Want to know what D&D Next or 5e is all about?
Mike Mearls and Jeremy Crawford do an excellent job of just that at Pax East. If you’re a die hard D&D fan, player and DM like me, you owe it to yourself to watch and listen carefully to this excellent hour of D&D conversation.
Clocking in at around 80% fan questions and designer answers, it’s an excellent listen. It’s so good, I don’t want any die hard D&D fan or Leonine Roar follower to miss it!
Or skip to my bulleted favorites after the video and then hit play!
Here’s some of my favorite tidbits:
*Modular Rules for the DM and Campaigns. Brilliant! The #1 calling card of D&D Next, this shift in rules complexity towards a slider approach is promising and exciting.
*The D&D Core Game: The Best of The Editions. I love the idea of a simple, straightforward D&D core game that anyone will recognize, new or veteran, simple or complex campaign.
*Skill Challenges Dead, Skills Re-Imagined. Good news on those painfully gamey skill challenges I never liked much – they always felt like work or broke immersion big time. And not making skills a standard part of the core game is a smart move – the game suffers little if it’s a simple-complexity add-on.
*Iconic Spells: A Return to Power – Miss fireball and meteor swarm’s long-standing pop in 4e? Sure the feel is still there, but now they’ll be as devestating as ever!
*Turn Undead: Now, Please – I like the courage of trying new things, such as where to access certain strong or iconic powers – and how community playtest feedback made a real impact. Yes, we, the players and DMs, created change, just like that – another major theme of D&D Next.
Watch the video above now and be sure to share your thoughts on Mike and Jeremy’s thoughts and responses there and here!
Kilsek