easy to make modular and don't mess with the core, but should make it straightforward for a GM to shape play.

 

[StylinLP]

Old D&D

Thank the gods of Gygax that we don't have to suffer AD&D 3.0 and 4.0 any longer! Its been a loooong road to get back to start again. I chose to sit in jail at 2.0 than pay the $200 to continue around the board.