D&D playtest

[agent oni]

I downloaded mine just this morning.  I tried yesterday but apparently there was a problem with the link which was fixed by the time I downloaded it today.  I really like the clean look of it and plan on participating in the playtest.  I really loved 3.x, hated 2nd ed, and was luke warm with 4th ed.  I don't know if this iteration will topple 3rd ed but it looks to come close.

[VisualStatic]

Got my copy. So far, what I have read, doesn't impress me. I'll stick with FC.

[The_Grand_User]

I've got it, and it looks interesting, though very basic. The Advantage/Disadvantage mechanic looks interesting, and I might have to try to put it in my FC games. I also like that bonuses don't increase with level and that things are more dependant on attributes.

The races though seem to be kinda boring

[spinningdice]

Actually, having read through most of it, I really like it for what I want D&D to be - which is basically an intro game, they've toned down a lot of the more complex bits, neatened up a lot, and left a lot to what amounts to roll an attribute check, rather than try to quantify everything.

If it continues on this track I'll probably pick it up.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

I'm just not interested-enough to bother with their whole sign-up process.

[Desertpuma]

Yep, same here....

I'll get really annoyed if I find out they took a lot of design elements from FC to make 5E better and then have the general fantasy gaming fandom marvel at the originality of it all.

[MilitiaJim]

I'll get really annoyed if I find out they took a lot of design elements from FC to make 5E better and then have the general fantasy gaming fandom marvel at the originality of it all.

Maybe we should pass the hat and have a case of Tums sent to you now...

[spinningdice]

I haven't seen anything particularly drawn from FC in the playtest document, it looks like it's got a multi-part origin of some description (but has pregens and no creation rules in the playtest doc), but that's hardly unique to FC and they've got a nice set of clean conditions, but that's the route it's been going for years.

[Eärendle]

5E increases balance and maximises rules space by eliminating end user character creation in favour of pre-gens of selected archetypes for each class. Players will be able to get into the action immediately and will certainly appreciate the simplicity of the revamped D&D Insider's auto-leveling program. More characters will become available monthly in splatbooks grouped by theme or by campaign setting. (No more Drizzt clones! Play as Drizzt!) Also, an exciting new line of miniatures called D&D Heroes will include a code to download a sheet for the represented character.

[Desertpuma]

Sounds like Archetypes direct from the first couple editions of Shadowrun. Take Archetype, modify slightly, play game.

[ThunderMonkey]

5E increases balance and maximises rules space by eliminating end user character creation in favour of pre-gens of selected archetypes for each class. Players will be able to get into the action immediately and will certainly appreciate the simplicity of the revamped D&D Insider's auto-leveling program. More characters will become available monthly in splatbooks grouped by theme or by campaign setting. (No more Drizzt clones! Play as Drizzt!) Also, an exciting new line of miniatures called D&D Heroes will include a code to download a sheet for the represented character.

If that's the case... it sounds dreadfully boring.

"Your character isn't the choices you make, but rather the choices you didn't take." A wise sage once told me that.

It seems that D&D wants to take choice away from the players.

[Agent 333]

5E increases balance and maximises rules space by eliminating end user character creation in favour of pre-gens of selected archetypes for each class. Players will be able to get into the action immediately and will certainly appreciate the simplicity of the revamped D&D Insider's auto-leveling program. More characters will become available monthly in splatbooks grouped by theme or by campaign setting. (No more Drizzt clones! Play as Drizzt!) Also, an exciting new line of miniatures called D&D Heroes will include a code to download a sheet for the represented character.

If that's the case... it sounds dreadfully boring.

"Your character isn't the choices you make, but rather the choices you didn't take." A wise sage once told me that.

It seems that D&D wants to take choice away from the players.

I *think* Earendle was being sarcastic...

[ThunderMonkey]

I *think* Earendle was being sarcastic...

As I prefaced: "If that's the case..."

And if it is... it was eloquently done. Bravo!

[Deverash]

5E increases balance and maximises rules space by eliminating end user character creation in favour of pre-gens of selected archetypes for each class. Players will be able to get into the action immediately and will certainly appreciate the simplicity of the revamped D&D Insider's auto-leveling program. More characters will become available monthly in splatbooks grouped by theme or by campaign setting. (No more Drizzt clones! Play as Drizzt!) Also, an exciting new line of miniatures called D&D Heroes will include a code to download a sheet for the represented character.

If that's the case... it sounds dreadfully boring.

"Your character isn't the choices you make, but rather the choices you didn't take." A wise sage once told me that.

It seems that D&D wants to take choice away from the players.

Choice isn't being taken away from the players.  They're just giving the players a way to make a simple choice.  They've stated that both backgrounds and themes can be chosen as-is, and that there will be ways to create your own.  Especially themes, since they're basically the feats you would normally get at 1,3,6 etc.   the backgronds are basically a set of skill bonuses, with a possible special non-combat ability thrown in.

[Eärendle]

Almost forgot I posted this.

100% sarcasm

I am a well-honed, acid-spewing banter machine.

Thanks for the compliment, ThunderMonkey. *bows*