Last night's weekly Blood Island session ( +Joe D 's heavily modified LotFP WF) was a no go, as we didn't have enough players to have a decent change of surviving what was in store. The closest thing we had to a tank / fighter was my magic user. He has access to the Illusionist spell of Phantom Plate Armor from UA - it gives him the best AC in the party, and with the 4 HP bump from the armor, I also had the best HP in last night's potential party. Oh, and we had no healer. Oopsie!
Instead, +David B offered to run a short session of D&D 5e for the group.
About 20 minutes later, we had a human bard, a thiefling magic-user and a dwarven cleric ready to go (anyone want to guess on the dwarven cleric's player?) Those 20 minutes included rolling abilities, as none of us are big on using standard arrays and the like.
Gameplay itself was short, probably less than 2 hours.
It played closer to the classic editions of D&D than 3e or 4e did.
Now, we didn't play a long session and it's only the single session thus far, but I think I like it. It isn't love, like S&W Complete is for me, but I'd certainly play it again as a player.
I'll know more once I get a chance to play it more.
Welcome to the party!
ReplyDeleteIndeed! It may never replace your true loves, but it's a fun romp as a mistress.
DeleteThose book covers turn me off, fairly or unfairly, as they all seem to emphasize super heroic characters involved in epic fantasy, which I dislike. The covers to 1st Ed. AD&D seem so much more down to earth and in line with the type of games I dig.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the old Mentzer Basic cover had that Elmore picture of a barbarian-type wielding a magic sword against a big dragon.
DeleteI like the 5e covers alright for what they are, but what you describe about the 1e covers is exactly what I love about them. The mundane makes the world come to life, instead of just the characters. I don't have anything to sit and dream about in modern covers, the action on the page is all there is.
DeleteI like the 5e covers alright for what they are, but what you describe about the 1e covers is exactly what I love about them. The mundane makes the world come to life, instead of just the characters. I don't have anything to sit and dream about in modern covers, the action on the page is all there is.
DeleteMagic sword? How can you tell?
DeleteHey, I'm a big fan of D&D 5e. It's a good game.
ReplyDeleteSince release we have done nothing but 5e - its got a few problems that need fixing but its FUN and allows character complexity while remaining simple.
ReplyDeleteSince release we have done nothing but 5e - its got a few problems that need fixing but its FUN and allows character complexity while remaining simple.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly doesn't have the number-heavy heft that their 3rd and 4th editions had, so they could be accused of overcompensating for complaints about those. But ultimately, as they say, "it does what it says on the tin."
ReplyDeleteCase in point: The DM screen. No, really.
There's a group that I'm running 5e for that took one look at the DM screen and said it was the most useless thing they ever saw. Meanwhile, at the FLGS the folk there say it's the best one because ultimately, it really does have all the information it needs. And that's what the first group can't wrap their heads around: It doesn't demand that much information.
Dont know about the covers of 1e. The Efritti was pretty powerful. I totally gdt the point with PHB though.
ReplyDeleteThe efreeti is powerful--but do the poor schlubs fighting it look like epic heroes? Or outmatched fools about to die?
DeleteThe covers to 1st Ed. AD&D, Swords & Wizardry, OSRIC, and Labyrinth Lord are more my style, with more or less regular joes up against the fantastic and powerful.
DeleteI'm a big fan of 5E. If Wizards hadn't completely dropped the ball on a license, I'd be all over it publishing-wise. I'll still play it at conventions and such.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy! I didn't wanna like it, but damn it if 5e hasn't won me over. Goes down smooth and easy from DM's side, reminds me a lot of B/X spirit that meets the 3e that SHOULD have been. The gameplay is really quick compared to 3/4e.
ReplyDeleteWell now, there's the open mind that we can all appreciate. Glad to see it!
ReplyDeleteFor my money, I still prefer Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, but I have played 5e and I must says it's a pretty good system. It's a tad bit too rules heavy for me as a DM, but I wouldn't run 5e unless there was some specific reason or request to. Now as a player, I'm less adverse to rule heavy games, so I'd play the hell out of it in someone else's game.
ReplyDelete