D&D 5E Playtest Report - Things are shaping up!

[Rhenny]

So, not having played using this latest packet, are fights still running 2 melee rounds most of the time? That seemed like a big problem to me with the last packet.

The new package has made it so that most combats go for 1 or 2 more rounds than they would have with the last package. In the 10th level game I ran, I had about four 3-4 round combats, one 7 round combat and the finale was a 9 round combat. Everyone had a great time, but the wizard who could polymorph and had Improved Initiative with a +3 for Dex bonus to initiative almost always went first. Twice he turned devils into barnyard animals (one of which was an Ice Devil and would have been a really difficult fight since the Ice Devil could cast polymorph and Ice Storm).

 

[Rhenny]

I agree with that. Duel wielding is too easy. Even mages can do it. With the rules as they are now, no Elven wizard will ever use a staff. Elven wizards will duel wield short swords. (Of course, this also might be the case because a quarterstaff is only 1d4 damage weapon now, which seems too low).

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

One other thing we noticed: as it stands, Dual Wielding may be too good. The fighter wielded two scimitars, which was mechanically equivalent to wielding one scimitar with always-on combat advantage.

Ouch! I didn't notice that, naustay!