D&D 5E WOTC Possibly Removing "Druids" for Religious/Cultural Sensitivity Reasons

[gamerprinter]

Well considering D&D druids are nothing like Celtic Druids, let alone the modern use of the word, I don't see a big deal of doing more than changing the name as some other kind of Nature Priest, as the D&D druid, is more a nature priest.

 

[Maxperson]

I have players who have played 5th edition for years and still can't keep track of their character's abilities. As a DM, I require them to keep track of what they can do because I have enough on my plate when running a game.

During one of the breaks I get from DMing there was an interaction that went like this during a fight. We were 9th level.

DM: "Okay. The giants start coming your way."
Player of the Twilight Cleric: "Wait guys! I can grant everyone 1d6+9 temporary hit points that will refresh every round for the whole fight."
The rest of us: "Wow! That's awesome."
Me: "When did you get this ability?" - Note: we had been 9th level for a while.
Player of the Twilight Cleric: "Um. 2nd level."
Me: "So we could have been using that this whole time?"
Player of the Twilight Cleric: "Yes."
Me:

 

[Voadam]

It makes it harder on the DM perhaps, but it shouldn't be any harder on any given player as in theory all that player has to focus on is what his-her own character(s) can do. Thus if I'm playing a Bard using the bespoke subsystem for Bardic abilities then for the time being all I have to learn is that subsystem, and it shouldn't much matter to me-as-player how Jane's Magic-User works or how Jim's Cleric works.

The only time it's a player-side issue is if-when a player is trying to play two characters at once who each have bespoke subsystems; but in theory the player would know (or be warned!) ahead of time what doing so might entail.

It is also an issue for a player anytime they want to try to coordinate with other players or come up with group plans involving others' powers.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It is also an issue for a player anytime they want to try to coordinate with other players or come up with group plans involving others' powers.

I don't see a solution to that that doesn't involve either learning your class, not playing classes with complexity, or making the game as simple as possible, and option 3 doesn't work for me.

 

[AnotherGuy]

I have players who have played 5th edition for years and still can't keep track of their character's abilities. As a DM, I require them to keep track of what they can do because I have enough on my plate when running a game.

I use an excel spreadsheet on my TV (converted into a PC) when I monitor combat (excuse the pun) - to track initiative, damage, combat rounds, but also conditions, spell effects, reactions used, sometimes movement/distance from opponent/ally/target etc.

The biggest culprit is the min-maxer in the party who forgets rolling for Concentration after taking damage or Sanctuary + Spirit Guardians. I constantly have to read up on spells being cast because I just don't trust the players, not because they lie, but because they assume or mis-interpret.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

During one of the breaks I get from DMing there was an interaction that went like this during a fight. We were 9th level.

DM: "Okay. The giants start coming your way."
Player of the Twilight Cleric: "Wait guys! I can grant everyone 1d6+9 temporary hit points that will refresh every round for the whole fight."
The rest of us: "Wow! That's awesome."
Me: "When did you get this ability?" - Note: we had been 9th level for a while.
Player of the Twilight Cleric: "Um. 2nd level."
Me: "So we could have been using that this whole time?"
Player of the Twilight Cleric: "Yes."
Me:

If they don't update nerf the Twilight Cleric in the very first player-facing book after the 2024 PHB, I will be shocked.