Wizards finally announced 5th edition.

[Mad Sun]

So, I was perusing through my usual webcomics and I came across this:

http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/667

I laughed because it was a funny joke, then I read it again and thought "wait a minute..." So I did some more research (half a minute on Google) and indeed:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/01/5th-edition-dungeons-and-dragons/

I mostly agree with the article. I know it's a new edition, but I didn't really like 4th edition, personally, so I don't know if I can get excited for it. But what do y'all think?

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

4th wasn't released that long ago (2nd ed lasted decades), so everyone who bought all the 4th ed stuff are probably going to feel ripped off. I don't get why they fell the need to rewrite the rules every couple of years, unless WoTC are following the console makers examples of releasing new tech and forced upgrades every few years purely for the money.

 

[JesterRaiin]

But what do y'all think?

It's right about time !
I hope that with new (old) faces they'll find enough courage to make the right choice and abandon this useless Eberron setting. Ravenloft, Planescape and Dark Sun should be resurrected instead, but this time - properly.
As for mechanics, well, it can't be worse than it's already, right ?

 

[Athinira]

4th wasn't released that long ago (2nd ed lasted decades), so everyone who bought all the 4th ed stuff are probably going to feel ripped off. I don't get why they fell the need to rewrite the rules every couple of years, unless WoTC are following the console makers examples of releasing new tech and forced upgrades every few years purely for the money.

My only console is still the big old black monster, Xbox. Noone forces upgrades on me!

Go Halo, Halo 2 and Ninja Gaiden!

 

[ShadowStar42]

Yeah the comparison to 2nd isn't really valid. For one 2nd was the edition that lasted through very few people playing the game and very little competition so of course it didn't change very quickly. 3rd lasted 4 years, same with 3.5 (basically) and since this is the first announcement and comes with a playtesting promise 4th will likely see a lifespan of about 6 years which isn't that bad. I like forth (and liked AD&D, 2nd, 3rd and 3.5 as well), and am looking forward to seeing what they produce next. If it doesn't work for my group we'll stick with 4th or simply play a different game.

 

[Wieke]

I'll reserve my opinion for until it is released. From what little I've read it looks interesting, but so does every new system to me. I read somewhere they were going to make the system modular and would leave most of the balancing to the dm. Which sounds good to me. The way they tried to balanced 4th edition just sucks. (I don't like the balance-by-making-everyone-similar approach the power concept got us.)

Our group converted to 4th edition some time after it was released. We enjoyed it for a while but now we run pathfinder. 4th edition was okay but 3.5/pathfinder just feels better. Probably because it has more interesting classes, multiclassing, magic items. And loot, no random loot really bothered us. While the powers are cool in concept after a while they just got annoying. Everyone has multiple different powers, no one really remembers what the others are capable of. And no class features beyond what little you get on lvl 1.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed 4th edition. But when we returned to 3.5 for a couple of sessions I was reminded of the joy of crafting a complicated character build. (Core only, still managed to go for a rogue/wizard/arcane trickster/thaumaturgist, shame the campaign died an early death.)

And now we are playing Kingmaker and it is bloody awesome. (Also currently setting up my own pathfinder campaign, a vague mish-mash of game of thrones, lovecraft and the witcher.)


Ow and they (wizards) need to put something along the lines of the Fate system's aspects & fate points in D&D.

 

[JesterRaiin]

And now we are playing Kingmaker and it is bloody awesome. (Also currently setting up my own pathfinder campaign, a vague mish-mash of game of thrones, lovecraft and the witcher.)

I think that each and every official campaign for Pathfinder is bloody awesome. Seriously, i always encourage new players to start their cRPGing with "Council of Thieves".

As for your own campaign. Are you familiar with "Carrion Crawl" ?

Also... Well, it's not an adventure, rather set of rules but...
<link=http://www.pelgranepress.com/?p=6422>Lorefinder is something you may find interesting.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

From what I understand, they're asking for feedback from players on what THEY want to make the new system. Which could be good or bad.

I never really liked 4.e that much, once I looked into it and realized how boring the fights are and how "same-y" the classes are. They took the complaint of 3.5 being too broken and unbalanced WAY too seriously and just made it boring.

I'll stay hopeful until I see anything that should change my opinion

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Considering the way 4th edition went, I expect them to do away with dice entirely and decide all encounters with Rock Paper Scissors for balance.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Huh, so I guess Hasbro is already bringing down "MOAR PROFITS!" lash.
I had heard rumors to that extent, but didn't think they were going to shaft the 4th Edition players quite so soon.

3rd edition (and 3.5) lasted a good 8 years, and spun up the d20 license.
Though ironically, almost nobody plays core 3.5 because Pathfinder is just that much better.

 

[Wieke]

And now we are playing Kingmaker and it is bloody awesome. (Also currently setting up my own pathfinder campaign, a vague mish-mash of game of thrones, lovecraft and the witcher.)

I think that each and every official campaign for Pathfinder is bloody awesome. Seriously, i always encourage new players to start their cRPGing with "Council of Thieves".

As for your own campaign. Are you familiar with "Carrion Crawl" ?

Also... Well, it's not an adventure, rather set of rules but...
<link=http://www.pelgranepress.com/?p=6422>Lorefinder is something you may find interesting.

I'm not familiar with the Carrion Crown adventure path. Kingmaker is our first pathfinder campaign, we're near the end of Rivers Run Red.

