The Gaming Den

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/feature ... rune-magic

So remember how we were all saying that 5e had a distinct lack of character customization? Well prestige classes are back, and boy is this a doozy:

-There's one prestige class. One. That's it.
-I can't tell who the hell is supposed to benefit from taking this class and it gets better based on how your DM rules spellbooks(ie can a multiclass wizard scribe higher level spells).
-To advance in the class, you need a tutor who is a high level in the class than you are. Aside from the obvious "if the only way to get levels in this class is to find a higher level tutor, how did people invent this when there were no rune scribe levels", it means the DM can arbitrarily shut down you gaining a level when everyone else does.
-You can't actually use the class features if you can't find a DM-pity focus, which cannot be made or purchased. Granted, you need to find one to get into the class. Hope your character concept wasn't rune mage! Did we mention this rune eats up one of your attuned magic item slots?
-So you can now somehow attune to magic runes you don't have...do you get the attunement only powers? The simple powers? Are you supposed to find more runes or not?
-Remember how in my PHB review I complained that the spellcasting multiclassing was more special snowflake crap that you needed to write for each class? Well, now that we have more classes...
-Last but not least, the class has no cool powers at all and is outdone by just being a damn wizard.

CapnTthePirateG wrote:
-There's one prestige class. One. That's it.

I dunno. There's the implication that "this is the first wave of several" PrCs. I guess they wanted to test the waters and didn't want to waste time if this didn't pan out.

It is, but at the same time, it seems kinda silly to have an article on prestige classes with one PrC.

CapnTthePirateG wrote:http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/feature ... rune-magic

So remember how we were all saying that 5e had a distinct lack of character customization?

No, because it doesn't.

Neon Sequitur wrote:

CapnTthePirateG wrote:http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/feature ... rune-magic

So remember how we were all saying that 5e had a distinct lack of character customization?

No, because it doesn't.

Remember back in April when you told us to eat crow because 5e D&D was doing really well and totally not stillborn abandonware? I remember that. How's your crow tasting?

-Username17

FrankTrollman wrote:

Neon Sequitur wrote:

CapnTthePirateG wrote:http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/feature ... rune-magic

So remember how we were all saying that 5e had a distinct lack of character customization?

No, because it doesn't.

Remember back in April when you told us to eat crow because 5e D&D was doing really well and totally not stillborn abandonware? I remember that. How's your crow tasting?

-Username17

Thing I just found out: There's totally recipes for crow. http://www.crowbusters.com/recipes.html

I only know of the phrase "to eat crow" thanks to Frank.

Back on topic, I can't wait to see even more prestige class.

Koumei wrote:I only know of the phrase "to eat crow" thanks to Frank.

Back on topic, I can't wait to see even more prestige class.

I've heard the expression around for years, but just now thought to consult google for recipes.

FrankTrollman wrote:

Neon Sequitur wrote:

Remember back in April when you told us to eat crow because 5e D&D was doing really well and totally not stillborn abandonware? I remember that. How's your crow tasting?

-Username17

Ha ha, the joke's on you! I forgot who Neon Sequitur was.

Prestige classes are deader than this thread, but 5E is alive and well without them.

Screw you, Frank.

Neon Sequitur wrote:Prestige classes are deader than this thread, but 5E is alive and well without them.

Screw you, Frank.

Yes. Tell us all about how alive 5e is with all their canceled releases and downsized staff. Got any insights you want to share with us about the true meaning of "hundreds of thousands," Grady?

-Username17

Isn't this guy just a Something Awful troll?

That PrC is... well, not great. Lackluster, specialized and difficult to level is not how want to start.

D&D 5e is fun enough, if you don't take it too mechanically serious. I've paid zero dollars for it and had a good enough time playing. I'm liking it better than Pathfinder right now, and those seem to be the only games my local group will tolerate.

5e is also getting a fair amount of mainstream press and doing well in the podcast/Youtube scene, which is like saying Trump is doing well in Iowa. Lots of talk, but not really that significant in the long run. Time will tell if the bonkers release schedule and scattershot development doesn't sink it. Which would be a shame, there's potential there.

Huh, you know, the rules releases feel like they are throwing shit at the walls but we can't call anything a splat book...

I've never really gotten into the talking heads on rpgs so I am curious. How long into it's release was 4e benefitting from press before its inherent shittiness started to overcome the hype?

About when Essentials was started to get hyped, so about two years.

Tribalists loathe and fear change in of itself, so the best way to get your fanboys to abandon you in the short term is to change stuff. Granted, if the changes are positive or at least neutral they'll end up coming around, as we can see from the Transformers fanbase. Alternatively, you can just tell the fanboys to fuck off and attract a new, hopefully bigger segment, but until either of those two scenarios come to pass you will have that moment of betrayal and vincibility. And 4E D&D is an example of a product where that moment of vulnerability spelled doom for the line.

5E D&D's honeymoon will end when Mike Mearls and friends throw a Hail Mary or it becomes undeniable (as opposed to obvious) that there will never be any more real releases of the product.

MGuy wrote:I've never really gotten into the talking heads on rpgs so I am curious. How long into it's release was 4e benefitting from press before its inherent shittiness started to overcome the hype?

Not very long. About 2 weeks after it came out EnWorld had to ban "Edition Wars" threads, and once they lifted that ban the moderators systematically purged any hint of criticism aimed at 4e.

A lot of people rallied around Justin Alexander's article about dissociated mechanics and whatnot. 4e was criticized from the get-go and split the fanbase almost from the beginning. The break was nearly instantaneous.

This is probably not happening with 5e.

MGuy wrote:I've never really gotten into the talking heads on rpgs so I am curious. How long into it's release was 4e benefitting from press before its inherent shittiness started to overcome the hype?

I saw that happen until the day essentials was released. I saw essentials get talked up until the day 5e was announced.

They talk it up so WoTC gives them free shit/interviews/access. They don't give access to people critical, so no one is critical.

Whats happening is that pathfinder is loosing steam. Its a 15 year old game engine and a lot of people played a lot of the game. Its cosmetic changes to the base system don't hold people anymore.

As it was 4e had competition in the form of Pathfinder. 5e has no such competition, and until a real competitor shows up it will be perceived y neckbeards to be doing well.