So earlier this week I had the chance to playtest the newest version of Dungeons & Dragons.

The game session took place with 2 other guys I already knew, and 2 guys I have never played RPG’s with before.

We started out by making out own characters, instead of using the premade ones suggested by the introduction rules. It took us nearly 3 hours of number crunching, discussion, and planning, before we had a fairly standard group with a Cleric, a Fighter, a Wizard, and a Warlock. I´m not sure if the reason why character creation took so long was because the new rules are more advanced, or because we were all new to them. I am hoping that it was because we were all noobs, and that it will change when we get a bit more used to the rules.

The system has several new classes, and a completely revamped skill and power system. Gone are the days when gaining a level really didn’t do much, and the days when a wizard had hundreds of spells to choose from. The system has been cut down to a bare minimum, but by doing so have ensured that EVERYTIME you level, you actually gain something. Also the classes seem to be very well balanced. The days when a high level wizard could kill everything, and the days when a low level fighter could kill all same level wizards, are now gone.

We started playing the game and quickly got involved in a battle. It didn’t take more than two rounds for it to become apparent that we had to work as a team. The game is no longer a “do what you want each round”-game, but is now a very advanced strategically oriented board game. We learned this the hard way, and my Wizard character and our Cleric, nearly died in the first few rounds.

The one new thing I want to applaud about the combat system is that it really does convey the feeling of being a hero. EVERY round you can do something amazing, throw off spells, or use special powers. You are no longer limited to spending 95% of the combat rounds, just doing standard melee attacks. Each class now has special powers and abilities to throw at their enemies – and it really helps to differentiate the different classes! Some are good at melee, some at ranged, and some at dealing out massive amounts of damage in no time.

Our adventure then carried on, and we got to try out the new skill system. The amount of skills have gone from 30+ to 17. This makes the skill system a lot more abstract, and it takes a bit getting used to (compared to the old D&D systems). You need to be very creative with your skills, and work with your DM to get the system to work. A special part of the skill system is the use of skill challenges. A skill challenge is when the group has to work together, to accomplish X successful skill checks on several skills, across several rounds, to succeed at something. I think this system is one of the few problems that the new D&D has. It felt very motorized, and pulled away some of the game immersion. But then again – it might be because I am used to NEVER rolling skill checks…. my usual RP group tends to play with as few rules as possible…

And that’s the end of the post….

Final verdict?

I actually think that Wizards of the Coast managed to improve Dungeons & Dragons – but I am dreading what these new rules will mean to the future of Computer RPG’s – since the new combat system is more like Civilization, than NeverWinter Nights….but hopefully someone will come up with something amazing eventually.