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The D&D Edition Complexity Thread- How do you order Edition Complexity?
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<blockquote data-quote="oknazevad" data-source="post: 7909420" data-attributes="member: 6778182"><p>That's exactly why I consider 4e to be on the rather complex end of the scale. The systematic elements are straightforward, but the devil is in the details within the actual game play, and the result is it often takes a while to resolve events like combat. In many ways it's elegant, but it's not simple. It's also easy to wind up with option paralysis, especially during chargen and leveling. The Essentials line was aimed at cutting down on that, but the underlying game is still the same.That said, it's supposedly easy to run (never did, only played it). </p><p></p><p>Spealing of option paralysis, 3.x is also rather complex because of the sheer magnitude of customization elements and their effects at the table. Even just in the core books there's dozens of feats and a laundry list of spells, and that's before every splat book used feats as an easy page filler. Keeping it all straight, let alone keeping track of which are worthwhile is a cottage industry itself. It's very complex. I'd almost say it's the most complex.</p><p></p><p>In the other hand both editions of AD&D are pretty complex as well for different reasons. Both share the classic issue of disparitive rules for different actions, but 1e has EGG's purple prose and poor organization, while 2e is easier to read, but brings in added elements (namely making NWP essentially standard; even if they were labeled optional in the PHB, they were almost universal in use and subsequent books assumed their use) and had a ton of options throughout its lifespan. Both are pretty complex, but less so than what 3.x turned into.</p><p></p><p>The Basic Set by itself (any of the five versions), is, well, pretty basic, although it does have the same issue of dis-unified mechanisms of other TSR versions. Even Expert (either one) is still straightforward, but as one goes up through the subsequent sets (or uses the Rules Cyclopedia), the game is really just as complex as AD&D, albeit in different places. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, 5e was designed with ease of use in mind (especially for new players). It manages the be less complex without losing depth.</p><p></p><p>So I'd say, least to most, 5e -> Basic -> 4e -> 1e = 2e -> 3.x.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="oknazevad, post: 7909420, member: 6778182"] That's exactly why I consider 4e to be on the rather complex end of the scale. The systematic elements are straightforward, but the devil is in the details within the actual game play, and the result is it often takes a while to resolve events like combat. In many ways it's elegant, but it's not simple. It's also easy to wind up with option paralysis, especially during chargen and leveling. The Essentials line was aimed at cutting down on that, but the underlying game is still the same.That said, it's supposedly easy to run (never did, only played it). Spealing of option paralysis, 3.x is also rather complex because of the sheer magnitude of customization elements and their effects at the table. Even just in the core books there's dozens of feats and a laundry list of spells, and that's before every splat book used feats as an easy page filler. Keeping it all straight, let alone keeping track of which are worthwhile is a cottage industry itself. It's very complex. I'd almost say it's the most complex. In the other hand both editions of AD&D are pretty complex as well for different reasons. Both share the classic issue of disparitive rules for different actions, but 1e has EGG's purple prose and poor organization, while 2e is easier to read, but brings in added elements (namely making NWP essentially standard; even if they were labeled optional in the PHB, they were almost universal in use and subsequent books assumed their use) and had a ton of options throughout its lifespan. Both are pretty complex, but less so than what 3.x turned into. The Basic Set by itself (any of the five versions), is, well, pretty basic, although it does have the same issue of dis-unified mechanisms of other TSR versions. Even Expert (either one) is still straightforward, but as one goes up through the subsequent sets (or uses the Rules Cyclopedia), the game is really just as complex as AD&D, albeit in different places. Meanwhile, 5e was designed with ease of use in mind (especially for new players). It manages the be less complex without losing depth. So I'd say, least to most, 5e -> Basic -> 4e -> 1e = 2e -> 3.x. [/QUOTE]
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