D&D 5E What are the "True Issues" with 5e?

[Ruin Explorer]

I’d argue they both are just aesthetic preferences.

You can say that given the Wizard as it is, it makes sense to buff the Fighter, and I’d argue it makes more sense to nerf the Wizard instead.

Both are solutions, the difference is aesthetics / the kind of story we want to tell

I mean, I think nerfing wizards is valid, sure, but you're recognising there's an issue beyond the aesthetic by saying that, aren't you? Just that there are different solutions to the real problem.

 

[Eubani]

Aesthetics is look and feel. Buffing or nerfing is changing mechanics which affects how it actually works and operates, which is more than changing aesthetics or to be more accurate it can (but not always) do both.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Aesthetics is look and feel.

Aesthetics is a lot broader than that as a term in English. I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but if you think that's what the word aesthetics is limited to you will not be capable of following this discussion.

 

[James Gasik]

From the PHB, page 29: "A lot of humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf, orc, or other lineages."

Earth humans cannot be part Elf, Orc, or any other race that doesn't exist in reality. I offer this as evidence that D&D humans can have a physiology much different than Earth humans.

 

[Eubani]

Aesthetics is a lot broader than that as a term in English. I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but if you think that's what the word aesthetics is limited to you will not be capable of following this discussion.

I simplified my explanation so as to not write a novel. to cut it all down to the barest of bones is Emotional Impact vs Factual Operation.

 

[Parmandur]

From the PHB, page 29: "A lot of humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf, orc, or other lineages."

Earth humans cannot be part Elf, Orc, or any other race that doesn't exist in reality. I offer this as evidence that D&D humans can have a physiology much different than Earth humans.

Not physiology...magic.

 

[James Gasik]

Further, as to the expectations of what high level characters can do, here's what the DMG has to say:

 

[cbwjm]

Rolling one d20 is very swingy. Bounded accuracy makes this much worse by reducing modifiers. It is ludicrous that an L1 INT 8 Barbarian who is untrained in Arcana (-1 modifier) will know things about magic [DC 15 Arcana check] that a L20 INT 20 Archmage trained in Arcana (+11 modifier) does not, just because the Barbarian rolled an 18 and the Wizard rolled a 2.

That's I think more an issue of rolling when not needed. That wizard trained in arcana probably shouldn't have to roll most of the time whereas the barbarian should, possibly with disadvantage. This is likely some DM guidance that could be expanded on in the DMG, it does explain when to roll but some examples might help.

 

[mamba]

I mean, I think nerfing wizards is valid, sure, but you're recognising there's an issue beyond the aesthetic by saying that, aren't you? Just that there are different solutions to the real problem.

the disparity between Fighter and Wizard, I would address that, but making the Fighter more like the Wizard moves further away from where I want to be.

Give the Fighter more maneuvers, and nerf the Wizard into the ground overall…

 

[mamba]

From the PHB, page 29: "A lot of humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf, orc, or other lineages."

Earth humans cannot be part Elf, Orc, or any other race that doesn't exist in reality. I offer this as evidence that D&D humans can have a physiology much different than Earth humans.

some of us have hints of Neanderthal, does not make much of a difference at all…

So you have a slightly hairier chest, or pointier ears, not that much more than that, you eg do not gain darkvision… and the orc or elf also does not get to jump 100 yards or whatever, so there is that