So, I was reading the article below about Wizards possibly revamping the core classes since a lot of the stuff coming out lately seems (at least in my estimation) very overpowered compared to the core rules. It got me thinking... is it time for a v5.5e of the rules? v3.0 did it well (3.5 stuff only needed a little tweaking to work in 3.5).
While I could see how WotC could do a revamp of the PHB Subclasses or even the Classes to clear up perceived imbalances or even tighten up the rules in general (looks at Rule Forum) but I think it is fairly unlikely to happen anytime soon. I do think that they may do another book that focuses on the PHB subclasses though to bring the in line with newer material.
They just had the biggest sales record year and the game is still going very well so i don't see a new relase anytime soon that would alienate current 5E edition. Optional rulebooks may be, but not new core rulebooks.
Rather than release something parallelly competing akin to 3.5 during 3E, i'd see more release something complementary like Essential during 4E.
I'm new to D&D so have no experience, what is the difference between an Xe and an X.5e? Like in terms of broad changes, what would thst entail? What difference would it make to the consumer?
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I'm new to D&D so have no experience, what is the difference between an Xe and an X.5e? Like in terms of broad changes, what would thst entail? What difference would it make to the consumer?
In the change from 3 to 3.5, it was not really backwards compatible. You needed to play one or the other, basically. The core mechanics were the same, but there were so many small changes that you couldn’t really play a 3 and 3.5 character at the same table.
Though as they were developing 5e, they did say they wanted this to be the last edition, and that future updates would still work with these core rules. Whether they’ll be able to stick to that is kind of an open question.
And while certainly their sales are through the roof, if businesses have learned anything in the past 20 years, it’s that it’s better for you to canabalize your own sales and make your product obsolete with a new version before a competitor does. I’m not saying I think there will be a new edition soon, I’m just saying that good sales numbers are not necessarily a reason to stick with the current one.
In the change from 3 to 3.5, it was not really backwards compatible. You needed to play one or the other, basically. The core mechanics were the same, but there were so many small changes that you couldn’t really play a 3 and 3.5 character at the same table.
Though as they were developing 5e, they did say they wanted this to be the last edition, and that future updates would still work with these core rules. Whether they’ll be able to stick to that is kind of an open question.
And while certainly their sales are through the roof, if businesses have learned anything in the past 20 years, it’s that it’s better for you to canabalize your own sales and make your product obsolete with a new version before a competitor does. I’m not saying I think there will be a new edition soon, I’m just saying that good sales numbers are not necessarily a reason to stick with the current one.
Could you play the same adventures, though?
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... since a lot of the stuff coming out lately seems (at least in my estimation) very overpowered compared to the core rules.
It really isn't. There are a few items of content that are definitely above the curve (the Peace Cleric unacceptably so, I'd say - playtest should have caught that), but to me it mostly feels like the misses from the core books were learned from and recent content doesn't have any options that are as wonky and/or terrible as some of those early ones.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I think this is more indicative of a 50th Anniverary "reconciled" or consolidated edition of the existing rules and optional features. It may tweak the foundational classes a bit, but also present the lineage and class and feat options available in XGtE and Tasha's in one place. They show I think three ways of rolling stats in the present PHB, I see no reason why they couldn't propose bound races and the optional Tasha's rules in one volume. Actually if the PHB was rendered more as player/table/DM options, it'd probably overcome the myth of the 100% RAW bar and actually empower tables to run their own games without worrying too hard over "doing it right."
I'd say new class content is "flashier" than some of the OG subclasses but I wouldn't say they were OP'd. My parties have a mix of OG and X and T subclasses, and I don't see a lot of limelight hogging or anyone feeling lesser than other members.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
This is the second poll I've seen where WotC is asking for opinions on the PHB... If they revise the PHB, fine, but if they need to redo one of the three core books, I'd say it's the DMG that needs the most help. It was clearly not written for people new to D&D. If they just stuck chapters 1 and 2 from the 4e DMG1 at the front, it would already be a 10x better book for newbies. Starting with a handful of random rules before going on to a chapter about making your own homebrew world is not the most intuitive thing...
But I digress. If there is a revised PHB, I wonder how D&D Beyond would handle the different versions of the classes? I can't think of a way that's not messy or confusing to those who aren't in the know...
Give it one or two more books like Tasha's. The newer stuff is generally way stronger than the older subclasses/items, but not so much as to make the older ones totally eclipsed, yet.
I wouldn't worry too much about the rules being a breaking point yet either. Although there are some janky things that are still left a bit vague, they have an easier time than ever compiling errata and official rulings.
Once power creep in the classes and subclasses get to be too much, and real rules issues pile up to an annoying level, then they will go after our wallets with 5.5 or 6e.
I hope they don’t implement that godawful lineage system directly in the PHB.
Of course they will. That is a done deal. This whole thing about "optional rules" is they are optional, until they are not. Like I just said, WOTC has not just endorsed power creep, they have endorsed power LEAP.
How can they sell a new book unless it makes the game easier for players? Who would buy a book that actually nerfed or removed subclassses? Tasha's was all about making the game easier. And a new PHB would have to follow that up.
Well, it’ll be just as banned at my table as it is now, and if they change the races on DDB and I have to Homebrew each and every one of them to put back the standard ASI’s I will be severely pissed off at having wasted this much money on this ******* website.
In the change from 3 to 3.5, it was not really backwards compatible. You needed to play one or the other, basically. The core mechanics were the same, but there were so many small changes that you couldn’t really play a 3 and 3.5 character at the same table.
Though as they were developing 5e, they did say they wanted this to be the last edition, and that future updates would still work with these core rules. Whether they’ll be able to stick to that is kind of an open question.
