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[Harry Baldman]

So uh....how much exactly does 5e cut out from character options ?

Skill ranks and prestige classes are gone, feats and multiclassing are optional features (mostly replacing them is a set of 2-3 archetypes per class in addition to supplemental materials), spells are mostly the same but less powerful since caster level isn't a thing anymore, attributes are now all-important instead of super important.

That is, if you're wondering in relation to 3.5. I couldn't possibly comment about 4E.

[RazielReaver]

So uh....how much exactly does 5e cut out from character options ?

Skill ranks and prestige classes are gone, feats and multiclassing are optional features (mostly replacing them is a set of 2-3 archetypes per class in addition to supplemental materials), spells are mostly the same but less powerful since caster level isn't a thing anymore, attributes are now all-important instead of super important.

That is, if you're wondering in relation to 3.5. I couldn't possibly comment about 4E.

and that's enough information for me to never touch 5th Edition ever.

[Dorsidwarf]

So uh....how much exactly does 5e cut out from character options ?

Skill ranks and prestige classes are gone, feats and multiclassing are optional features (mostly replacing them is a set of 2-3 archetypes per class in addition to supplemental materials), spells are mostly the same but less powerful since caster level isn't a thing anymore, attributes are now all-important instead of super important.

That is, if you're wondering in relation to 3.5. I couldn't possibly comment about 4E.

and that's enough information for me to never touch 5th Edition ever.

Uh oh, an elitist.

[Criptfeind]

It's an arite game. It's a lot more... 'flat' then 3.5. But that's not universally bad. I'd play different ones for different reasons with different people.

[sjm9876]

From the outset I want a few things clear, DO NOT engage in 'version X is better than version Y' discussion/argument, I will lock down the thread and report the parties responsible. (Even if it's me.)

I'll just leave this here in case this builds up.

[Harry Baldman]

Hey, 5E's perfectly all right and it does a few things a lot better than 3.5E. Like giants, for instance. Giants are Huge in 5E, it's great.

[Draignean]

Some giants are Huge in 3.5, just... most are Large.

[Harry Baldman]

And that's just not good enough anymore.

[BlackFlyme]

Giants are Humanoid in Pathfinder. It's a little weird and open for abuse with Racial Heritage. Steal Giant only feats. Become a literal Troll in more ways than one.

[highmax28]

So uh....how much exactly does 5e cut out from character options ?

Skill ranks and prestige classes are gone, feats and multiclassing are optional features (mostly replacing them is a set of 2-3 archetypes per class in addition to supplemental materials), spells are mostly the same but less powerful since caster level isn't a thing anymore, attributes are now all-important instead of super important.

That is, if you're wondering in relation to 3.5. I couldn't possibly comment about 4E.

Having come from solely 4e, the battles aren't as spectacular and are actually like 3.5 where battles are "glass cannons roll on their turn, big stupid fighter gets punched in the face, casters win and make the battle seem like the non-casters won". But everything else outside of combat is better (although gear is all over the place...).

Compared to pathfinder, it's better in the sense that classes aren't considered completely useless if you plan on for long term gameplay. A fighter is still pretty solid at higher levels, even though casters still become gods...

EDIT:

Also, 5e tried to make everyone seem like you can be like casters but only giving them access to the spells that you really need to be creative to use. For example, arcane trickster archetype rogues can cast illusion magic, but they only get the first four spell levels of the wizard list.

Only the barbarian has no possible way to have magic, and I think wizards may change that with some archetypes in the future

[Neonivek]

Ultimately there is a LOT in 5th edition that they do right and many times better than Pathfinder. Such as character and monster balance (You can finally make monsters without HUUUUUGE guess work like you need in Pathfinder). Yet the very limited character creation and character advancement hurts the game.

Pathfinder I feel... really needs a version 2... a clean slate.

Then again I think they are planning on making a Pathfinder 2, just call it a hunch... what with them playtesting certain... alternatives.

[highmax28]

Ultimately there is a LOT in 5th edition that they do right and many times better than Pathfinder. Such as character and monster balance (You can finally make monsters without HUUUUUGE guess work like you need in Pathfinder). Yet the very limited character creation and character advancement hurts the game.

Pathfinder I feel... really needs a version 2... a clean slate.

Then again I think they are planning on making a Pathfinder 2, just call it a hunch... what with them playtesting certain... alternatives.

Pathfinder is a clusterf*** of what happens when 3.5 elitists decide they can make a better 3.5 and then let other people throw their ideas into he mix. There really isn't much on balancing.

I think for 5e, PHB2 is coming out; they released like 2 or more (fighter and rogue has like archetypes for each existing class and two new classes (mystic and artificer) for play testing. So far, it looks fantastic, although I'm not keen on the fact every class can now be divine based... Even the barbarian...

[Neonivek]

although I'm not keen on the fact every class can now be divine based... Even the barbarian...

Ehh they are archtypes. I actually think it is a nice move personally, most classes already have a arcane archetype mixed in there and a lot of casters have a physical archtype.

Another thing 5e does well is it tries to keep the flow of gameplay going. Rests cuts the pauses in gameplay down significantly and takes the weight of healing off healers somewhat.

It also done away with Swarms being immune to everything and things being immune to the Rogue.

The Rogue is where I am the most impressed. The problem with the Rogue as I explained many times before is that the Rogue is both underpowered and overpowered at the same time.

Because EVERYTHING needs to be balanced towards the Rogue, absolutely everything is too powerful for anyone else. 5e? Nope! anyone can learn lockpicking and be good at it.

As well magic items feel a lot more special in 5e without being arbitrarily rare. They are significantly more powerful and potent.

---

In otherwords I kind of hope that when they go to an edition beyond dungeons and dragons 5e they don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Because even if I accept that 5e is worse then 3.5 and pathfinder (which is fair). It is still a huge step forward for the series.

Even 4e made some good moves, some I wish made it to 5e... but they did get a lot of the good ones.

[ShoesandHats]

What would you guys say are the most important things a new DM should know/prepare before launching a campaign? Are there any important mechanical details that are easy to miss if you don't read the DM's guide front to back? If I'm planning a more story based campaign rather than a sandbox, what story beats should I have written out beforehand? Should I even plan that far ahead in the first place?

Sorry if I'm being a bit general, I have some time before all my players are able to get together and I want to make sure everyone has enough fun that they want to play again.

[Neonivek]

I thought about it.

The most important rule that new DMs typically overlook... in the DM book...

Rule Zero