D&D (2024) One D&D Overly Complex

[Charlaquin]

Fans: They're making it too simple!

Also fans: They're making it too complex!

I guess you'll never please everybody, so you just make the best game you can and accept that whatever you do a third of the people will think it's the best thing ever, a third will think it's the worst thing ever, and a third will not care much either way.

I think the problem is that D&D is designed for a really broad tent, so there's no possible way it can appeal to its entire audience the way a smaller niche game can.

I mean, I believe their strategy is to try to get 80% of the players who are invested enough to answer their polls rate everything “satisfied” or “very satisfied.”

 

[mamba]

Apart from weapon mastery, I see a reduction incomplexity

 

[mellored]

If you think weapon mastery is too complex. Just use the warpick.

All you get is an increased damage die. Very simple.

 

[Quickleaf]

The one place where I do see complexity being added is in "choose from a suite of options during play" mechanics – things like the fighter choosing from a list of Weapon Mastery properties to apply to their weapon after a rest, the sorcerer choosing from a list of Metamagics after a rest, etc.

When I imagine that in most of the game groups I've been part of, it's hard not to imagine that leading to increased handling time.

For example, I have an issue with 5e combat taking too long. I've addressed all the usual suspects. It's the system itself being design to glorify combat and make that consume a lot more time than I would like. While I was hoping One D&D would present some rules that would potentially speed things up, instead I'm seeing it keeping combats about the same or possibly even making them a bit slower.

The sorcerer and fighter changes aren't directly increasing combat handling time, but I don't know...something feels off... they're certainly not speeding anything up.

 

[TerraDave]

The creeping is there.

The simple champion makes the following additional choices: feat at first level. weapons to master at first level (and these can be changed). bonus proficiency at 3rd level (and this can be changed). There are additional weapon mastery choices at higher levels. 2nd wind is tracked between rests.

None of the mages got simpler. Right now the frenzied barbarian may be one of the most improved, and a good option for someone who wants to play a simple character, but even they have some fiddly bits.

 

[Corinnguard]

D&D is a Goldilocks issue. Some are going to like 5e for it's simplicity while others yearn for something with a little extra crunch to it. I am one of the latter. I like 5e for getting me back into playing D&D again. But I felt it could have used some crunch outside of the subclasses, which is why I backed Level Up: A5e back in 2021.

 

[mellored]

The creeping is there.

The simple champion makes the following additional choices: feat at first level. weapons to master at first level (and these can be changed). bonus proficiency at 3rd level (and this can be changed). There are additional weapon mastery choices at higher levels. 2nd wind is tracked between rests.

None of the mages got simpler. Right now the frenzied barbarian may be one of the most improved, and a good option for someone who wants to play a simple character, but even they have some fiddly bits.

The fact that they can be changed makes it simpler IMO.

Instead of needing to plan and fret over your choice that will affect you for the rest of your life. It means that if you can just try one out. If you don't like it, pick a different one.

 

[Horwath]

One D&D needs more complexity not less.

 

[Scott Christian]

On the one hand, there's a lot of wholly pointless fiddliness to make everything into spells and every caster into wizards.

On the other, I was one of those chased away by the dearth of complexity and interest in 5e Prime. We need more complexity, just not this complexity. PF1 was where it's at in terms of knowing where to apply its complexity.

This is kind of the point. PF exists already. I feel that part of 5e's wild popularity was because they made it simple. I feel like OneD&D is forgetting they want new players, and focusing on keeping the new fanbase they have.
Of course, I am all for keeping it simple. If they can figure out weapon mastery and keep it as simple as they did martial and simple, then I am all for it.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I like the current direction and really like the fighter. I was not a fan of the current Warlock, interesting flavour but meh at the table in my opinion. So I like the new change. I would play. I would also play the new sorcerer another class I was deeply not impressed with.