Two weapon fighting tied to bonus action is broken
Ranger needs a rewrite
Some spells need an errata, like every teleportation spell
Wizards and sorcerers do not have a good balance
But these aren't an edition problem, but rather the classes need reworks
If you consider the system classlessly, it's actually pretty good
In general I agree with you about the system. If I sat down and tried to write the most streamlined system I could, it would probably look very similar to 5e. There are a few specific wordings that could stand some attention, but 5e is still better about that than any previous edition.
Some of the classes are a bit unbalanced. You speak (type I suppose) truth. However I disagree with you about two-weapon fighting. For classes with 1 attack, giving them an option to use their bonus action for attacking is nice, and for a character with a lot of attacks like the fighter it doesn’t really make much of a difference.
The most streamlined system I know of is actually the white wolf new world of darkness system
The rules to apply to 99% of situations fits on the character sheet
Two weapon fighting tied to bonus action is broken
Ranger needs a rewrite
Some spells need an errata, like every teleportation spell
Wizards and sorcerers do not have a good balance
But these aren't an edition problem, but rather the classes need reworks
If you consider the system classlessly, it's actually pretty good
In general I agree with you about the system. If I sat down and tried to write the most streamlined system I could, it would probably look very similar to 5e. There are a few specific wordings that could stand some attention, but 5e is still better about that than any previous edition.
Some of the classes are a bit unbalanced. You speak (type I suppose) truth. However I disagree with you about two-weapon fighting. For classes with 1 attack, giving them an option to use their bonus action for attacking is nice, and for a character with a lot of attacks like the fighter it doesn’t really make much of a difference.
I'd rather just TWF not use bonus action at all. Just be able to use it as part of an attack action
Hey, I use a greatsword for 2d6+3 damage, or I use 2 short swords, for 2 attacks, 1d6+3, and 1d6 The TWF fighting style giving attribute bonus to the second weapon screws with things
No real reason to need to make it require bonus action at all
What would be the reason to ever just use one weapon in this case? It also ensures if you're using TWF you're getting a free extra attack every turn. How is that NOT broken?
2d6+strength twohand vs 1d6+strength mainhand + 1d6 offhand
This is actually balanced.
The time to use one weapon is when you want a shield, or if your opponent has some kind of static damage reduction (which 5e got rid of)
If that was brought back (monster has -3 damage taken) then you have to consider tradeoffs between more frequent hits (and crits), or bypassing damage reduction
Maybe not useless, but technically obsolete. Yes, I know people that still regularly play 3.5, but it is NOT commonly played or what is currently being pushed in the overall scheme of things.
So your complaint is popularity and a marketing campaign?
But I think we need a PHB 2, not necessarily as a replacement but as an option. The Ranger needs to be boosted and the Sorcerer tweaked. Give a few more things to non-spellcasters. More Backgrounds, more weapons.
Perhaps even change Paladin and Ranger to be more martial (smite slots not spell slots, Hunters Mark as a feature not a spell) Give us six martial classes and six caster classes with different feats for each list (plus general feats)
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
If i had to guess, 6e could pop up anywhere from 2 to even 10 years from now. 5e was announced 2.5 years before actual release so we might have to wait a while.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
right now there is no reason for a 6th edition, WotC is still making money on 5th edition and MTG and there is so much stuff that can be added to the game that does not require a new edition.
I don't think there will be 6e until Critical Role finishes their campaign in 5e.
I don't think Critical Role really has a say in it.
It is astounding the number of people I've encountered that authentically don't know the difference between Wizards of the Coast and Critical Role. Due to its popularity, many people misidentify the players in CR as the authority of D&D. That's not to say they aren't good, or in fact exceedingly knowledgeable about the source material. But, they are players like you and me. Wizards of the Coast; however, is the absolute authority on all things D&D.
I hope they continue with 5E for along time. There is still so much more that they can add to it. What I wonder, is if there is enough people out there running around crying for a 6th edition, if Wizards will go ahead and do it seeing those dolor signs.
Just watch the sales numbers for 5e. When those slip 5% or more, they will start worrying about 6e. As long as 5e sales are strong they won’t have any reason to risk pissing of everyone who’s dropped ducats on this edition by rolling out the next one prematurely.