And while certainly their sales are through the roof, if businesses have learned anything in the past 20 years, it’s that it’s better for you to canabalize your own sales and make your product obsolete with a new version before a competitor does. I’m not saying I think there will be a new edition soon, I’m just saying that good sales numbers are not necessarily a reason to stick with the current one.
Could you play the same adventures, though?
I don’t know. I only ever homebrew. Though I don’t remember adventures being as prevalent in 3.x. Certainly not like now where there are self-contained level 1-13 campaigns, but I could be remembering wrong and maybe there were. Lots of books for character options (aka splat books) though.
I don't expect a core rules update, but I could see them making tweaks to older subclasses to update them, or add things like customized origin optoins from Tashas added to an updated PHB as an optional rule etc.
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So, I was reading the article below about Wizards possibly revamping the core classes since a lot of the stuff coming out lately seems (at least in my estimation) very overpowered compared to the core rules. It got me thinking... is it time for a v5.5e of the rules? v3.0 did it well (3.5 stuff only needed a little tweaking to work in 3.5).
https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2021/08/dd-wotc-takes-aim-at-the-players-handbook-classes-with-new-survey.html
C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
While I could see how WotC could do a revamp of the PHB Subclasses or even the Classes to clear up perceived imbalances or even tighten up the rules in general (looks at Rule Forum) but I think it is fairly unlikely to happen anytime soon. I do think that they may do another book that focuses on the PHB subclasses though to bring the in line with newer material.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
There is a poll out right now about the PHB classes and subclasses, so it could be coming sooner rather than later.
Poll referenced in this thread
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/118606-phb-class-survey
They just had the biggest sales record year and the game is still going very well so i don't see a new relase anytime soon that would alienate current 5E edition. Optional rulebooks may be, but not new core rulebooks.
Rather than release something parallelly competing akin to 3.5 during 3E, i'd see more release something complementary like Essential during 4E.
Yeah, I did that survey. Had very negative things to say about Way of Four Elements. I want that Subclass changed/updated so much.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
I'm new to D&D so have no experience, what is the difference between an Xe and an X.5e? Like in terms of broad changes, what would thst entail? What difference would it make to the consumer?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
It is hard to say. It has only happened once.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
In the change from 3 to 3.5, it was not really backwards compatible. You needed to play one or the other, basically. The core mechanics were the same, but there were so many small changes that you couldn’t really play a 3 and 3.5 character at the same table.
Though as they were developing 5e, they did say they wanted this to be the last edition, and that future updates would still work with these core rules. Whether they’ll be able to stick to that is kind of an open question.
And while certainly their sales are through the roof, if businesses have learned anything in the past 20 years, it’s that it’s better for you to canabalize your own sales and make your product obsolete with a new version before a competitor does. I’m not saying I think there will be a new edition soon, I’m just saying that good sales numbers are not necessarily a reason to stick with the current one.
Could you play the same adventures, though?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
It really isn't. There are a few items of content that are definitely above the curve (the Peace Cleric unacceptably so, I'd say - playtest should have caught that), but to me it mostly feels like the misses from the core books were learned from and recent content doesn't have any options that are as wonky and/or terrible as some of those early ones.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I think this is more indicative of a 50th Anniverary "reconciled" or consolidated edition of the existing rules and optional features. It may tweak the foundational classes a bit, but also present the lineage and class and feat options available in XGtE and Tasha's in one place. They show I think three ways of rolling stats in the present PHB, I see no reason why they couldn't propose bound races and the optional Tasha's rules in one volume. Actually if the PHB was rendered more as player/table/DM options, it'd probably overcome the myth of the 100% RAW bar and actually empower tables to run their own games without worrying too hard over "doing it right."
I'd say new class content is "flashier" than some of the OG subclasses but I wouldn't say they were OP'd. My parties have a mix of OG and X and T subclasses, and I don't see a lot of limelight hogging or anyone feeling lesser than other members.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Mine was Champion fighter.....
Brute was so much better.
YES!
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
This is the second poll I've seen where WotC is asking for opinions on the PHB... If they revise the PHB, fine, but if they need to redo one of the three core books, I'd say it's the DMG that needs the most help. It was clearly not written for people new to D&D. If they just stuck chapters 1 and 2 from the 4e DMG1 at the front, it would already be a 10x better book for newbies. Starting with a handful of random rules before going on to a chapter about making your own homebrew world is not the most intuitive thing...
But I digress. If there is a revised PHB, I wonder how D&D Beyond would handle the different versions of the classes? I can't think of a way that's not messy or confusing to those who aren't in the know...
I hope they don’t implement that godawful lineage system directly in the PHB.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Give it one or two more books like Tasha's. The newer stuff is generally way stronger than the older subclasses/items, but not so much as to make the older ones totally eclipsed, yet.
I wouldn't worry too much about the rules being a breaking point yet either. Although there are some janky things that are still left a bit vague, they have an easier time than ever compiling errata and official rulings.
Once power creep in the classes and subclasses get to be too much, and real rules issues pile up to an annoying level, then they will go after our wallets with 5.5 or 6e.
Well, it’ll be just as banned at my table as it is now, and if they change the races on DDB and I have to Homebrew each and every one of them to put back the standard ASI’s I will be severely pissed off at having wasted this much money on this ******* website.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Mine was the Eldritch Knight.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I don’t know. I only ever homebrew. Though I don’t remember adventures being as prevalent in 3.x. Certainly not like now where there are self-contained level 1-13 campaigns, but I could be remembering wrong and maybe there were. Lots of books for character options (aka splat books) though.
I don't expect a core rules update, but I could see them making tweaks to older subclasses to update them, or add things like customized origin optoins from Tashas added to an updated PHB as an optional rule etc.