CapnZapp
Legend
As for the general topic, D&D is and has always been geared for the classic party, where noone is ever more than 60 ft away from the action.
The problem with 5e is that it has forgotten that in order to keep it that way, short-range builds and especially slow melee types must be heavily incentivized.
The only reason fantasy features slow Dwarves with axes is because they deal brutal damage and have incredible staying power.
And more to the point - that no fast ranged build can come close to that sort of combat lethality.
Once you realize this, it's immediately apparent D&D has forgotten its roots in its attempt to please the crowd that wants it all, to be able to play virtuous fighters that use speed and range as their weapons.
But you can't have both. In a game where speed and range doesn't unrealistically lower your combat awesomeness below what the slow melee builds can achieve...
...nobody will play slow and short, to put it bluntly.
The only reason you play a Gimli despite the serious handicaps of slow speed and no range is when the game turns those things from a liability into a virtue!
D&D used to do this, but 5e forgot to.
Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app
The problem with 5e is that it has forgotten that in order to keep it that way, short-range builds and especially slow melee types must be heavily incentivized.
The only reason fantasy features slow Dwarves with axes is because they deal brutal damage and have incredible staying power.
And more to the point - that no fast ranged build can come close to that sort of combat lethality.
Once you realize this, it's immediately apparent D&D has forgotten its roots in its attempt to please the crowd that wants it all, to be able to play virtuous fighters that use speed and range as their weapons.
But you can't have both. In a game where speed and range doesn't unrealistically lower your combat awesomeness below what the slow melee builds can achieve...
...nobody will play slow and short, to put it bluntly.
The only reason you play a Gimli despite the serious handicaps of slow speed and no range is when the game turns those things from a liability into a virtue!
D&D used to do this, but 5e forgot to.
Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app