We started the campaign in September the week the new PHB came out. We are currently level 18 and will likely finish it this week. This group has played multiple 1-20 adventures before, so we have a lot of experience from 5E for comparison.
We played MDCM Where Evil Lives started at level 2. Our party consists of a Dwarf Champion, Human Light Cleric, Goliath Abjuration Wizard, Human Valor Bard (with Paladin 1/Warlock 2 dip) and me - a Halfling Arcane Trickster/Fey Warlock (with Bard1/Paladin1 dip). Here are some thoughts:
1. The combat takes a lot longer at lower level, but is quicker at high level because enemies fall quickly (too quickly TBH)
2. Combat balance is worse at high level than in 5E. By the end of the campaign most fights were lasting only 1 round. Bosses went down without a turn at all about half the time. This is an MCDM adventure with a bunch of buffed monsters too, it would be worse using 5E or 2024 standard monsters.
3. We were playing with both crafting and purchasing magic items. A few magic items are problems.
Vicious weapons in particular are Uncommon and should probably be Legendary as they are better than just about any Rare or Very Rare weapon. They are superior to a Very Rare Flame Tongue and will generally do more damage than a Legendary +3 weapon.
Removing attunement from Ring of Resistance in 2024 resulted in most of our party wearing 10 rings of resistance and being resistant to almost all damage by game's end.
4. The new Champion is the real deal when it comes to damage.
5. A 1-level Paladin dip is pretty awesome on any caster that is going to use melee weapons and has the Charisma and Strength.
6. Abjuration Wizard is basically unkillable at high level.
We played MDCM Where Evil Lives started at level 2. Our party consists of a Dwarf Champion, Human Light Cleric, Goliath Abjuration Wizard, Human Valor Bard (with Paladin 1/Warlock 2 dip) and me - a Halfling Arcane Trickster/Fey Warlock (with Bard1/Paladin1 dip). Here are some thoughts:
1. The combat takes a lot longer at lower level, but is quicker at high level because enemies fall quickly (too quickly TBH)
2. Combat balance is worse at high level than in 5E. By the end of the campaign most fights were lasting only 1 round. Bosses went down without a turn at all about half the time. This is an MCDM adventure with a bunch of buffed monsters too, it would be worse using 5E or 2024 standard monsters.
3. We were playing with both crafting and purchasing magic items. A few magic items are problems.
Vicious weapons in particular are Uncommon and should probably be Legendary as they are better than just about any Rare or Very Rare weapon. They are superior to a Very Rare Flame Tongue and will generally do more damage than a Legendary +3 weapon.
Removing attunement from Ring of Resistance in 2024 resulted in most of our party wearing 10 rings of resistance and being resistant to almost all damage by game's end.
4. The new Champion is the real deal when it comes to damage.
5. A 1-level Paladin dip is pretty awesome on any caster that is going to use melee weapons and has the Charisma and Strength.
6. Abjuration Wizard is basically unkillable at high level.
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