To clarify. I'm fully aware Critical Role isn't Wizards of the Coast. Similarly, with DnDBeyond and WotC. However, they (Critical Role) are the cash cow that has popularized D&D for the masses. Simply put when Critical Role makes the announcement in the future to switch to 6e... that's when legions of fans will switch. It's really simple.
Wizards knows the value Critical Role has brought to them indirectly. They allowed Matt Mercer to create a new setting in 5e knowing they are tapping into their popularity. You can be rest assured the WotC will coordinate with Critical Role when timing the release of 6e. I would not be surprised if Matt Mercer wouldn't be brought in as a design consultant for 6e (if he isn't already).
This dynamic will only change when people are no longer interested in Critical Role and the value they bring to WotC indirectly declines to the point of it not being in their business interest to work with Critical Role.
The difference between Critical Role, DnDBeyond.com, and Wizards of the Coast are the legal means by which our money flows through to them all in order to enjoy D&D. The rest is semantics.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to see Virtual Table Top like no other before it built within DnDBeyond.com? Upvote the feature request. It's 2nd highest voted so far:
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
I don't think so. Things like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, etc has popularized D&D for the masses and have sparked most people's initial interest in playing. It's simply when you have a lot of people interested in playing a rather intense and complicated game that can take months to years to learn on your own, it is obvious they are going to turn to who does the game well. Let's see it in action! Combine that with the familiarity of faces like the celebrities behind Critical Role, and you have an instant success on your hands that not even they expected. Put, simply, people are drawn to the familiar. And Matt Mercer was wildly popular and famous long before Critical Role was a success. As were many of the other celebrities involved with the show.
But, yes, Critical Role has been enjoying wild popularity and Matt Mercer has been able to create an official landscape for D&D in a new book. But....all of that hinged on precursors to what made D&D popular to begin with. At least...when it comes to the more recent years.
And, of course it can be argued that D&D has always been popular, but the latest wave is two fold: 1. GoT, LotR, etc type cinema taking the mainstream collective imagination by storm. People want more of that excitement and suddenly look to the RPG D&D as a familiar setting where such adventures can take place. 2. 5e. Since its emergence, D&D has seen unprecedented success with smoother gameplay and easier accessibility than ever before.
I think it’s more likely that, when the time comes for a new edition, WotC will hand CR a wad of cash and say, “Here, play this.” It will make very little difference to CR which edition they play, especially if 6 is backwards compatible and, hopefully, better. That’s assuming CR is still popular then - a lot can and will happen in the next few years.
The most streamlined system I know of is actually the white wolf new world of darkness system
The rules to apply to 99% of situations fits on the character sheet
2d6+strength twohand vs 1d6+strength mainhand + 1d6 offhand
This is actually balanced.
The time to use one weapon is when you want a shield, or if your opponent has some kind of static damage reduction (which 5e got rid of)
If that was brought back (monster has -3 damage taken) then you have to consider tradeoffs between more frequent hits (and crits), or bypassing damage reduction
So your complaint is popularity and a marketing campaign?
I don't think we need a 6e
But I think we need a PHB 2, not necessarily as a replacement but as an option. The Ranger needs to be boosted and the Sorcerer tweaked. Give a few more things to non-spellcasters. More Backgrounds, more weapons.
Perhaps even change Paladin and Ranger to be more martial (smite slots not spell slots, Hunters Mark as a feature not a spell) Give us six martial classes and six caster classes with different feats for each list (plus general feats)
Allow players to use either the PHB or the PHB 2
I don't think there will be 6e until Critical Role finishes their campaign in 5e.
Want to see Virtual Table Top like no other before it built within DnDBeyond.com? Upvote the feature request. It's 2nd highest voted so far:
https://dndbeyond.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115008597088-Virtual-Tabletop-Gameboard
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
If i had to guess, 6e could pop up anywhere from 2 to even 10 years from now. 5e was announced 2.5 years before actual release so we might have to wait a while.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Litany Against Fear, Frank Herbert
I don't think Critical Role really has a say in it.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
right now there is no reason for a 6th edition, WotC is still making money on 5th edition and MTG and there is so much stuff that can be added to the game that does not require a new edition.
