D&D (2024) When are we getting the second playtest document?

[doctorbadwolf]

I... man, that's a hell of an argument. I'd seriously recommend putting that verbatim in the playtest feedback.

Thanks, I may just do that.

 

[Yaarel]

My feedback was that they should drop the word.

There is no way to use the term "race" casually.

Even in best case senarios, I end up with sentences like:
"To focus on the themes and tropes of a setting, pick say five races to center the setting around, and remove the other races."

Then cringe at the wording.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Actually, they do have financial reasons to change the fighter: people aren't going to want to buy a game that's exactly like the old game, because who wants to shell out $40 or more for a book that doesn't change what you want changed?

If they don't "fix" the fighter (or any other class or race or ability), it will be because of internal reasons, a misunderstanding of what players want, because just as many or more players want it the original way as want it changed, or out of a desire to keep it simple--not because of financial reasons.

Maybe. Maybe the changes to races and such are the main changes to 1d&d, and the class stuff will be minor. They said the first UA would be the big one.

Maybe they'll trust that all the new art will encourage people to open their wallets. Apparently, that was their main stated selling point for Spelljammer.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't think there's any danger of it happening, no matter how many times it's mentioned on the 1D&D forum, any more than people posting that "Android did it first" on articles about iPhones will get Apple to give up on iOS.

WotC's design parameters are nearly opposite those of Level Up, as far as I can tell. That's why they're not getting any more of my money.

 

[Mind of tempest]

WotC's design parameters are nearly opposite those of Level Up, as far as I can tell. That's why they're not getting any more of my money.

a) can you define them
b) you got evidence beyond feelings?

 

[vagabundo]

So basically, as with backgrounds, the default option is Custom Race, and then there's a list of Example Races such as humans, elves, dragonborn and tieflings. It's doable, certainly, but I don't think they'd have much luck selling it to the playerbase at large.

Well it would be the default for "half" races. But you could just have the standard packet of traits if you just want to roll and elf. Basically a multiclassing for races option. As long the the option was presented as an way that shows its an equal to picking a "full" race option I think it could satisfy people who want that from a fluff or from a mechanical perspective.

2.5 edition (Players Options: Skills and Powers) had something similar based on a point system, really just minor/major traits, 5 or 10 points. It had a smaller list for the Half-elf or Half orc picked from the Elf or Orc lists, but it could have easily just allowed pick and mix without too much trouble - since it was probably not very balanced, but its lots of fun.

 

[Micah Sweet]

a) can you define them
b) you got evidence beyond feelings?

Level Up is designed to add a bit more complexity and mechanical options to the game, with an emphasis on expanding the exploration and social pillars mechanically in a fun way. 1D&D (and it's parent 5e under WotC) wants to lower the bar for new players and simplify the game as much as possible without cutting too deeply into the fun parts. I've seen no evidence they intend to do anything interesting with the noncombat parts of the game either.

The two games' handling of half-heritage characters are brilliant examples of this fundamental difference.

 

[Charlaquin]

So basically, as with backgrounds, the default option is Custom Race, and then there's a list of Example Races such as humans, elves, dragonborn and tieflings. It's doable, certainly, but I don't think they'd have much luck selling it to the playerbase at large.

I think that would be harder to do with races than it is with backgrounds because races don’t have standardized benefits, and many of the features they grant are hard to evaluate compared to one another. Many attempts have been made at assigning point values to various race features but they all have to make certain assumptions that don’t always hold up in other areas. I’m not saying this couldn’t be done, but it would be very tricky. Maybe you could turn all racial features into 1st level feats, and race could grant you some number of said feats? That’d be very PF2.

 

[Charlaquin]

Level Up is designed to add a bit more complexity and mechanical options to the game, with an emphasis on expanding the exploration and social pillars mechanically in a fun way. 1D&D (and it's parent 5e under WotC) wants to lower the bar for new players and simplify the game as much as possible without cutting too deeply into the fun parts. I've seen no evidence they intend to do anything interesting with the noncombat parts of the game either.

The two games' handling of half-heritage characters are brilliant examples of this fundamental difference.

Yeah, 1D&D and LU feel very much feel like 5e’s version of the basic/advanced split. If I end up disliking the 1D&D changes, LU would probably be the game I’d switch to.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I've seen no evidence they intend to do anything interesting with the noncombat parts of the game either.

Yeah, I mean, to be fair we haven't had the material that would really show that, but certainly nothing indicates 1D&D is seeking to improve the social/exploration pillars so far, and it's not been a goal mentioned by the designers.

Who knows though, maybe there'll be an entire playtest document on it. I just really doubt it.