First, I found melee combat excruciatingly dull in 2014. While it’s not super different, the weapon masteries in 2024 add enough crunch and flavor for me to find it far more interesting and fun.
Second, druid is my favorite class in terms of flavor, specifically specializing in wild shape, and ‘14 is probably my least favorite iteration of it. I think’ 24 improves upon circle of the moon immensely regarding mechanics and, even if the list of beasts is smaller, the streamlined design to their attacks makes them feel more potent as more than just a chunk of animal flavored temp HP.
There’s also a lot of things that really should have been added earlier as quality of life. Off the top of my head, steady aim for rogues. Tasha adds it for '14 as an optional feature but it really needed to be the default.
Also, cure wounds actually feels potent now. Healers rejoice, you have a reason to use it over the more action and spacing efficient healing word.
I hadn’t read about the new weapon masteries. I am shocked they didn’t make these limited per day powers. That’s usually how anything fun in DND goes- you can do this cool thing but only once or twice.
I think of them like melee cantrips. Not gamechanging, but they add spice to your basic kit and they can synergize really well with what you’re good at. One of my favorites is the soul knife rogue’s knives having vex. If you hit with vex, your next attack is at advantage against them, so it becomes a new way to proc sneak attack that incentivizes active participation, doesn’t penalize you and doesn’t rely on the positioning of allies and enemies both.
People don’t actually play 5.5 right?
The group I’m playing with now we’re using 5.5. Anyone still playing Adventurer’s League doesn’t have a choice, 5.5 is mandatory there.
I hate the 2014 rules and actually enjoy the 2024 rules so yeah lol
What caused such a big turnaround?
First, I found melee combat excruciatingly dull in 2014. While it’s not super different, the weapon masteries in 2024 add enough crunch and flavor for me to find it far more interesting and fun.
Second, druid is my favorite class in terms of flavor, specifically specializing in wild shape, and ‘14 is probably my least favorite iteration of it. I think’ 24 improves upon circle of the moon immensely regarding mechanics and, even if the list of beasts is smaller, the streamlined design to their attacks makes them feel more potent as more than just a chunk of animal flavored temp HP.
There’s also a lot of things that really should have been added earlier as quality of life. Off the top of my head, steady aim for rogues. Tasha adds it for '14 as an optional feature but it really needed to be the default.
Also, cure wounds actually feels potent now. Healers rejoice, you have a reason to use it over the more action and spacing efficient healing word.
I hadn’t read about the new weapon masteries. I am shocked they didn’t make these limited per day powers. That’s usually how anything fun in DND goes- you can do this cool thing but only once or twice.
I think of them like melee cantrips. Not gamechanging, but they add spice to your basic kit and they can synergize really well with what you’re good at. One of my favorites is the soul knife rogue’s knives having vex. If you hit with vex, your next attack is at advantage against them, so it becomes a new way to proc sneak attack that incentivizes active participation, doesn’t penalize you and doesn’t rely on the positioning of allies and enemies both.