D&D 5E (2014) Reasons Why My Interest in 5e is Waning

BryonD · Feb 19, 2015

I rambled into a little more preachy than I mean there. Sorry and truly no offense intended.

The first rule is play what you like with who you like. If you have that then you are winning, period.

Icon_Charlie · Feb 19, 2015

Instead of writing a long an lengthy comment I'll simply say that I agree with the OP and his concerns are similar to my own.

Doc_Klueless · Feb 19, 2015

dmccoy1693 said:
So that is my reasons why my interest in D&D is waning right now. How is your interest in D&D 5e? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

No. I only find my interest in D&D 5e waxing. I recently had the opportunity to play D&D 5e at a local convention (Orccon, here in Los Angeles). While a few of the DMs styles didn't mesh well with my play style, the game itself was awesome coated awesome filled with awesome and covered in an awesome sauce... Which is to say, it completely meshed with my play style.

To address your points:

5) Serious Lack of Digital Tools. Making a character, tracking play and conditions, etc. is so easy in 5e, I don't feel the lack and, quite frankly, would find Digital Tools more of a hindrance than a boon.

4) No PDFs (except for the basic game). I find that all I want is the basic came in PDF. Would I scoop up the complete books in PDF? Sure. But I don't feel put out without them and haven't missed them at all.

3) Nothing Much to Look Forward To/Lack of Product Diversity. I'm running old adventures in Mystara for my daughter and her friends with little conversion needed and what conversion is needed, I'm finding easy for me to do.

2) The Waiting. Since I have barely scratched the surface of what I currently have, I'm not waiting for anything.

1) No OGL (or some kind of compatible license). I dislike the OGL greatly. I don't know why. Don't have any logic behind my feelings. I just do. I do not buy OGL products for the most part. Only Pathfinder because I play in a Pathfinder game. Otherwise I wouldn't own anything OGL.

Shasarak · Feb 19, 2015

Sailor Moon said:
Which edition did splat kill again?

2e but that is mainly because of the Buck Roger Splats ( and Dragon Dice)

Flexor the Mighty! · Feb 19, 2015

BryonD said:
Yeah, understood.

I still think that maintaining an active community in which to find players requires some support and constant input of energy.
Clearly existing 1E groups prove that my claim is not a fundamental truth. But if you moved to a new city and started looking for a new group, I bet your brother would find a Pathfinder group a lot more quickly than you would find a 1E group and would have more variety of groups to choose from. (at least 19 times out of 20)

If you have a fixed group and none of that matters, then cool. But fi you have this solid group of like-minded gamers, then power-creep shouldn't be a problem. Everyone agrees not to use crap. Again, I readily admit that the D20 glut included a ton of bad, overpowered crap. (include plenty by WotC) So I hear you. But it is easy to avoid power creep in a group that is averse to power creep. Don't use the power creep stuff.

So I'm REALLY not trying to be the least bit critical of what works for you. It makes sense. I just don't see how them publishing things you don't have to buy is something you should, be opposed to. Publishing more stuff helps you indirectly through supporting the community. Not publishing obviously doesn't hurt you, but it denies others what they want for no gain. So why take the position?

I'm not "opposed" to it as in I'm going to get mad if they do. But I think the game will be better if they avoid all that and keep the game a bit more streamlined and simple. If they do put out a load of books I'll roll with it and maybe they will handle it well so they are truly optional and not assumed in say later modules. Either way its not that big a deal. I'm happy with a fun game in 3 books they have so far and have no problems with the release schedule. I really didn't mean to argue with people and say they are wrong for wanting more stuff. I do think its a bit premature to get too worried about release schedule though.

Herschel · Feb 19, 2015

5) Serious Lack of Digital Tools. This bugs me also.

4) No PDFs (except for the basic game). Does not affect me one way or the other.

3) Nothing Much to Look Forward To/Lack of Product Diversity. This is my #1, and it's not close. The game, as it stands now, is rather bland to me. I find myself not advocating for 5E, just going with it when the option and time are there but chosing other games, including board games, when I have the deciding vote. IOW, I don't love it, it's just okay.

2) The Waiting. I'd be okay with this if we had more. I don't think it needs to remain a breakneck pace, but when the game is in its infancy, get us some good product/expansions.

1) No OGL (or some kind of compatible license). I think an OGL is an absolutely idiotic business practice.

Ranes · Feb 19, 2015

1974: D&D, the tiny game that revolutionised games by providing a framework for making up things.

2014: D&D the bland 900-page game that doesn't make up enough quickly enough. The opportunity for players to easily make up new stuff from the existing forty years' worth of stuff already made up if they don't have the time or inclination to make up stuff from scratch any more just not good enough, says Internet.

DaveMage · Feb 19, 2015

TreChriron said:
It demonstrates the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" principle to outstanding extremes.

Or you can look at it in a positive light - praised if you do and praised if you don't. (There's plenty of praise in this thread for what WotC has done.)