D&D 5E Playtested dat 5e at Gencon.

[Warbringer]

Different things. Low HD creatures in 1e/2e had low hp because they were that type of creature. 4e minions had 1 hp to facilitate a *story*. They were less simulationist constructs and more storytelling devices.

And in a game like feng shui they were awesome. It wasn't until 4e that a mechanical devics was needed to create the one-shot kill, D&D never had that issue, and to be honest only really has at at low levels.

I understand the mechanic and its roll in creating dramatic scenes, in D&D historically it as been doe with lower level creatures where average dpa outstrips average hp.

 

[Warbringer]

It's supposed to! That's a feature, not a bug - the wizard gets to stay a wizard rather than turn into a (crappy) fighter.

... Or begs the DM for a wand of magic missiles

 

[Stalker0]

I liked 4e minions myself but i do understand people's frustration with them. They solved a problem that many felt shouldn't be there in the first place, that monsters should not take 3-4 rounds to kill.

I think 4e had the right idea that elite and solo type monsters should be exceptionally tough, but i think the baseline monster may have been too tough overall, which led to the concept of grind

 

[Rhenny]

Nice report.

I don't mind the cantrips that let mages feel magical all the time, but I do not like the lack of variety of attacks and utility. Most mages get only 3 cantrips to start (1 extra for High Elves). That really doesn't give too many options. There will be mages that can't even read magic...and a ton of mages who will spam ray of frost to save spell slots.

When a mage gains a feat, he/she can choose Arcane Initiate and get 2 more cantrips, but other than that, they are limited.

I'd love to see some more non-damaging cantrips that could be more interesting situational effects, or more low damage cantrips that have the chance to do other special things or deal other types of damage.

 

[dd.stevenson]

Awesome report. Don't I remember you from the Paizo forums?

I really hear you on the cantrip thing. I feel like the risk of running out of magic resources is part of the iconic wizard feel, and we're losing something by stripping it out of the game.

 

[Warbringer]

I'm also looking forward to the D&D Next approach to mooks.

I believe the approach is going to be that damage by level scales very quickly and as bounded accuracy keeps all monsters a "threat" to hit, they can still be used as low level mooks, so no need for a special rule.

In short, just like 1e/2e

 

[keterys]

I think 4e had the right idea that elite and solo type monsters should be exceptionally tough, but i think the baseline monster may have been too tough overall, which led to the concept of grind

I've been having solos get 1-rounded and encounters need like 5 elites to last more than 2 rounds, lately. Granted, that's at pretty high level, but I think the early grind problems convinced people to overdo damage.

I wouldn't mind if they do some pretty good math on pacing and comparing damage and hp by levels and scale for Next. Be a nice change of pace, really.

 

[keterys]

I believe the approach is going to be that damage by level scales very quickly and as bounded accuracy keeps all monsters a "threat" to hit, they can still be used as low level mooks, so no need for a special rule.

In short, just like 1e/2e

Well, except for in 1e/2e things like orcs and goblins needed a 20 to hit you pretty darn fast, and saves went the same direction towards only failing on 1s.

Most exemplified by adventures like Dragon Mountain where you'd face a horde of kobolds with instant death poison, under the theory that it had maybe 1 in 200 of actually affecting someone, since it needed to hit, and you needed to fail the save.

 

[GX.Sigma]

When a mage gains a feat, he/she can choose Arcane Initiate and get 2 more cantrips, but other than that, they are limited.

Mages learn two spells every character level.

 

[Warbringer]

Well, except for in 1e/2e things like orcs and goblins needed a 20 to hit you pretty darn fast, and saves went the same direction towards only failing on 1s.

True, but as a 10th-13th level module scale eventually has to break and the fighter class 1 attack per experience level against <1HD creatures was fun. I can't remember what the outnumbering/flanking bonus looked like