It is astounding the number of people I've encountered that authentically don't know the difference between Wizards of the Coast and Critical Role. Due to its popularity, many people misidentify the players in CR as the authority of D&D. That's not to say they aren't good, or in fact exceedingly knowledgeable about the source material. But, they are players like you and me. Wizards of the Coast; however, is the absolute authority on all things D&D.
I hope they continue with 5E for along time. There is still so much more that they can add to it. What I wonder, is if there is enough people out there running around crying for a 6th edition, if Wizards will go ahead and do it seeing those dolor signs.
Just watch the sales numbers for 5e. When those slip 5% or more, they will start worrying about 6e. As long as 5e sales are strong they won’t have any reason to risk pissing of everyone who’s dropped ducats on this edition by rolling out the next one prematurely.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
It is astounding the number of people I've encountered that authentically don't know the difference between Wizards of the Coast and DnDBeyond.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Literally one of the biggest problems that people have with this website is that they think they're Wizards of the Coast.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Not “one of!” At least 60% of everything people complain about coils be attributed to that misunderstanding.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
To clarify. I'm fully aware Critical Role isn't Wizards of the Coast. Similarly, with DnDBeyond and WotC. However, they (Critical Role) are the cash cow that has popularized D&D for the masses. Simply put when Critical Role makes the announcement in the future to switch to 6e... that's when legions of fans will switch. It's really simple.
Wizards knows the value Critical Role has brought to them indirectly. They allowed Matt Mercer to create a new setting in 5e knowing they are tapping into their popularity. You can be rest assured the WotC will coordinate with Critical Role when timing the release of 6e. I would not be surprised if Matt Mercer wouldn't be brought in as a design consultant for 6e (if he isn't already).
This dynamic will only change when people are no longer interested in Critical Role and the value they bring to WotC indirectly declines to the point of it not being in their business interest to work with Critical Role.
The difference between Critical Role, DnDBeyond.com, and Wizards of the Coast are the legal means by which our money flows through to them all in order to enjoy D&D. The rest is semantics.
Want to see Virtual Table Top like no other before it built within DnDBeyond.com? Upvote the feature request. It's 2nd highest voted so far:
https://dndbeyond.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115008597088-Virtual-Tabletop-Gameboard
NOTE: You will need to setup a zendesk account (which is not your DnDBeyond.com account, the team uses this 3rd party software). It's easy to do and your votes are needed!
I don't think so. Things like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, etc has popularized D&D for the masses and have sparked most people's initial interest in playing. It's simply when you have a lot of people interested in playing a rather intense and complicated game that can take months to years to learn on your own, it is obvious they are going to turn to who does the game well. Let's see it in action! Combine that with the familiarity of faces like the celebrities behind Critical Role, and you have an instant success on your hands that not even they expected. Put, simply, people are drawn to the familiar. And Matt Mercer was wildly popular and famous long before Critical Role was a success. As were many of the other celebrities involved with the show.
But, yes, Critical Role has been enjoying wild popularity and Matt Mercer has been able to create an official landscape for D&D in a new book. But....all of that hinged on precursors to what made D&D popular to begin with. At least...when it comes to the more recent years.
And, of course it can be argued that D&D has always been popular, but the latest wave is two fold: 1. GoT, LotR, etc type cinema taking the mainstream collective imagination by storm. People want more of that excitement and suddenly look to the RPG D&D as a familiar setting where such adventures can take place. 2. 5e. Since its emergence, D&D has seen unprecedented success with smoother gameplay and easier accessibility than ever before.
I think it’s more likely that, when the time comes for a new edition, WotC will hand CR a wad of cash and say, “Here, play this.” It will make very little difference to CR which edition they play, especially if 6 is backwards compatible and, hopefully, better. That’s assuming CR is still popular then - a lot can and will happen in the next few years.
In 2030. D&D 4e Was Released in 2008 While D&D 5e Was Released In 2018
5e was not released in 2018.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
The current edition of D&D was released in December 2014, they just had their 5th anniversary.
Even D&D Beyond is older than 2017
Find my D&D Beyond articles here