PHB Soldier Background

Marleycat · July 18, 2014, 11:55:18 AM

Found this over at TPB...http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?731515-PHB-preview-Soldier-background....I find it interesting that they seem to be using visuals even for the backgrounds.

dragoner · July 18, 2014, 12:04:34 PM

Cool preview, nice illustration, ridiculous discussion. lol

Marleycat · July 18, 2014, 12:09:58 PM

It's TBP what do you expect?

dragoner · July 18, 2014, 12:23:55 PM

Yeah.

Sacrosanct · July 18, 2014, 12:38:54 PM

Holy fuck there's just no pleasing some people. A pox upon them all.

Warboss Squee · July 18, 2014, 12:45:27 PM

Way to miss the point by a country mile, Purpleteers.

Armchair Gamer · July 18, 2014, 12:50:32 PM

I have to say, though I'm still a bit skeptical on whether the mechanics do anything better than several other systems I have to hand, I really like the look of 5E and how they're emphasizing character background and personality, more than anything I can think of in the main D&D line since the 2E Complete Handbooks and some promising stuff in the 3.5 Player's Handbook II.

Bren · July 18, 2014, 12:52:23 PM

I was wondering if I was the only person who was more interested in reading the words on the page than critiquing the artwork.

Marleycat · July 18, 2014, 12:55:20 PM

Quote from: Bren;770335I was wondering if I was the only person who was more interested in reading the words on the page than critiquing the artwork.

Well to be honest the full write up is already in BASIC so there really isn't anything new beyond the art and layout.

JonWake · July 18, 2014, 12:56:52 PM

*sigh* Oh, Polaris. You're never not stupid.

estar · July 18, 2014, 01:01:27 PM

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;770334I have to say, though I'm still a bit skeptical on whether the mechanics do anything better than several other systems I have to hand, I really like the look of 5E and how they're emphasizing character background and personality, more than anything I can think of in the main D&D line since the 2E Complete Handbooks and some promising stuff in the 3.5 Player's Handbook II.

Well think of it this way. It could have nothing save for whatever you write on the back of your character sheet and the agreement of your referee.

Or you go GURPS and figure out out the exact benefits and complications your character's background has and translate it into a package of adventages, disadvantage, and skills.

You could go Fate and have a less detailed system that still dominates the mechanics.

Or you could do what 5e does and have a little structure, and a handful of benefits and complications.

My opinion if you want to target a really broad audience that 5e approach pretty much hits the sweet spot. There is detail but it obvious how to expand it and how to eliminate it.

Bren · July 18, 2014, 01:02:18 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;770337Well to be honest the full write up is already in BASIC so there really isn't anything new beyond the art and layout.

Oh. Guess I'm behind on my reading.

I like the words though. I think there is something there I can steal.

Armchair Gamer · July 18, 2014, 01:09:38 PM

Quote from: estar;770341My opinion if you want to target a really broad audience that 5e approach pretty much hits the sweet spot. There is detail but it obvious how to expand it and how to eliminate it.

I tend to agree. My concern is twofold:

1. I'm hoping there won't be any traps or breaking points like so much of the community found in 3E;
2. For me personally, given that I play sporadically and already have numerous variations of D&D in my collection, I'm not 100% convinced that it'll be worth dropping another $100 on the core books. I probably will wind up doing so in the long run, especially if they wind up producing new Ravenloft stuff.

Sacrosanct · July 18, 2014, 01:13:36 PM

Luckily for you, you can drop $0 on the rules for the basic set (when it's complete), and decide if it's a game you would like to keep playing before dropping a dime.

jadrax · July 18, 2014, 01:13:50 PM

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;770345I probably will wind up doing so in the long run, especially if they wind up producing new Ravenloft stuff.

There is a rumour going around that 5e actually came about because they decided that doing Ravenloft was next to impossible under 4e. If that's true, you have to assume Ravenloft is a decent contender to be coming in the first couple of settings.