The "Smell Test"

[Mercule]

Smell Test - An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety

We played 3e/3.5e for its entire run, but were generally burned out when 4e was released. I was excited about it, initially, but the general feeling of the group was that 4e didn't "feel" like D&D. That's not intended to be an edition war, just one group's opinion.

Last fall, we started playing Rappan Athuk Reloaded, but that ended in a TPK a few weeks back, so 3.5 is still fresh in my mind. The play test came out at the best possible time for my group -- literally the day we'd planned to start a Shadowrun game. We were ready for something, but not exactly thrilled to go back to fantasy.

After running my first play test session, I was struck by the thought, "Wow. That felt like D&D." It definitely felt more like D&D than 4e. It even felt more like D&D than the Rappan Athuk game (3.5) did. I have no idea what actually makes feel like D&D. It's a totally intangible element that just resonates. I'm not sure I even care to nail it down. Regardless, I think that's a pretty important statement/test.

So, who else felt that the play test passed the "smell test" and actually feels like D&D? Note: I think the smell test is something that can only happen during play, not reading.

Also, I'm curious if your favored edition affects your sense of smell, so I included that as part of the poll.

 

[the Jester]

This poll should be multiple choice.

 

[Mercule]

This poll should be multiple choice.

I hovered over the checkbox for a sec, but I'm most curious about how 5e squares up with people who favor each edition. I almost labeled each choice as "started with", but thought there were probably enough people who started with one edition but would not want to return to it. If in doubt, choose whatever you learned with.

 

[IronWolf]

I identify with Pathfinder, but chose 3.x for the poll and went with a good first impression. I don't like everything in the playtest so far, but it at least seems in the same ballpark at this moment. We'll see how things change as the tests continue.

With that said, I am not sure I have seen enough to say that it would get me to drop my Pathfinder game. If anything, some of the things I do like I could pretty easily yank and drop into my Pathfinder game as a house rule.

 

[AeroDm]

Interesting results so far. Everyone pre-4e is generally happy. Everyone 4e is generally sad. I guess that sort of aligns with Wizards' goal, but I'm imagining they'll try and rope the 4e crowd in more deliberately with the subsequent play test releases.

 

[Ratskinner]

It feels good, but since this is such an early draft....I don't put much weight into it.

 

[Kinak]

Our group was interesting. I (OD&D) thought it was spot on, while one of the players (3.x) felt Pathfinder was closer to the spirit of D&D than the playtest and the other player (3.x) thought they were about even.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[darjr]

My first playtest had me, I'm a BECMI fan, who likes em all, a big 4e fan, a pathfinder fan who won't touch 4e, and a guy who plays ALOT of Pathfinder Society and 4e RPGA. We had a great time.

 

[delericho]

Note: I think the smell test is something that can only happen during play, not reading.

Funnily enough, I thought this thread might be about the particular smell of the books - those first edition hardcovers seemed to have a specific odour all of their own.

For the rest - I think there's a lot of truth in what you say. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to playtest this thing.

 

[nnms]

Basic D&D - playtest smells fishy

It doesn't do anything that countless other systems already do well. And their makers (of Pathfinder, Labyrinth Lord, Dark Dungeons, OSRIC, Swords & Wizadry, Myth & Magic, etc,.) are open and gamer focused, not controlling and closed like WotC has been so far (see playtest agreement) in their mad scramble to regain lost market share.