D&D 5E Status Check: Still playtesting?

[innerdude]

I have almost no interest in doing anything more than a cursory read-through until what I consider the "Big 8" classes are all represented in a single packet--fighter, rogue, wizard, cleric, ranger, barbarian, bard, monk.

(I suppose if they swapped the monk for the paladin, that wouldn't be too bad either.)

 

[Raith5]

I voted "Following development, and generally negative about Next" and immediately felt bad about doing it. I really like the whole suite of character design: back grounds and specialties are great and they really nailed the core classes. But the actual game mechanics are too retro and bland for me - I miss things like static defenses, second wind, healing surges which are more intuitive for me. I also miss some of the 4th spells and powers, etc

 

[Obryn]

I voted "Following development, and generally negative about Next" and immediately felt bad about doing it.

I think you can revoke your vote in the new vbulletin!

 

[Morrus]

I'm wishing I could playtest but my group decided it hated the first package and won't let me try any of the later ones. So I just get to read 'em.

 

[Jacob Marley]

My position is largely unchanged since January 2012: that is, I am following the development but withholding judgement until the game is released. Quite frankly, I just don't think there is enough information to make any sort of informed decision.

 

[Obryn]

My position is largely unchanged since January 2012: that is, I am following the development but withholding judgement until the game is released. Quite frankly, I just don't think there is enough information to make any sort of informed decision.

I think, though, it's perfectly fair to have an opinion on the material we have before us. And to know whether or not we've enjoyed playing with it. I'm not asking who's going to love the finished game - only the material we already have, which may or may not resemble the finished game. Because this is a long playtest, and I think that matters.

Like I said, my main concern is that dissenting voices will fall out of the playtest pool, like my group largely has. But I don't know if that's necessarily a bad thing from WotC's perspective, since the proponents are their most likely customers.

I'm hoping the final result is a game I will want, but I'm not playing a game I don't care about for two years in order to make that happen. I'm not filling out a survey if I haven't actually played a packet. (Now there's another interesting poll question!)

-O

 

[Iosue]

I'm hoping the final result is a game I will want, but I'm not playing a game I don't care about for two years in order to make that happen. I'm not filling out a survey if I haven't actually played a packet. (Now there's another interesting poll question!)
-O

I think the first statement is entirely reasonable. Two years of playtesting is certainly a grind, especially if you're going through iterations you really have no interest in. That said, sporadic playtesting can help. One of things often said of 4e is that it plays better than it reads, and that while a fighter and a wizard might look the same on the page, with their AEDU, in actual play they feel quite different. The same can certainly be true of 5e.

I would urge you to fill out the playtest surveys in any case, though. They're not just for those who've played the game. Particularly since it looks more and more like they've got the Basic game locked down, now is the time to really let them know how you feel about the expanded options, and the surveys have repeatedly been held up as the best way to do that. It's the best way to mitigate the effect you fear.

 

[Jacob Marley]

I think, though, it's perfectly fair to have an opinion on the material we have before us. And to know whether or not we've enjoyed playing with it. I'm not asking who's going to love the finished game - only the material we already have, which may or may not resemble the finished game. Because this is a long playtest, and I think that matters.

Sure. I don't begrudge people their opinions. For me, I just feel that at this point I can't make any sort of informed decision on the product as a whole. Now, there are certainly mechanics that I have come to like/dislike in the abstract (and in some cases in practice). But without knowing where or how that mechanic will be used in the basic, standard, or advanced game, I think it's best to just withhold my judgement until I have gathered more information.

 

[I'm A Banana]

It's certainly true that playtests are not previews. The amount of information you can glean from them about what the actual game is actually going to be like isn't nothing, but it's also missing very significant chunks (like chunks they probably don't need to publicly playtest). I'm trying not to read much from the tea leaves, myself. Just because nothing in 5e lets you use GP for XP yet, for instance, doesn't mean that rule won't be in the game, and I don't think it means that the designers are absolutely married to the concept of XP-for-monster-kills because they must think it's "better."

 

[delericho]

I never quite got around to playtesting anything - too many other games to play and/or run. I'm still following developments, and trying really hard to withhold judgement. As with 4e, I really want to give this one a fair try when it comes out, even if I ultimately decide it's not for me.

But I'm finding I'm gradually losing interest in the game - more and more, I dislike what I'm seeing, or seeing things done in a way that I think is likely to prove problematic at my table. But, still, trying hard not to prejudge!

One thing I will say: if I ultimately decide 5e is not for me, then I'm done with edition changes - I can't go through another bout of the Edition Wars!