Started Running my First 5e Game

[liquid150]

The players and I are long time buddies. So far they finished their characters, and we roleplayed a bit in a tavern. They bit my hook, sending them to hunt some thugs in a warehouse. We'll see how combat goes next week.

I have a Bard, Fighter, Wizard, and a Rogue. I may gain a barbarian next week as well, we'll see.

[liquid150]

Fortunately for me, most of my players were more than willing to give me plot bait with which to work. The wizard is our newest player, and he didn't really do much for me. Other than that, right now the hook is that the rogue's former thieves' guild, who set him up, is running an operation in his new home. He will want to know why they are there.

The bard was hilarious all night. His stat rolls were pretty bad, and he used them to their utmost. His character needs to be a bard, although he is very religious and wants to connect with Pelor. However, he can't for some reason (his WIS score is not high enough). He can heal and cast spells, and he can preach up a storm (his performance). Well, somewhat...he's been (mis)quoting Joseph Smith.

Everybody seems to have picked up the idea of the rules well enough, but combat will be different.

[liquid150]

My first week with combat encounters was quite interesting.

The very first attack of the game killed the Mormon bard. I won initiative and natural 20 crit him in the face with a crossbow. He rerolled and joined later with a new character.

My players found that combat is still quite lethal at low levels, obviously. I think 3 of them either died or made death saves as some point in the evening.

I found what I would call the limits of a first level party's capabilitities. My players overcame 7 first level fighters with their standard party of 4, but only barely. The wizard won the day with a Color Spray.

We are loving the new skills and advantage rules. Getting accustomed to combat may take a while however.

[liquid150]

It's been a few weeks and a lot has happened. We are loving the death rules. I have had to keep combat fairly lethal, but that is unsurprising with the group that I have. No more outright deaths yet, and they just hit 3rd level.

I'm not really sure if any of them have accounts here, so I won't go into plot details. I doubt they do.

I'm seeing that sleep and color spray are powerful with their no-save effects. I'm also seeing that healing is comparatively sparse. The lack of ability to purchase magic items changes the game quite a bit. I like the change actually.

It seems like the rogue is pretty strong, and is incredibly fast.

AC seems to matter. Then again, it's 1st-3rd level.

Spells that have saves seem harder to land.