I've played some 2nd Edition, lots of 3rd/3.5, and maybe 1 game of 4.
3.5 was my favorite really because of the depth and variety. You could choose to do just about anything you wanted, and the rules were robust enough to allow for it. There was also just so much to explore, and the supplements I found were of pretty decent quality.
Then 4 came out. It was a huge leap backwards. Wizards of the Coast tried to "open the game to new players" by simplifying the rules. The problem was, they way way oversimplified. The game became more of a table-top video game, a mere shadow of its previous greatness. People saw it, and they weren't happy. Pretty sure they canceled the edition before they originally intended.
D&D Next was a great idea. Playtest the newest edition to get real feedback from real players, and update the materials periodically. I and a couple of friends who also DM played a couple of small small campaigns to test things out a couple of times, and liked what it was becoming. When they finally did release 5th edition, it was everything that 4 should have been.
Can't wait to get a few games going. I can easily see this rivaling or potentially even surpassing 3rd edition.
I loved 3.5 also, but the thing that made it special also made it arduous.
You can focus on whatever you like, but it'll take you a damn long time to get there. 2 Weapon Fighting (and it's requisite feats) could take a dozen levels to reach. We're talking weeks or months of sessions before you feel useful.
I think 5e is well done and very streamlined, but I wish the skills were a little more diverse. I don't necessarily need 4 levels to become proficient with horse riding, but some of the skills are a little vague.
I've played some 2nd Edition, lots of 3rd/3.5, and maybe 1 game of 4.
3.5 was my favorite really because of the depth and variety. You could choose to do just about anything you wanted, and the rules were robust enough to allow for it. There was also just so much to explore, and the supplements I found were of pretty decent quality.
Then 4 came out. It was a huge leap backwards. Wizards of the Coast tried to "open the game to new players" by simplifying the rules. The problem was, they way way oversimplified. The game became more of a table-top video game, a mere shadow of its previous greatness. People saw it, and they weren't happy. Pretty sure they canceled the edition before they originally intended.
D&D Next was a great idea. Playtest the newest edition to get real feedback from real players, and update the materials periodically. I and a couple of friends who also DM played a couple of small small campaigns to test things out a couple of times, and liked what it was becoming. When they finally did release 5th edition, it was everything that 4 should have been.
Can't wait to get a few games going. I can easily see this rivaling or potentially even surpassing 3rd edition.
I loved 3.5 also, but the thing that made it special also made it arduous.
You can focus on whatever you like, but it'll take you a damn long time to get there. 2 Weapon Fighting (and it's requisite feats) could take a dozen levels to reach. We're talking weeks or months of sessions before you feel useful.
I think 5e is well done and very streamlined, but I wish the skills were a little more diverse. I don't necessarily need 4 levels to become proficient with horse riding, but some of the skills are a little vague.