D&D 5E [+] What are your favorite things about 5e?
- Thread starter Imaro
- Start date
Tony Vargas
Legend
"How to Play," pg 3 of the basic pdf. Spells out the role of the DM in resolving, well, everything.
The worst thing about 3e (which 4e didn't solve, just kinda swept under the rug), was the attitude that developed in the community that valued RAW over DM judgement. 5e nips that in the bud.
Call it 'DM Empowerment,' it's the single best thing about 5e.
(Not that DMs couldn't exercise the same sort of power in any system, even any hypothetical system that came right out and said they couldn't - just that 5e comes out and says it from the very start, establishing a foundation for community acceptance of DM rulings and house rules*.)
(*ridiculous grognard digression: I don't know why we have to call 'em 'house rules.' Back in the day, they were 'variants.' And, published adventures were called 'modules.' Now published variants are 'modules,' so the game can pretend to be 'modular.'
bah! humbug... kids these days ... get off my law... :shakes cane: ... insert ageist stereotype of choice... etc..)
The worst thing about 3e (which 4e didn't solve, just kinda swept under the rug), was the attitude that developed in the community that valued RAW over DM judgement. 5e nips that in the bud.
Call it 'DM Empowerment,' it's the single best thing about 5e.
(Not that DMs couldn't exercise the same sort of power in any system, even any hypothetical system that came right out and said they couldn't - just that 5e comes out and says it from the very start, establishing a foundation for community acceptance of DM rulings and house rules*.)
(*ridiculous grognard digression: I don't know why we have to call 'em 'house rules.' Back in the day, they were 'variants.' And, published adventures were called 'modules.' Now published variants are 'modules,' so the game can pretend to be 'modular.'
bah! humbug... kids these days ... get off my law... :shakes cane: ... insert ageist stereotype of choice... etc..)
Pickles III
First Post
Cunning Action.
The general removal of bitty effects for big effects. Cunning action is this; so is Rangers automatically tracking things & fewer but "bigger" feats & scaling spells.
I guess Advantage is too though that bonus is so huge it is a bit worrying.
Solid class design. Most Subclasses have the right amount of differentiation in them (overall).
Backgrounds (to my surprise - I was totally unexcited to hear about them)
The general removal of bitty effects for big effects. Cunning action is this; so is Rangers automatically tracking things & fewer but "bigger" feats & scaling spells.
I guess Advantage is too though that bonus is so huge it is a bit worrying.
Solid class design. Most Subclasses have the right amount of differentiation in them (overall).
Backgrounds (to my surprise - I was totally unexcited to hear about them)
Finally able to play our style of D&D without a cleric healer. The druid and bard heal well enough and provide enough other capabilities, we don't need a cleric with channeling at low level and powerful heals at higher level.
Ease of preparation. I am so happy that I don't have to write term papers to make challenging encounters. I don't have to read every single spell, every ability, every magic item to be properly prepared.
The magic item Christmas tree reduced to a bonsai tree. Enough magic to give the players character-defining items without stacking them on.
Flatter power curve making a fight against an army of humanoids fun and challenging even at level 20.
Interesting monster design.
Ease of preparation. I am so happy that I don't have to write term papers to make challenging encounters. I don't have to read every single spell, every ability, every magic item to be properly prepared.
The magic item Christmas tree reduced to a bonsai tree. Enough magic to give the players character-defining items without stacking them on.
Flatter power curve making a fight against an army of humanoids fun and challenging even at level 20.
Interesting monster design.
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Psikerlord#
Explorer
My favourite thing would have to be... the return to Theatre of the Mind style combat. Quick, fun and flexible.
I saw the why does does 5e suck thread and promptly never opened it.
I like bounded accuracy.
I like backgrounds decoupling skills from classes.
I like better class balance.
I like faster combat and less math.
I like optional rules over obligatory rules.
I like a focus on character development and roleplaying.
I like subclasses that can reinforce archetypes.
I like keeping weaker monsters relevant longer.
Seems good so far.
I like bounded accuracy.
I like backgrounds decoupling skills from classes.
I like better class balance.
I like faster combat and less math.
I like optional rules over obligatory rules.
I like a focus on character development and roleplaying.
I like subclasses that can reinforce archetypes.
I like keeping weaker monsters relevant longer.
Seems good so far.
I am mixed on 5e but I definitely like some aspects about it.
1. Backgrounds are a good idea, particularly if you emphasize that the ones in the book are just a few amongst many potential options. This both adds to mechanical flexibility for characters (hello fighters who pick locks!) and helps emphasize role playing and building characters as something more than stats.
2. I think the subclasses as a way to create archetypes is a solid idea. I might not always agree with the execution but its a solid framework.
3. Cunning action really makes rogues feel rogue like. Its simple and yet class defining.
4. I kind of like the semi-vancian casting system they use (though it kind of hurts the differentiation for sorcerers). And the way rituals work for wizards. This seems a nice compromise between old school vancian and the the more restrictive casting system of 4e which did kind of limit the old school tool box feel for wizards.
1. Backgrounds are a good idea, particularly if you emphasize that the ones in the book are just a few amongst many potential options. This both adds to mechanical flexibility for characters (hello fighters who pick locks!) and helps emphasize role playing and building characters as something more than stats.
2. I think the subclasses as a way to create archetypes is a solid idea. I might not always agree with the execution but its a solid framework.
3. Cunning action really makes rogues feel rogue like. Its simple and yet class defining.
4. I kind of like the semi-vancian casting system they use (though it kind of hurts the differentiation for sorcerers). And the way rituals work for wizards. This seems a nice compromise between old school vancian and the the more restrictive casting system of 4e which did kind of limit the old school tool box feel for wizards.
Manbearcat
Legend
I don't have it with me either, but I believe you're correct that there is that variant. Even if there isn't it is pretty trivial to accommodate such an approach. Just social compact stuff, not system rejiggering.
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