Playing Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition
I am currently in a group playing D&D 5th edition. I like it. A lot!
As of writing this we are somewhere in the midst of the Storm King's Thunder official campaign module, and for most of us in our group, this is the first time playing D&D 5th edition (5e).
The last time I played D&D was quite a few years ago and back then I was either playing D&D revised 3rd edition (3.5e) or D&D 2nd edition (2e). I played loads of D&D 2e, both growing up in my home town, and during my time in university. The D&D group I was playing with in university had tried 3rd edition but we really fell in love with D&D 3.5e and we played this for a good number of years both through university and afterwards.
I have never played D&D 4th edition, and so I cannot comment on the merits or detriments to this particular rule-set.
My familiar roleplaying group slowly dissolved (not through any great cataclysm, just through life interceding in our plans to get together) and after my fun with 3.5e, I found a new group of players and we played Pathfinder for a bit. I liked the Pathfinder system as it had its core in 3.5e, but getting a regular game in was becoming a bit of a struggle so my D&D / Pathfinder (and general roleplaying) has slowly dwindled to nothing in recent years. When I was asked recently did I want to play D&D 5e I jumped at the chance!
Did you say 'Free' rules?
I like D&D 5th edition, the rules are quite straight forward, and so far as I have been able to figure out through play, make for a great game. The big draw for me with 5e over previous editions was the offer of free rules in PDF format (supplied by Wizards of the Coast) and also the many great SRD pages available online (that's System Reference Document for all those who were wondering but were too afraid to ask). This meant that taking the plunge into 5th edition as a player has never been easier. I personally started out with the free rules and the SRD and played a couple of sessions before I decided to buy the rulebook.
The 5e free rules PDF is a stripped down version of the rulebook, and gives you enough to information to create a basic character and play the game. The SRD helps fill in the gaps in the free rules, but if you are a veteran like me, you like a physical copy of the book to pour over, and so I gave in rather quickly to purchase the book once I had a game session or two under my belt.
This roleplaying is Character building stuff...
Throughout my D&D / Pathfinder career, I would generally play as a Human or Half-Elf, and take the Ranger class or a Prestige class based on a Ranger, or depending on how the game was developing possibly dual class into a Ranger-Sorcerer. I am not sure if it was our GM suggesting things (hello Ciaran!), some options presented from the other players or just the fact that this game was something new, but I decided to move out of my comfort zone and play as a Human Druid. I had no idea what I was doing in Druid class, and so was not sure where to start, never mind how to progress.
I then remembered I had come across a podcast discussing D&D 5e, and so I had a listen to the Stories from the 5th Age podcast for some inspiration. This opened my mind. I didn't need to play a tree-hugging leaf-wearing Druid, I just had to capture the essence of what it means to be a Druid within my character. Concept now developed I created my character, Erik Bathmoss, Human Druid. I have had a few moments within the game sessions where I feel lost, but this is more about me struggling with my new role as a Druid than anything to do with the game, the campaign or the GM.
The rest of my erstwhile party members are, Claus Varderdale, Human Paladin, played by Tony; Arranis Siannodel, Fey Sorcerer, played by Keith; and Hobbi Tee, Hobbit Bard, played by Paul. Ciaran is our GM and along with me this makes up our group.
The next session
I really like 5e, and having a good group to play with helps. I like getting to meet up with the group and delve into the next session and I feel aggrieved when I have to miss a session (just like the last session I missed due to a family commitment - as I said earlier, life tends to intercede on things!).
I can attest that the rules work well, so far as we have played, and character progression (that is levelling up your character) is easy enough. I could never remember what to actually do in 2e to level up and had to consult the book every single time as it always seemed so damned complicated, and in 3.5e I would always forget to add or increase something when levelling up, leading to retroactive additions half-way through the next session. Levelling up in 5e is quite easy, once you go through the process once or twice, and so far everything is looking good.
We have been using the narrative experience system for the campaign, which means you don't obtain experience for encounters but gain levels on completing tasks or campaign sub-plots. It works quite well, and we have reached the dizzy heights of 6th level already. The narrative experience system doesn't feel rushed, as you generally get to play a session or two at your new level, and in doing so, complete the next task or sub-plot to gain your next level.
I am looking forward to the next game, and hopefully will be able to report back with more thoughts on 5e and the Storm King's Thunder.
J
