D&D 5E When will we be able to run a campaign with D&D Next?

[Mercurius]

I'm concocting a new campaign that I'd like to start running sometime this summer and am wondering if anyone has a sense of when we'll get enough playtest materials to actually run a new campaign from scratch: namely, the basic rules, character creation, and at least a handful of monsters.

I know, I know - these are playtests - they're not meant to do that. But I'm thinking at some point the playtests will expand to that point, the question is more a matter of when. Any thoughts?

 

[Frostmarrow]

I could do it with the very first package.

 

[Viking Bastard]

Well, according to what has been said, the planned seeding of the next batch is in 2-4 weeks (last I heard). If they keep to that release schedule (new batch every 4-6 weeks) and that it's probably going to be a few batches before we get any substantial character generation, then I think that any hope of being able to start a full blown campaign during the summer is pretty slim.

Of course, for all we know, we might get chargen rules for the core races and classes later this month. But I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Teataine]

If you keep character advancement really slow, then the three levels that are available could serve you for about three months. If you campaign starts in, say, July, then it's a fairly safe bet that by October we'll have chargen and stuff...but who knows with how many levels.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

I could do it with the very first package.

Me too. I started my sons through a converted-on-the-fly run through the compilation campaign B1-9 In Search of Adventure from Basic D&D.

This is my test of whether the next edition will provide the game I want to play. I like converting published adventures old and new. So far it has gone well, though we haven't gotten very far due to the limited attention span of a 7-year-old.

 

[KesselZero]

I'm also very eager to start a campaign, to the extent that I'm thinking about building my own dungeon using the Bestiary and pregens. I'd do it except that I don't think my players really want to get attached to the pregens. We shall see.

 

[AeroDm]

I don't see any reason you couldn't begin whenever your fancy suits you. Sure, you'll have to fill in some gaps, but it is a playable framework and people are already starting to show homebrew content. Just make sure the players are on board for an evolution in the rule set and you're good to go.

 

[Kurtomatic]

I believe Mike said they wanted the chargen and adventure guidelines out for testing by the end of the summer. At a guess, I would look for August/September time frame.

That assumes nothing from the previous packets blows up in their faces, first.

 

[rogue-tom]

If you are going to start a new campaign now use an existing edition and add on if you want to do D&D Next then wait until the release - GenCon 2013

 

[Boarstorm]

If you are going to start a new campaign now use an existing edition and add on if you want to do D&D Next then wait until the release - GenCon 2013

Welcome to ENWorld. But I think that's a touch optimistic. Or pessimistic, depending on your point of view, I suppose.