This post will be a post on the merits and flavour of DnD NeXT based on my experiences so far.
These comments are not good or bad- I haven't played enough to judge, rather just the facts as I see them
First up: Bounded Skills
It is a bounded skill system- goes +2 to +6 basic skill bonus. this means it's almost more about the stats than about the skills. - as the stat bonuses are -5 to +5. Some exceptions- rogues and clerics of knowledge pick 2 skills to double the skill bonus in.
This should mean that monsters hang around as "relevant" for longer.
Stats are Important
More than I realised. This means my usually relaxed attitude to stats won't cut it if the players want to be equivalent in power. That's not essential but a buy point system is a good idea. I'm not sure the stingy, capped buy point system in the players handbook is a good idea but.. we'll see.
Sub- discussion- Stats have a cap
The maximum for stats is 20. this actually has relevance as +2 from race can take you to 20 at first level. I will say, having played a barbarian with 20 strength, that +7 to hit at first level is STRONG. But that's where I cap.
The system has a built in flavour
As a result of the classes and mechanics I have viewed so far .. it is.. Elric not Scarlet Pimpernel, Conan not Pirates of the Caribbean, Sparticus not Romeo and Juliet. The skill system is a stat roll system. It's either very coarse or very flexible depending on how you roll/role. But the way stats work and the lack of hard mechanics for tumbling, swinging from chandeliers etc means I'm be playing Silver rather than Valerius, It's sword and sandal or chivalry rather than john wu or 3 musketeers. The weapons seem big. Damage is big. Strength and Constitution matter for dishing it out and staying alive. Heavy Armour negates dexterity completely. If you want to dodge you do it in your undies..
If anything you could say that it is forgotten realms with a gladius/shortsword style rather than renaissance as some versions of Faerun have been. Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, Elric of Melinbone and Greyhawk are squarely in this book. Conan would be swolen with all the non-human options. Too many starting races really to pull off the gritty human on human of Conan. Dark sun would need an addon book for psionics, muls and half-giants.
Magic
So- Bard, Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric, Druid are what rolemaster would term pure casters. they get "full spell progression" But the ease of putting on armour and the extra hitpoints puts a bit of starch into them.
Paladin, Ranger and ..Warlock are semi-users- half progression, although the warlock has really quick power regen, as normal and really powerful cantrips...
Low level spells kick butt. Magic progression is singular, it doesn't double up. You add your total casting classes together and access a single table.- sounds powerful? Not really- each single class caps the max spell level, even if you do get higher slots you have to then spend them on lower spells if you multiclass.
In general there is a lot of magic. Not much in the way of magical items, because we have no DMG yet
Barbarian, Rogue, Monk, Fighter are non-spellcasting although Rogue and Fighter can pick up subclasses to get some 1/3 progression casting if they choose.
