The Three Level Pause

Every version of Wizards D & D has been a disaster. I know, biggest RPG of all time and everything, but when you look at the game historically, Wizards keeps changing the formula.

• 3.0
• 3.5
• 4E
• 4 Essentials
• 5E
• You could make an argument Tasha's was 5.25
• And now, 5.5

Six (or seven) versions in about 20 years? TSR had two "core versions" of the game in the same 20-year timeframe, AD&D and 2nd Edition AD&D. The D&D books were always considered the introductory game, so they don't count.

And AD&D and 2nd Edition are pretty close regarding rules. The game is mostly streamlining and clarification, along with a bump in monster hit points. That is arguably one version of the game in 20 years, and if you apply the same logic to Wizards D&D, that is three versions with one streamlined version each.

Wizards are three times worse at making a stable, long-term support version of D&D than TSR was. Nothing lasts. Things are always changing. They have to constantly sell books to maintain profits.

There is no such thing as a 'profitable' roleplaying game company, books alone.

B/X has been around 40 years, still works, plays well, and is much more moddable, compatible, and resistant to bad rules than 5E ever was. One bad rule, a multiclass combo, or subclass will break 5E and blue-screen the game. The endgame is horribly broken; nobody dies.

Pathfinder 2 is even tighter-tuned. Compared to 5E, that is like a Swiss watch.

Yes, 5E is popular; it is essentially a pen-and-paper video game. The 'player agency' is in the character-build system. B/X players don't have that investment where they feel research and character builds can create success - B/X players need to be more involved in character and story. Character and story reach longer than the "player close" build and multiclass system of 5E.

5E makes the promise, "Character builds equal success."

You don't need to be invested in the story or environment. Like an MMO, you can sleep through most low-level quests, not even paying attention, and the DM will tell you everything your passive scores say they should. It is an exaggeration, but 5E gives me this impression. It isn't bad, just what it is - it appeals to a different type of player.

B/X does not have this. You either pay attention, or your character dies.

Shadowdark takes away the certainty of character builds with random progression.

Good 5E DMs make sure people pay attention and don't fall into that "5E autopilot" thing that happens. If the DM says you angered the townspeople or your character is dead, guess what? Your build ain't helping you.

Every "2.0" version of 5E (2024, ToV, A5E) eliminates the multiclass exploits of 2014 and puts subclass choices at 3rd level. You will see the "universal suggestion" of 2024, and all these games as "starting at 3rd level," and starting at 1st level will be seen as punishment.

Mark my words. People will ignore the first and second levels almost universally. People want their multiclass exploits early. We live in a world defined by impatience.

B/X requires the patience of a statue. Part of the reason it isn't as popular (and never was) is that it needed an entirely different "brain wiring" than "normies." This is why the game was "for nerds" in the '80s and '90s; nerds were wired to appreciate the long wait for benefits. 5E is written for the impatient, and the 2024 version putting subclass options at the 3rd level will be seen as a negative.

5E is fast food. I don't go to the leading brand since I disagree with their business practices.

I am still optimistic about ToV and A5E because I know what I am getting. I like the 3rd level pause for subclass combos, and pick one at 4th - and you may wait until 6th for the new class combo to come online. That is a long time to pause for a dual-class character to "realize power," the 6th level is the beginning of the end for many campaigns since very few play past the 8th or 9th level.

Compare that with a dual-classed character at 2nd level realizing their power in the 2014 game.

This is a massive change nobody seems to see.

I want my combo cheat power at the second level! Halfway through the first session!

Sorry, you have to wait 3-4 weeks until 6th level.

I don't hear anything about this. This is as "big" as putting a waiting line to get into McDonald's. Many people just will not go. I bet the following option book to come out for 2024 will be Tasha's style book that addresses the "slowness" of the game by adding "training options" starting at 2nd level, and we will get another subsystem patch to fix a flaw in the design.

This may turn people off to all three games, 2024, ToV, and A5E. There is a crowd who "wants it now," and they are a sizable part of the community. With Open 5E, I hope they make their own game and stop being so dependent on a company's design flaws for what game they like.

That game could be MCDM RPG, and I say this humorously, but it looks like it caters to the "instant power now and more power" crowd. It is fantastic since we enjoyed that play style in 4E. Everyone should play a game that caters to their tastes.

Yes, ToV and A5E have the 3-level "problem," but since my brain is wired like an old-school player, I don't see a problem.

I can wait.