Spoiler: minorish kingmaker module 1 & 2 spoilers

Our DM hinted that the next hex we were going to explore would contain a major troll-related encounter. We are really enjoying the whole exploration and kingdom building aspects of the Kingmaker adventure path. All of us lording over a small frontier nation. Balancing our duties as rulers with our adventuring (though to be fair most of the adventuring is done in the interest of the nation).

The lorefinder link looks interesting. I'm not sure though if i want to add a supplemental rule system to my game. I already have Fate Points and Aspects for d20 [http://paizo.com/products/btpy8os0?Fate-Points-and-Aspects-for-d20] added, though it isn't really that intrusive (and so seems lorefinder from what little i have found on the subject). But if the guides in the lorefinder book alone are worth it I will certainly get it. On the other hand it does look very interesting.

 

[JesterRaiin]

I'm not familiar with the Carrion Crown adventure path. Kingmaker is our first pathfinder campaign, we're near the end of Rivers Run Red.

Damn, i envy you so much. The people here aren't willing to play anything longer than a couple one-shots from time to time.

"Carrion Crown" is closest to D&D Ravenloft setting that Pathfinder has to offer. I mean, horror, undead, vampires, horror, darkness, fear, horror, whispers, shadows, horror... I strongly recommend it if you're interested in long, masterfully done campaign that you can play practically out-of-the box.

The lorefinder link looks interesting. I'm not sure though if i want to add a supplemental rule system to my game. I already have Fate Points and Aspects for d20 [http://paizo.com/products/btpy8os0?Fate-Points-and-Aspects-for-d20] added, though it isn't really that intrusive (and so seems lorefinder from what little i have found on the subject). But if the guides in the lorefinder book alone are worth it I will certainly get it. On the other hand it does look very interesting.

Naaaaaaah. I weren't suggesting that you have to.
Maybe you'll have the opportunity to read a few passages and find something useful there...

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

Considering the way 4th edition went, I expect them to do away with dice entirely and decide all encounters with Rock Paper Scissors for balance.

Honestly? I've seen people play like this. They say they focus on the "storytelling" aspect where really it's just some lame Roleplay/fanfic nonsense they like to pretend is D&D.

http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/i-xTWHDNT/0/L/i-xTWHDNT-L.jpg

Basically this

 

[Wieke]

"Carrion Crown" is closest to D&D Ravenloft setting that Pathfinder has to offer. I mean, horror, undead, vampires, horror, darkness, fear, horror, whispers, shadows, horror... I strongly recommend it if you're interested in long, masterfully done campaign that you can play practically out-of-the box.

Thanks but we're already prepping for a custom campaign. Got my players helping me craft a world for the campaign. The one that DMs the kingmaker campaign is really loving it, because he can't let his creativity run as free with kingmaker. He even drew a map of the city where the first bit of the campaign will take place.

Half the fun of DMing in my opinion is crafting the world and adventure. But it can be difficult, so I think I will take a look at the guides in that lorefinder book.

 

[2733]

cool, I didn't really like 4th and 3.5 is as well balanced as a see saw with a fat kid on one end. I hope they go with a simplified 3.5 with a bit of a speed up.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Half the fun of DMing in my opinion is crafting the world and adventure.

Mmmmmmm... True. And in the same time there's nothing more frustrating for GM than players avoiding his beautifully polished scenario.
That's why i always try to have at least a few quick subquests i can throw at the group until i'll sort out what to do with ruined story.

...Or at least that was in the past...

 

[Macgyvercas]

But what do y'all think?

It's right about time !
I hope that with new (old) faces they'll find enough courage to make the right choice and abandon this useless Eberron setting.

Oi! Those are fighting words!

OT: I couldn't care less if they release a new edition. I'm still going to be playing 3.0/3.5 regardless. You know, the best version.

 

[JesterRaiin]

But what do y'all think?

It's right about time !
I hope that with new (old) faces they'll find enough courage to make the right choice and abandon this useless Eberron setting.

Oi! Those are fighting words!

In the mood for a little, polite flamewar Mr Pony ?

 

[Macgyvercas]

But what do y'all think?

It's right about time !
I hope that with new (old) faces they'll find enough courage to make the right choice and abandon this useless Eberron setting.

Oi! Those are fighting words!

In the mood for a little, polite flamewar Mr Pony ?

I suppose so, provided we don't get too out of hand and get modwrath'd. Wouldn't want that to happen to either of us, now would we?

 

[Quellist]

Imo 3rd edition was the apex of D+D, 2nd was good but needed a serious rework. 3rd expanded and improved the system and also allowed the core rules to be applied to most any other game via a generous open source agreement. 3.5 I wasn't over keen on as it seemed to be a chance to grub money from people who had not long ago paid out for 3rd edition.

This 3.5 seemed hardly necessary as the changed were not extensive, but at least a free document was downloadable to upgrade the 3rd edition books, it was cumbersome but workable Though to me it suggested a worrying trend of milking the brand.

4th edition I dont mind saying i HATED. 4th reduced the complexities of the pen and paper game to an easy to play, combat-centric model aimed exclusively at the MMO generation.

As to 5th? I'm just about to give up on WOTC/Hasbro or whoever the fuck owns TSR now. Imo 5th can be summed up in one word 'Unnecessary'