My impressions of the 5e PHB

Sacrosanct · August 07, 2014, 12:27:34 AM

So my store gets them early (I'll get mine officially on Friday), and while they can't sell them, I'm good friends with the people who work there and I got to thumb through it.

The first thing I noticed? How solid it's built. It looks like it will hold up for quite a while. Which is an awesome thing for someone who still has scars from AD&D UA and OA

At the end of the book is a bestiary as well of beasts. I'm assuming it's mainly for druids and rangers, but I really liked how they were included in the main PHB. For those of us waiting for the MM, more monsters is cool too

And finally? There are a LOT of changes from the leaked alpha to this version. Not going to go into detail, but there are plenty

Novastar · August 07, 2014, 12:35:28 AM

PHB tease!

Marleycat · August 07, 2014, 01:12:08 AM

Quote from: Novastar;776958PHB tease!

Hell you want information? Go to ENWorld there are 5-6:guys answering questions right now. Me? I'll get it Friday and be glad to answer questions. Hint...the Alpha doc was 75-80% spot on. The changes are in some of the feats, class features and select spells mostly. And yes summoning and polymorph are in as is Gate for wizards.

@Sacrosanct, you're correct the book is well made and that bestiary is exactly for any class with a familiar, animal companion, mount, or shapeshifting without the MM.

Novastar · August 07, 2014, 02:10:26 AM

Sadly, I'm going to have to wait till next paycheck in 2 weeks.
This paycheck, I've got to pay dues for my Engineering Association.
(they have the worst fricken' timing!)

Critias · August 07, 2014, 02:16:58 AM

I haven't really been keeping up with all the previews and stuff until the last few weeks. 4E really didn't do anything for us, and when I heard a new edition was on the way all it did at first was make me look longingly over at my 3E stuff again, and make up my mind to stick with it, as the edition me an' my gaming group already had, already liked, already understood...

...but I've gotta say, now that I have started reading up a little on 5E, it's growing on me something fierce. I think I'm gonna snag a copy at GenCon, if I can, and sneak into a few games just to give it a shot.

Novastar · August 07, 2014, 02:25:30 AM

The PHB is going to be the deciding factor for me.

Marleycat · August 07, 2014, 02:27:11 AM

Quote from: Critias;776993I haven't really been keeping up with all the previews and stuff until the last few weeks. 4E really didn't do anything for us, and when I heard a new edition was on the way all it did at first was make me look longingly over at my 3E stuff again, and make up my mind to stick with it, as the edition me an' my gaming group already had, already liked, already understood...

...but I've gotta say, now that I have started reading up a little on 5E, it's growing on me something fierce. I think I'm gonna snag a copy at GenCon, if I can, and sneak into a few games just to give it a shot.

1. Be careful it's pretty fun.
2. Estar nailed it in some thread around here... 5e is going to everybody's 2nd favorite game.

Endless Flight · August 07, 2014, 07:42:19 AM

Quote from: Marleycat;7769971. Be careful it's pretty fun.
2. Estar nailed it in some thread around here... 5e is going to everybody's 2nd favorite game.

We are setting the bar too low! Why not everybody's favorite D&D???

Blacky the Blackball · August 07, 2014, 07:43:13 AM

Quote from: Marleycat;7769972. Estar nailed it in some thread around here... 5e is going to everybody's 2nd favorite game.

Not mine. It's rapidly shaping up to be my favourite edition. Somewhat embarrassingly, I even prefer it to my own Dark Dungeons retroclone (and it makes me kick myself for not having thought up the Advantage/Disadvantage system myself - that's just genius).

Of course, things might change over the longer term if I find that extended play brings out some hideous flaws that my current campaign hasn't encountered...

finarvyn · August 07, 2014, 07:52:01 AM

Can't wait until I can get mine tomorrow. I know a guy who has a store and I bet he'd let me peek inside if I asked. Maybe a little trip to the store....

Quote from: Blacky the Blackball;777038it makes me kick myself for not having thought up the Advantage/Disadvantage system myself - that's just genius

I know, yet so many folks seem to hate it. I like simplicity in my game, and it doesn't get a lot easier than this!

Bill · August 07, 2014, 08:11:42 AM

Quote from: Marleycat;7769971. Be careful it's pretty fun.
2. Estar nailed it in some thread around here... 5e is going to everybody's 2nd favorite game.

Now I need to find a way to get a gamer I know to actually try 5e.

He is a good dm, but is infatuated with pathfinder.

In a few months I will be playing in a game he is going to run, and my interest in 5e is 1,000 times my interest in pathfinder.

The game will be fun regardless, but....The sleekness and bounded accuracy of 5e appeals to me way more than the gluttonous record keeping of pathfinder.

Saplatt · August 07, 2014, 08:20:07 AM

Quote from: Blacky the Blackball;777038Not mine. It's rapidly shaping up to be my favourite edition. ...

You aren't alone.

Will · August 07, 2014, 10:16:14 AM

I'm conflicted. I think this will be my favorite D&D (so far), but I don't have a group to play it with and -really- don't want a physical copy.

I'm also fairly committed to not pirating except under rare circumstances.

sigh

Marleycat · August 07, 2014, 10:31:24 AM

Quote from: Will;777107I'm conflicted. I think this will be my favorite D&D (so far), but I don't have a group to play it with and -really- don't want a physical copy.

I'm also fairly committed to not pirating except under rare circumstances.

sigh

How about PDF form if that's available for sale? (Anybody know if WotC mentioned pdf's)?

Will · August 07, 2014, 10:34:21 AM

I've been asking, but there seems to be absolutely 0 word that WotC will do a PDF _ever_, let alone a schedule for it.

I mean, if I were to lay a bet, I'd say in a year or two.

Which, of course, will just fuel piracy out the wazoo.

(Seriously, WotC is so fucking stupid when it comes to 'piracy.' Their whole 4e thing... let's pull all the legal PDFs, even though piracy came from someone with a printer file.

Dumb shits)