Well I have to admit I was skeptical, I didn't participate in the play-tests, didn't follow what was going on with the development of 5E on blogs, or Google+ or Forums, I intentionally avoided pretty much anything to do with D&D Next. Not that I was bitter or mad (well I did get mad when Dragon Magazine stopped coming to my mailbox) or anything, but to be honest I felt with 4E (and to some extent even 3.5) that WotC no longer considered me to be a part of their demographic. I'm not a hater or an Edition Wars guy or anything like that, if you have an edition of the game, or a retro clone that you like and have a group that enjoys it then I'm happy for you. To be honest for me the quality of the players/group has always been more important to me than the rules system being used. But I do want to use a rules system that allows me to run the kinds of games that I enjoy. I did try 4E, bought the books ran a mini-campaign, and eventually shook
my head and sold all of my 4E books (no small thing for me, I still
have all of my AD&D books and modules), it just wasn't for me or my
group. For several years now, I've been content to play various retro clones (C&C, AS&SH, LL, B&T, DCC etc.) and even dipped my toes into Pathfinder for awhile. Part of my issue is a personal one, I find I have an annoying case of Gamer ADD, with all the retro clones out there, I was frustrating my players (and myself) wanting to try the latest OSR Clone that was out, and I have to admit some GREAT ones exist ( B&T, AS&SH; I'm looking at you guys!). So that brings me to my current state, I've lost some players due to jobs, moving, personal issues and I've been away from active gaming for a bit now, have had a few great one-shots and short 2-3 session games here and there. Even posts on my blog have diminished (although to be fair work and family have been a major influence on that). So to fast forward...
A friend of mine has been singing the praises of 5e for a bit now (he was very active in the various play-tests), I always smiled, nodded politely and changed the subject. Well that has changed. At Free RPG Day I got to participate in a 5E game. I got to play. I was handed a pre-gen, given a brief (very brief) run down of the 5E rules (Advantages, Disadvantages, Short Rests, etc...) and we started playing. And it was FUN! I was back in the game! One of my other friends a regular player in my various games and a DM in his own right joined us, and he had a blast also. It was FUN!!!
But I was still skeptical, this was a playtest, not the final version. I did order the Starter Set, I mean for $12, I couldn't resist, heck the dice in the set alone cost nearly that, well half that at least.
Now the Basic rules have been released, for Free! I downloaded them, liked what I saw, sure there are a few things here and there that I may change, but the rules work, they have pulled some modern bits and pieces in but the old deep roots of the game that I know and love are still there. Yesterday I uploaded the Basic DnD Files to Office Depot and with a coupon got them to print it up for $11, by yesterday afternoon I had the Basic Rules in hand, hopefully the booklet will fit into the Starter Set box when it arrives.
But the most important thing, I'm feeling creative again, the ideas are flowing, I've got my muse back, while everyone was still asleep this morning I got up early and got to creating stuff! I'm ready to play D&D Again! And you know what it feels Good! : )
I can completely relate to your post. This Basic Rules has me ready to not just play but do something creative. I think from the reading I have done on forums and other blogs that there will be a lot of this creativity being showcased in the near future. I anticipate putting up some material on my blog in the coming weeks. I was skeptical myself but now I am pleasantly surprised and I am actually anticipating seeing future products.
ReplyDeleteWe are on the same page Charlie! Looking forward to seeing what you and others work up! It is a great time to be a gamer!
DeleteI'm looking forward to giving it a try. Got my box set tonight. DLed the rules the other day. But someone sent me this fricking weird and awesome game book called Synibar that pleasantly distracting.
ReplyDeleteLOL, glad you are finding the package I sent interesting. Didn't mean to distract you from 5E. LOL
DeleteA big 'hmmmmmm' in my neck of the woods. Like you I've completely ignored all 5e talk, but to be fair, I liked 4e and we're still playing Pathfinder not to mention a very short lived 1e jaunt not too long ago. Anyway, 5e? I'll say again, hmmmmm...
ReplyDeleteI hear ya MIK. I don't mind playing Pathfinder as a player, it has some great options, I just don't have the time to DM Pathfinder these days.
DeleteLike you, I just figured that button-mashing Playstation and Xbox, short attention span types were the new demographic instead of guys like us. Their last attempt struck me as a subscription grab with a miniature marketing dependency. Fairly or unfairly my limited exposure to it gave me visions of Clix games instead of an RPG. I guess I should give this newest incarnation a fair shake if you give it a thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteWhat's up Neil! Great to see you poking around the ole Blog. We need to get some gaming going! Check out the Basic PDF of the rules, they are free! The characters are a bit more powerful at low levels than what you are used to, but the game has alot of cool things going for it.
DeleteYeah, not sure if the Codename: Morningstar will be the uber solution for remote play, or if some combination of Google+, Hangouts, Skype, custom tools will suffice. I'm finally making progress on our other house now that it's almost empty, so while I'm going to be even busier in the short term, I'm hoping to have much more free time in a few months once I get that thing on the market. So...late 80s..hmmm, does that mean Howler, Azanon Thule, Flesh Hounds, and Gibberlings - era ? :)
DeleteYeah, I'm curious to see what Morningstar turns out to be myself. Glad to hear you are making progress, I start Graduate School Hell soon... And yes I mean Azanon Thule, Flesh Hounds, Gibberlings and especially Howler!! Good Times!!!!
DeleteAh yes, the campaign where Purify Food And Drink became my new favorite spell for a couple of desperate weeks. Good Times, indeed!
DeleteThe rules in 5e (what we have seen) feel much more like a tool-kit. It reminds me more of 2nd Ed than anything else and, YES! I have also been inspired and am converting my campaign setting from the 80's to it and not looking back!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I also sold my 4th Ed books, despite having NEVER sold any edition's tomes before.
DeleteWe are on the same page Tom! Thanks for the comments!
DeleteI dug out my old AD&D campaign from the late 80's this morning, have lost much of my notes, but found my old map and a few bits and pieces of it. Gonna dust them off and see what I can use for a new 5E Campaign. : )
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