D&D 5E (2014) Playtest Fatigue?

[Iosue]

Ha. That is an unfortunate choice of words!

How so?

 

[Ahnehnois]

How so?

Probably because there was an intent to be empathetic (we understand that you are busy, don't like emails, etc.), but it comes across as them bashing their own game (we understand why you thought this playtest wasn't worth your time).

 

[GreyLord]

I never had playtest fatigue, but when most of what I put in and what was happening didn't occur....it seemed that the people who gamed like me were not going to be catered to. I would LOVE the game to be compatible with AD&D...but let's face it, it won't be.

Heck, at this point I don't think it's going to be compatible with ANY D&D version. It's their own hybrid which they probably will say "creates the feel" of some of the others...but in reality...it doesn't.

I don't know what they created here...but it doesn't seem to match their end goals.

In other words, they've done it again, they've created some completely new game not compatible with any previous version of D&D.

And to tell the truth...I'm not interested in a totally new game. I would garner for an older game compatibility like AD&D, but even without that, if it was compatible with 3e or 4e...maybe...but a completely new game?

Sorry...and with them continuing on this totally new game type idea...and seemingly disregarding those who want compatibility...well....

 

[NewJeffCT]

My experience is different. I was all excited to be a playtester, then my wife got a job offer where we had to move... and, by the time I got settled into the new home a few months later, a few iterations of the playtest were already out there, so I felt I was behind and would not be able to catch up. So, I stopped even looking at the playtest material when each new one came out.

 

[The Shadow]

I ran one really fun playtest session... and just haven't had time for more. I would have done it if I could!

But honestly, I feel like the rules peaked in the second packet. There was a lot of really interesting, innovative stuff in those first few packets... but most of it has been bled out by now. The sacred cows started to moo too loudly, I guess.

I mean, to name just one little thing, Turn Undead being a spell is something I've thought should have been done ever since I started playing. With domain spells, it's a cinch! Clerics of the right gods always have it prepared - done. But apparently it could not be borne.

One thing that does give me a little hope is the feats in the newest packet. Arcane Initiate has brought back the 'Arcane Dabbler' feat that vanished after packet 2, much to my annoyance. Wonder if we'll ever see something like Necromancer again?

 

[Li Shenron]

I have to say that increasing complexity has been a deterrent for playtesting... Friends from our old 3e gaming groups simply did not want to playtest because complexity was too high, and they were 3rd edition players! I only managed to run some 5e games with other friends & relatives, nearly all of them being casual players or totally new to D&D, and I managed that only by stripping out a portion of the character options (races, feats/specialties) and only up to 3rd level.

WotC designers keep talking about complexity, but they seem largely focused on character creation/advancement complexity. Clearly, this is indeed an issue because if too high, it can become a barrier for new players to even start. Very few people can be intrigued into the game, if it takes 2 hours before you start playing, so it's definitely a good thing that they are providing options for faster character creation and levelling up.

But this is only half of the problem. The other half, is having characters with 10+ possible own special actions to do at each round, half of which are circumstantial. This requires a lot of effort, you need to be aware of what your PC can do (and I'm not talking about what a normal person can normally do, i.e. moving, jumping, climbing... I mean specific actions/abilities that only your PC has, or specific reasons why your PC should more often take a basic action), and you need to be aware of a list of circumstances/conditions when it's the right time to do that.

If they are currently testing "Standard" and instead "Basic" is not visible in the rules, they should better say it out loud, because clearly there are people who get the idea that 5e won't really be for them, and they are leaving it behind.

 

[delericho]

Actually, further to my previous reply: it turns out that I am rather fatigued - my overwhelming response to the release of a new packet was quite negative, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the content of that packet, which I still haven't checked out.

Honestly, at this point I just can't see myself playing any version of D&D again (or Pathfinder for that matter), either as a DM or as player.

 

[adamc]

I've looked at some of the packets. I was never a playtester, and nothing I've seen in the most recent packet makes me want to bother -- doesn't appear to offer a lot to groups that like 4e. So I can't say I have fatigue, although I think I've concluded that the verbiage about appealing to players of all editions was... hmm, tactful way to say it would be "aspirational".

 

[Iosue]

I've looked at some of the packets. I was never a playtester, and nothing I've seen in the most recent packet makes me want to bother -- doesn't appear to offer a lot to groups that like 4e. So I can't say I have fatigue, although I think I've concluded that the verbiage about appealing to players of all editions was... hmm, tactful way to say it would be "aspirational".

I'm a 4e player and 5e pretty much offers everything I love about 4e. So the verbiage has put the aspiration to reality.

 

[Warbringer]

I'm a 4e player and 5e pretty much offers everything I love about 4e. So the verbiage has put the aspiration to reality.

I have to ask, what was it you liked about 4e that you see so well replicated in 5e. Only ask because I'm clear as to why so many 4e players don't see what they are used to.

(Please no edition wars)