The (un)official D&D Next Playtest thread

[Elemental_Elf]

The Design Playtests are not made to be immersive. They are just fun and goofy. In the Slave Lords one, some one ran a Cleric who was a Fruitarian.

If you want immersion, watch the Acquisitions Incorporated ones.

[Elemental_Elf]

The URLs were formatted badly. I fixed the links.

Anyway, at one point I tried to watch one of these. Mike Mearls showed up with some ridiculous immersion-destroying dwarf rapper called "MC Killzalot" or something like that, and wearing a steel top hat and steel tuxedo. I stopped watching at that point, figuring that if he cares that little about his game, why should I care at all?

I think it's just different strokes. I've never gamed IRL with the right kind of people to get that immersion level to acceptable levels, even when everyone is trying really hard to do so. Going for laughter and light hearted-ness is always easier and, ofttimes, more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Also, to be fair, the MC stuff diminishes greatly as the podcast progresses to the point where the game becomes fairly serious and everyone roleplays really well (especially Mike and Chris).

[sparkletwist]

I can understand that a game might be more focused on silly fun, but I also contend that immersion doesn't have to be "serious business," especially if the tone of the game is lighter. All you really have to do is have a character that isn't utterly stupid and doesn't completely obliterate any notions of genre and such. Essentially, I'm just hoping for characters you can play like someone who actually would live in the setting you're using.\

The other three players seemed to sort of get the idea, while meanwhile Mike Mearls was being "that guy." Why would you put that in a public video trying to show off your new system?

[Elemental_Elf]

I can understand that a game might be more focused on silly fun, but I also contend that immersion doesn't have to be "serious business," especially if the tone of the game is lighter. All you really have to do is have a character that isn't utterly stupid and doesn't completely obliterate any notions of genre and such. Essentially, I'm just hoping for characters you can play like someone who actually would live in the setting you're using.\

The other three players seemed to sort of get the idea, while meanwhile Mike Mearls was being "that guy." Why would you put that in a public video trying to show off your new system?

The last playtest was DMed by Mike Mearls and was sillier than it was serious. I think there was just a miscommunication between him and Thompson (Mearls even admitted to missing a key email that would have helped tie his character more fully to the world).

Regardless, If you just skip forward a bit the session is really good.

[LoA]

I actually recently playtested Dndnext at a game store I play at, and I actually really had fun. We were playtesting a module for Forgotten Realms.

My sister was a Dwarven Fighter, my friend was a half-elf paladin (I got to call him out on all of his un-paladin behavior) and I got to play as a human monk.

We had a really cool DM, and he actually let me run on top of the panicking crowds heads and rescue a child. It was pretty cool of him to let me do it, even though I wasn't technically allowed to do things like that till about 3rd level or so. I got a 19 on my roll check though so there!

If you can't even run on top of peoples heads as a first level monk than that's not a very fun system IMHO  :P

[Elemental_Elf]

I actually recently playtested Dndnext at a game store I play at, and I actually really had fun. We were playtesting a module for Forgotten Realms.

My sister was a Dwarven Fighter, my friend was a half-elf paladin (I got to call him out on all of his un-paladin behavior) and I got to play as a human monk.

We had a really cool DM, and he actually let me run on top of the panicking crowds heads and rescue a child. It was pretty cool of him to let me do it, even though I wasn't technically allowed to do things like that till about 3rd level or so. I got a 19 on my roll check though so there!

If you can't even run on top of peoples heads as a first level monk than that's not a very fun system IMHO  :P

Actually a 19 is a really good roll in D&D. I would let you do cool stuff like that too!

Glad you had fun!

Were you adventuring in Baldur's Gate?

[LoA]

I actually recently playtested Dndnext at a game store I play at, and I actually really had fun. We were playtesting a module for Forgotten Realms.

My sister was a Dwarven Fighter, my friend was a half-elf paladin (I got to call him out on all of his un-paladin behavior) and I got to play as a human monk.

We had a really cool DM, and he actually let me run on top of the panicking crowds heads and rescue a child. It was pretty cool of him to let me do it, even though I wasn't technically allowed to do things like that till about 3rd level or so. I got a 19 on my roll check though so there!

If you can't even run on top of peoples heads as a first level monk than that's not a very fun system IMHO  :P

Actually a 19 is a really good roll in D&D. I would let you do cool stuff like that too!

Glad you had fun!

Were you adventuring in Baldur's Gate?

Yes, I think that's what it was... That's the one where the guys on stage, and a band of assassins stir up the crowd? Then a black cloud appears on stage, and then I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't play tested the module who wants to.