ExploderWizard
Hero
Gladly.
In two (related) ways:
1) I don’t have to look on my character sheet to see if I have the “win-button”. With less fiddly-bits and fewer rigidly structured mechanical doodads, I have a world of options rather than a few dozen feats/powers/items to fall back on.
2) And because of bounded accuracy, that broader breadth of choices, in resolving any situation, becomes more viable. I am not forced to select from only those handful of things I chose to focus on during character creation/advancement.
Oh yes, this is so true. 5E is the first version of D&D since B/X ( NOT BECMI) to not include the mandatory hyper-specialization funnel. OD&D and B/X fighters illustrate this concept well. In these versions the fighter is a master of arms and a death dealing machine. In AD&D (1st and 2nd), 3E, and 4E the fighter has to dedicate him/her self to a very narrow, or a single type of weapon and dedicate character resources to keep up improvements in the chosen funnel in order to merely be competent.
A huge loss of versatility is traded on these specializations for what? Just being "good enough" not to suck. Of course this means that whenever the fighter is in a position in which the super specialization cannot be used ( missile combat or even melee combat without a particular TYPE of sword) then real suckage sets in to the point of why even bother trying.
The problem is that the rest of the system assumes hyper specialization to be the norm. Defenses and target numbers keep creeping up so that versatile characters have no hope of being effective. In effect the system is forcing specialized one trick ponies. That really sucks.
I really don't see how a huge pile of character options being available, but you must choose A, B, C, D, and E not to suck is empowering in any way. It is the system telling you exactly what choices must be made in order to not suck. That is the opposite of empowerment, it is restrictive and controlling.
5E with bounded accuracy and a distinct lack of narrow funnels allows versatile characters to be awesome again. The lack of weapon specialization alone is cause for celebration. Players are now empowered to make choices for their characters without being forced onto a specific path.