New D&D Rules are out...

[Treebore]

via Rob Conley's blog with this particular link...

http://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2014/ ... e-out.html

110 pages of Free.

[Rigon]

Got it earlier and read most of it. Not really sure how I like it. Will have to play it a few times to see how it plays.

R-

[BLOOD AXE]

Read it over. When is this suppose to see print? Is there a release schedule?

[Litzen Tallister]

EN World has a compiled release timeline here.

[Julian Grimm]

Looks good. I see some things I may borrow for my C&C games.

[serleran]

I have a pile of games I have yet to play. They have precedence.

[seskis281]

Have to say I'm not surprised at a couple of things:

1. I am happy to see acknowledgements to people like Jim Ward, Frank Mentzer, Tom Moldvay and others in the credits for a clearly better recognition of the history of the D&D brand than we saw in 3.5 and 4.0.

2. The "disclaimer" in small type on the credits page actually made me smile and says that, at least for the moment, Mearls and WotC have managed to bring a bit of the spirit and flavor of RPGs that is akin to what I felt as a kid and what I rediscovered again with C&C.

3. Philosophically, the basics here are really not far from C&C. The core attribute check system is, let's be honest, just a multi-tiered SIEGE mechanic (with 5 = easy, 10 and 15 for moderate and hard checks, 20 and 20+ for extremely difficult, with of course higher modifier potentials than C&C). There are definitely 2e influences in "backgrounds" that evoke "kits."

4. Still uses the term "build" for characters which I don't like, but I guess has become all too common a concept. The basic rules do a good job for newcomers in creating characters I think.

5. The XP progression made me go "wha!?!?" - I have to read closer than I have, but it seems like either XP awards are meant to be much more contained or it's expected that characters can advance INCREDIBLY fast - 300 for 2nd level, 900 for 3rd, 2700 for 4th...

6. It definitely means one terrific thing - material produced for the new D&D will likely be most readily translatable to my C&C games

7. Chris Perkins is running some 5e games at Gamehole con in Nov. that Mona and I are going to - will definitely try to grab a seat and see how it really plays out.

In the end, I am impressed with the basic rules - it's always a loaded concept but 5e "feels" like D&D again in many ways. I am still quite happy with C&C, so won't be switching systems myself for sure - I also think the cost point of the full books and games (especially adventures) will still be way too high. I also think there may be a lot of 3.5 Pathfinder and 4e devotees who won't be as happy - they will likely scream that D&D gave into too much "old school nostalgia."

[Julian Grimm]

5. The XP progression made me go "wha!?!?" - I have to read closer than I have, but it seems like either XP awards are meant to be much more contained or it's expected that characters can advance INCREDIBLY fast - 300 for 2nd level, 900 for 3rd, 2700 for 4th...

It's a problem but one that I see being fixed by those that have the older systems in hand. For that matter you can use the 3.5/Pathfinder XP charts for progression and have no issue. While I would have liked to see the older style class based charts back it is not a deal breaker.

Overall, there are things I like and things I don't. What is keeping me from buying the game when it fully releases is the price tag attached to it. C&C still has the best price of admission for a D&D based game out there.

[DMSamuel]

5. The XP progression made me go "wha!?!?" - I have to read closer than I have, but it seems like either XP awards are meant to be much more contained or it's expected that characters can advance INCREDIBLY fast - 300 for 2nd level, 900 for 3rd, 2700 for 4th...

The idea was that 1st and 2nd level would be "training" levels in which new players could learn how to play their characters. So they made the xp needed for 1st to 2nd to 3rd levels very very low. These are to be the "basic" levels wherein a player learns about the game and setting and such. So, in essence, 3rd level is closer to 1st level.

The idea, I think, is an interesting one - dare I say almost a "good" one? And in several of the playtest packets they stuck with 1st and 2nd level PCs being less powerful, but it looks like that has fallen away in favor of more power at 1st and 2nd.

So far I am unimpressed with the way they have finalized this piece so far, but I am waiting to see the full execution in the PHB. The thing I was hoping they would get away from is the superhero at 1st level feel of 3e (a little) and 4e (a whole bunch). But alas, that is not to be.

[Julian Grimm]

I like the idea of the 'sweet spot' being moved up to early levels. This was one of the few things that I think 4e did well. 1st level PC's are no longer squishy and they don't have to run back to town if the get a splinter. One of the things I did for my game was to adopt a new way of calculating 1st level HP to give them a bit more durability. 5e seems to be trying to solve the same issue using a different route.

[Relaxo]

han't done a tight read yet but I like the rules for advantage and disadvantage.