Last week it was reported full D&D Next (5ed) shedule and book covers.

Do you like it and are you planning to buy this book's? Or you will gonna hold on on older editions or other RPG games?

In my opinion, these books cover more suited for PC gams, than for role-playing games. I do not feel the charm of the old editions.

Game book covers and shedule:

Starter Set (July 15)

Player's Handbook (August 19)

Monster Manual (September 30)

Dungeon Master's Guide (November 19)

And first two Adventures:

Hoard of the Dragon Queen (August 19) and The Rise of Tiamat (October 21)

Updated 26 May 2014 (14:14)

Posted by Hilly GreenfieldDo you like it and are you planning to buy this book's? Or you will gonna hold on on older editions or other RPG games?

No reason I can't do both. I have already ordered the Starter Set and will be going to Gen Con to pick up everything they have available there. But I won't be taking the previous editions off the shelves.

I'm certainly curious to try it out, but I doubt it'll do much for me. Throughout its iterations D&D has been a solid performer in its various categories (fantasy adventure RPG for the first two editions, tactical boardgame with some roleplaying support after that), but never a personal favourite of mine; I have no reason to assume this edition will change that (not that I wouldn't mind being pleasantly surprised). The fact that they've gotten rid of the compulsory "battlegrid" does give me some hope since it turns the focus more towards narrative. How well they manage against their more indie challengers remains to be seen - the competition is formidable (e.g. 13th Age). No new edition of D&D has ever truly replaced its predecessors. Instead they've presented a new type of game that people either take to or not. Those who do go for it make the owner of the franchise happy, and those who don't go for it veer towards other systems. In this way D&D editions create more diversity than any other gaming brand. And let us not forget the sheer vitriol-fueled entertainment that is the inevitable Edition War that follows every D&D iteration. Never have I seen a more painful choice in pen-and-paper gaming than that facing a D&D fan as a new edition rolls out of the presses.

Does anyone have experience about actual play with this one? I've read the basic rules available online, and I must say that at least on paper it's easily the best version of D&D I've ever seen, and beats most of its Old School Renaissance competitors hands down.

I bought the Starter Set but I haven't found anyone to try it with me yet. Also I need to find a female greataxe fighter miniature to fit with one of the pre-generated characters they included. Speaking of which, the fact that the starter set doesn't include any minis is kinda lame...

Updated 2 August 2014 (05:05)

Posted by SapientI bought the Starter Set but I haven't found anyone to try it with me yet. Also I need to find a female greataxe fighter miniature to fit with one of the pre-generated characters they included. Speaking of which, the fact that the starter set doesn't include any minis is kinda lame...

I thought the system didn't need minis (one of the most best things about it in my books). Or is using minis just your personal preference?

there is good chance that after the vacation period I get to play for the first time a 5th edition campaign. I am very excited every time a new edition is out but this time I am more excited about the DM. I know he write insanely good stories. I will keep you updated by the time we start playing

I played the first part of Phandelver this past weekend, and we liked it a lot. It moves fast, it gives plenty of opportunity for roleplay, and one is not overwhelmed by too many choices (resulting in no analysis paralysis). The streamlined skill list and the ability checks make it very easy to know what one is doing at any specific time, and even novice players knew how to play without having to refer to rules within 15 minutes. Minis aren't required, but neither are they useless. I hear that WizKids are making the minis for the starter set, and include a Drizzt mini.

Ioanna, here's hoping for the best! =)

Kitharis, that sounds great! I'm actively trying to find someone to run a one-shot fer me.

I hear that WizKids are making the minis for the starter set, and include a Drizzt mini.

Oh no, not that piece of angstwurst again... do they have to shove him everywhere at the first opportunity? xP

And yeah, I know that for marketing reasons they pretty much have to, but I do wish they'd come up with more interesting icons.

Posted by MuadMouseOh no, not that piece of angstwurst again... do they have to shove him everywhere at the first opportunity? xPAnd yeah, I know that for marketing reasons they pretty much have to, but I do wish they'd come up with more interesting icons.

I agree. There are so many great characters in the Forgotten Realms, like Dragonbait, Elminster or Khelben Blackstaff.

Anyway, I literally despised the editions 3 to 4 but I'm actually looking forward to the next convention around my hometown, so that I can test this edition. The gamers in my area have gotten so lazy ...

Posted by WerwolfI agree. There are so many great characters in the Forgotten Realms, like Dragonbait, Elminster or Khelben Blackstaff.

Elminster is the epitome of Ed Greenwood's power fantasies and I'd welcome his permanent demise! My exposure to Khelben has been marginal but he seems a bit less outrageous. Dragonbait I know mostly from art, but at the very least he has the advantage of having a fairly unusual character concept.

If there's an FR character I'd like to see more, it's Volo.

Anyway, I literally despised the editions 3 to 4 but I'm actually looking forward to the next convention around my hometown, so that I can test this edition. The gamers in my area have gotten so lazy ...

I can't in good conscience complain about a lack of active gamers in Oulu. It's partly this high degree of activity that's made most of us uninterested in 5e: we've got a plethora of different systems on offer, and the two previous editions have largely been found wanting - what 3e fans are left have moved over to Pathfinder and 4e was at its height little more than a curiosity. Many of us didn't appreciate the highly formalized play that 3e and 4e presented and looked for greener pastures.

5e, being essentially an Old School Renaissance system, might fare well here, but it will have to shake off the poor reputation of its predecessors.

To illustrate my point, 5e wasn't a topic of discussion on the Oulu University Gaming Society's fairly active IRC channel until after its launch, of which most hadn't even been aware (I knew of the launch thanks to this thread). So far, what little discussion there's been has been between me (an RPG addict) and a guy currently focusing on running retro D&D (AD&D 1e and earlier). We both like it but are unlikely to spend money on it.

I know of a couple of groups here, though, who have changed religiously from one edition to the next. I'm curious to see how they'll respond to an edition that veers this aggressively away from miniature wargaming.

Updated 6 August 2014 (02:04)

Posted by MuadMouseKitharis, that sounds great! I'm actively trying to find someone to run a one-shot fer me.

Where are you? If you're anywhere within reach of central Texas I'd be happy to run something.

Posted by KitharisWhere are you? If you're anywhere within reach of central Texas I'd be happy to run something.

Oulu, Finland. So not exactly in the neighbourhood, I'm afraid.

Hmm ... not really, no. And I'm afraid I'm not very adept at any of the online methods.

Posted by KitharisHmm ... not really, no. And I'm afraid I'm not very adept at any of the online methods.

No worries, I'd have trouble scheduling it in anyway because of all the gaming I'm doing. x) We've been having a serious heat wave here for almost two solid months and the the usually welcome warmth has lost its appeal, so we play rpgs to take our minds off the stifling heat. I'm sure this heat would be nothing for a Texan, but I'm more the sort of person who doesn't zip his jacket or cover his head unless the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius and its windy.

An online Radio Rivendell rpg session would be nice, though.

I've tested it last friday and I'm neither overwhelmed nor convinced by it, but all in all it's a nice system. Much easier to learn than the previous editions and the books (especially the Monster Manual) are nice to read and use, but for my taste it has too much of the 3rd edition. I'll probably play it at cons and stay on other occasions with the 2nd edition.

D&D next, in my opinion, is much better than 4th edition. It also combines older editions with new, better, rules. It feels a lot more "RP-er" than it's forefather and it has very beautiful illustrations. It's not perfect -of course- but It's really good.