D&D Releases today!

[PinkRose]

If you want to watch two great guys talk about the 5th edition of D&D, check out http://newbiedm.com/2014/07/06/talking-about-the-5e-dungeons-dragons-starter-set/
I've been following both of these guys for 6 years. They know what they are talking about and they do a good first impression here.

Also a detailed look at the differences from previous versions can be found here.
http://merricb.wordpress.com/dungeons-dragons-5e-whats-changed/

[GutsMcGurt]

Well after reading the websites you guys provided and the free PDF of the basic rules, I'm really excited about trying the start set on sunday.  I admit I was gonna blow 5e off since I just got into pathfinder and hated WoTC business practices with the last edition, but this system looks really interesting, especially for casters.  I wanted to try the wizard or cleric premades, but after reading the personality description of the greataxe fighter... I'm torn ><.

[PinkRose]

Cleric. Always go Cleric.
Also, I'll be volunteering at GenCOn DMing for WotC, so yu could always come there for a game.

[Alys]

So, Agent Guts, what's your report?

[GutsMcGurt]

Report is...potato salad.
It didn't happen due to one guy having a family thing come up and the other dude was sick.

[PinkRose]

Derailment: Please tell me you did NOT Kickstart potato salad guy.

[GutsMcGurt]

Oh god no.  Would rather give money to something to actually achieve something  .  Though I'll admit his "whole internet is invited" party sounds pretty interesting.

[Sroth]

An RPG channel on youtube started posting some videos of playing the 5e starter box. I've watched a lot of their previous series, the R&D games have all been pretty good. They play over skype using Roll20.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxSw9F0NT7w

[GuidingOlive]

Yeah, the DM Neal also has an ongoing one over on his channel

[GutsMcGurt]

Well my group canceled playing the 5e test for the 3rd week in a row, so I still haven't tried it.  BUT I've been reading the hell out of the freebie stuff and an alpha print PDF of the PBH (it's not the whole thing and there are some minor tweaks compared to the previews/final product) and so far I'm REALLY liking what I read.  On the week the PBH comes out, the Pathfinder campaign I run will be converting to 5e.   Hell, I already redid half of the NPC character sheets easily... no really... hardly 20 minutes (with looking stuff up on a PDF) for a lvl 4 character that isn't a caster... maybe 30 minutes for a caster.

[PinkRose]

I would not use the leaked PDF.
I can tell you that there are quite a few differences between that and the official releases.

[GutsMcGurt]

Yeah I noticed quite a few differences between the alpha build and the previews/freebie guide.  Mostly it had to do with casters spells known, hit die for the classes, and the damage progression of things like sneak attack.  My group is mostly using the combat rules from the published freebie guide though and we gave them a shot last night with pathfinder characters.  Over all it went pretty smoothly.  Since moving in 5e doesn't provoke an attack of oppurtunity (unless you move away from someone's reach without doing the disenage action) it made things more interesting and flow a lot faster.  My more experienced players had to blink a few times when I told them they can't charge and there was a small discussion about what happens to casters who cast in melee range (basically nothing except they get a "disadvantage" to rolls), but we caught on quick and the newer guys differently were finding it easier.  They are all really looking forward to converting to 5e fully when the PHB comes out.  Most of them are switching characters except for one guy who is sticking with his rogue.  They are going from a Human monk, elf paladin, half-elf ranger, and a half-orc rogue... to a human fighter, gnome bard, dwarven cleric, and the same half-orc rogue.  My NPC party member will probably be a new charcter as well since Oracles don't exist in 5e (she would have to convert to a bard to make sense spell wise) so they might get a human wizard instead.  Nice thing is that plot wise they are at a GREAT spot to switch.