Should PrinceCon switch to D&D 5e?

[Aaron Mulder]

The GMs are considering a change from our traditional system (which we
converted to 3.5 OGL some years ago) to running 5th edition D&D pretty
straight. For example, we might keep graft races and use our own
pantheon, but we would adopt the D&D initiative system, magic system,
and clerical system. As you might expect, GM opinion runs the gamut.
Some of us prefer the original PrinceCon system’s approach to tone,
style of GMing, and system issues, while others of us prefer the
approach used by 5th edition. In addition, here are specific arguments
for each side.

GMs arguing for a switch to 5th edition give these reasons:
• Many newer players are already familiar with 5th edition and thus
will find less of a learning curve to get into playing in PrinceCon.
• Using a published system that is somewhat fairly balanced eliminates
many balance issues identified by players in recent cons.
• Using a popular published system will open PrinceCon to more and
younger attendees, expanding our base and giving us potential for
future growth.

GMs reluctant to change give these reasons:
• The PrinceCon system as currently constituted is well designed and
optimized for just the kind of marathon shared-world roleplaying that
we do at PrinceCon.
• Many of our GMs are unfamiliar with 5th edition and may not
guarantee that they will run it well (at least for the first year)
while we can run the current system in our sleep (and sometimes do).
• Change is hard, especially for us crotchety old folks (GMs and/or
long-time players).

So, we are asking the player community what you think. If people are
greatly in favor one way or the other, we will almost certainly go
with that. If opinion is somewhere in the middle, we may need to let
Leo decide and hold a formal combat between Bob and Aaron.

Would you
• Enthusiastically support a conversion to 5th edition
• Not care one way or the other, you just like going to PrinceCon
• You’ll pry my conbook out of my cold, dead hands

Your opinions one way or the other will greatly influence our final
decision. And perhaps save the lives of one (or both) of Bob and
Aaron.

[Aaron Mulder]

I'll add to this, we've posted a poll to the Facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2253564608/ in order to try to
quantify your preferences.

If you haven't already, please visit that and register your vote. Or
if you don't do Facebook, feel free to just reply here whether you'd
prefer 1) incremental improvements to the current system, 2) a switch
to D&D 5e with theme-related adjustments, or 3) the system specifics
really don't matter to you.

Thanks,
Aaron

[Spencer]

I guess there's no harm in changing it up. I'm not familiar with the 5e rules myself but hopefully everything I need to know will be in the Con Book as usual.
It's kinda sad to give up the system that's been around for so long.. but it has evolved over time, perhaps another evolution is in order... and I hate leaving 'spell points' in favor of 'spells per day'.. yuck.
Anyway.. I vote for 2.
I see no harm in changing things any given year, we can always go back to what we had before next year if it is a problem...

[R. Alex Reutter]

On Wed, Jun 22, 2016 at 7:43 AM, 'Spencer' via princecon <prin...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I guess there's no harm in changing it up. I'm not familiar with the 5e rules myself but hopefully everything I need to know will be in the Con Book as usual.

Right, the plan would be to have 5e Player's Handbooks for sale as part of the con registration, and the Conbook would become a theme packet plus any Con-specific tweaks to the basic 5e rules (with the idea that those tweaks are minimal).

Alex

[B Mcc]

I'm for this. Also, under the new licensing model, the con-world could end up with a wider audience!

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[Spencer]

So Con fees would increase to include the Con plus the 5e players handbook (plus hotel)? Hrm. That seems less appealing.

[R. Alex Reutter]

Sorry, to clarify: only if you need a copy of the 5e player's handbook. 

[Aaron Mulder]

Well, the Player's Handbook doesn't show signs of changing soon, so if
you bring it back from year to year it would essentially be a one-time
cost. If you didn't want to pay for it as part of your con fee, you
can get it for $28 from Amazon.

Thanks,
Aaron

On Wed, Jun 22, 2016 at 2:42 PM, 'Spencer' via princecon

<prin...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
> So Con fees would increase to include the Con plus the 5e players handbook
> (plus hotel)? Hrm. That seems less appealing.
>
> On Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 9:48:54 AM UTC-4, Alex Reutter wrote:
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 22, 2016 at 7:43 AM, 'Spencer' via princecon
>> <prin...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I guess there's no harm in changing it up. I'm not familiar with the 5e
>>> rules myself but hopefully everything I need to know will be in the Con Book
>>> as usual.
>>
>>
>> Right, the plan would be to have 5e Player's Handbooks for sale as part of
>> the con registration, and the Conbook would become a theme packet plus any
>> Con-specific tweaks to the basic 5e rules (with the idea that those tweaks
>> are minimal).
>>
>> Alex
>>

[Spencer]

I guess that players wouldn't actually 'need' a Player's Handbook... most of the character 'pre'-generation stuff can be handled using the HeroLab 'free' version.. I assume that PCs would be limited in some way so that all 5e material wouldn't be accessible, in which case that would work out really well. The 5e ruleset for Fantasy Grounds could even be used to track combat... Hmm.. that would be awesome with a laptop and an extra monitor or television. Projected Maps, Images, and Combat Tracking.. Hmm.
They wouldn't have the 'rules' though.. unless there are some posted on the Wizards site or something.

[B Mcc]

Is there enough in the SRD that would provide the baseline for the pack to overlay?