D&D 5E Playtest Summary Request

[Mark CMG]

While avoiding opinions of the quality of the playtest packets, can anyone summarize the nuts and bolts in the packets thus far in one brief paragraph per packet just for those who are watching the playtesting from afar? Thanks in advance for your help!


*edit* some more info can be found here -

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?337116-Aware-me-on-what-s-going-on-with-5e

 

[YRUSirius]

The D&D team does it well.

"00 Read First.pdf"

-YRUSirius

 

[GX.Sigma]

05/24/12: 5 pregens, 1 adventure, infinite possibilities.

08/13/12: Major update. Added character creation. 4 races, 4 classes. Fighter gains expertise dice. Classes go to 5.

08/17/12: Minor update. Added Sorcerer, Warlock.

10/08/12: Minor update. Added magic items.

10/29/12: Major update. Everyone gets expertise dice (Rogue redesigned). Cleric redesigned minorly. Removed Sorcerer and Warlock. Classes go to 10.

11/13/12: Minor update. Added Monk.

12/17/12: Major update. Classes go to 20. Monk expanded. Expertise dice renamed "martial damage dice" (Rogue redesigned).

01/28/13: Minor update. Added Barbarian.

03/20/13: Major update. Added Druid, Paladin, and Ranger. Fighter and Rogue redesigned. Martial damage dice removed, spell damage increased. Monsters unchanged.

03/21/13: Ninja update. Fixed a few glaring typos.

 

[Mark CMG]

05/24/12: 5 pregens, 1 adventure, infinite possibilities.

08/13/12: Major update. Added character creation. 4 races, 4 classes. Fighter gains expertise dice. Classes go to 5.

08/17/12: Minor update. Added Sorcerer, Warlock.

10/08/12: Minor update. Added magic items.

10/29/12: Major update. Everyone gets expertise dice (Rogue redesigned). Cleric redesigned minorly. Classes go to 10.

11/13/12: Minor update. Added Monk.

12/17/12: Major update. Classes go to 20. Monk expanded. Expertise dice renamed "martial damage dice" (Rogue redesigned).

01/28/13: Minor update. Added Barbarian.

03/20/13: Major update. Added Druid, Paladin, and Ranger. Fighter and Rogue redesigned. Martial damage dice removed, spell damage increased. Monsters unchanged.

03/21/13: Ninja update. Fixed a few glaring typos.

Thanks, GX! That's just the sort of breakdown I was hoping to get. It's been a nicely consistent bunch of updates.

 

[Mark CMG]

Anyone have any details they would add to this excellent summary?


Thanks, again, GX! Someone could wade through a hundred threads and not easily come away with that info.

 

[the Jester]

There are actually a significant number of changes to the monsters in the newest packet. While most remain the same except for xp values, many underwent minor adjustments.

 

[tuxgeo]

Anyone have any details they would add to this excellent summary?


Thanks, again, GX! Someone could wade through a hundred threads and not easily come away with that info.

How much detail would be worth giving? It's easy to overwhelm newbies.

For example: The May 22 packet only had spell levels 1 & 2, so the pre-gens could only be advanced to 3rd level. It also introduced the Hit Die mechanic for regaining lost HP during short rests; and some spells scaled by level; and fallen PCs could stabilize by making 3 successful CON-based death saves before 3 failures; and this packet received complaints about the high starting hit points of 1st-level PCs and about the AC values of the lighter armors, which made heavy armor a poor choice. (Adventure: Caves of Chaos.)

For another example: The October 29 packet took away cantrips, replacing them with "Level 0 Spells," which had spell slots -- so they weren't at-will any more, except as specified in the cleric domains and wizard traditions. The redesign of the cleric introduced choice of deity and domain spells; and some of the features of the class were tied to deity, though not armor or weapon proficiencies. Also, some cleric spells gained the "word of power" designation, allowing them to be cast as part of another action. (Later changed to "swift" in 2013.)

 

[Mark CMG]

There are actually a significant number of changes to the monsters in the newest packet. While most remain the same except for xp values, many underwent minor adjustments.

Thanks! Concise and useful info.

How much detail would be worth giving? It's easy to overwhelm newbies.

That's a good point.

For example: The May 22 packet only had spell levels 1 & 2, so the pre-gens could only be advanced to 3rd level. It also introduced the Hit Die mechanic for regaining lost HP during short rests; and some spells scaled by level; and fallen PCs could stabilize by making 3 successful CON-based death saves before 3 failures; and this packet received complaints about the high starting hit points of 1st-level PCs and about the AC values of the lighter armors, which made heavy armor a poor choice. (Adventure: Caves of Chaos.)

For another example: The October 29 packet took away cantrips, replacing them with "Level 0 Spells," which had spell slots -- so they weren't at-will any more, except as specified in the cleric domains and wizard traditions. The redesign of the cleric introduced choice of deity and domain spells; and some of the features of the class were tied to deity, though not armor or weapon proficiencies. Also, some cleric spells gained the "word of power" designation, allowing them to be cast as part of another action. (Later changed to "swift" in 2013.)

Those seem like fairly significant changes. Thanks for mentioning them here.

 

[pemerton]

For what it's worth, a recent package (perhaps the most recent one? maybe the one beforeit) reintroduced cleric weapon and armour being deity dependent.

 

[Mark CMG]

For what it's worth, a recent package (perhaps the most recent one? maybe the one beforeit) reintroduced cleric weapon and armour being deity dependent.

Interesting. Thanks for adding that point.