Comment from discussion [AMA] Mike Mearls, 5th Edition D&D Lead Designer.

Comment from discussion I’ve been playing DnD since the mid 90’s and back then the campaign settings felt more like they were each their own game systems rather than just a couple new races and a different map and feel. Some examples are things like Birthright and Darksun. When 3e came out the settings felt like they still needed to “fit” inside the game system to me. More about small tweaks to generate a feel and less about sweeping changes.
What’s your take on campaign setting design? Do you like it when it makes the game almost unrecognizable or do you prefer DnD to have a more stable core?I think a stable core is useful, because it makes it easier to focus on the differences. The administrative stuff in a system – AC, hit points, checks, etc. – I’d prefer to remain stable.
With that in mind, I think it’s reasonable to ask one of two things from a setting (though a setting can have both):
What game mechanic does the setting use that I don’t see elsewhere?
What’s the one big thing I put on my character sheet for this setting that I don’t see elsewhere?
I think the best settings have interesting answers to those questions. That said, something like FR is what establishes the baseline from which other settings deviate. You do need that foundation for everything to play off of.AMA: Mike Mearls, Co-Designer of D&D 5, Head of D&D R&D.

Comment from discussion [AMA] Mike Mearls, 5th Edition D&D Lead Designer.

Hi, Mike! I had been looking around for this and could not find it.
Is there anyone currently on the team that worked on AD&D 2e material?No, I don’t think anyone has worked on the game that long. Dan Gelon, one of our art directors, worked on Role Aids material for Mayfair.Comment from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, Co-Designer of D&D 5, Head of D&D R&D.

Comment from discussion [AMA] Mike Mearls, 5th Edition D&D Lead Designer.

Comment from discussion [AMA] Mike Mearls, 5th Edition D&D Lead Designer.

CommentSalutations, Mikey-boy!
What other tabletop/table games do you enjoy playing in your off-time?My wife plays lots of board games, so we have a number of two-player games in our rotation:
LotR: The Confrontation
Battle Line
Lost Cities
Pecking Order
A few others we play: * Ticket to Ride * Carcasonne * Puerto Rico * Dominion
For more hobby game stuff: * X-Wing miniatures game * Battletech * Car Wars * Ogre * Arkham Horror * Elder Sign
I used to be a huge Warhammer 40k player and collector.
For RPGs, I’ve played the following in the past year, in addition to D&D: * 13th Age * Dungeon World * Numenera * Call of Cthulhu * Descent
RPGs have been a little thin lately, due to D&D playtesting.
I own and really want to play: * Battle Lore 2e * Combat Commander * Fire in the Lake * Twilight Struggle * Mage Knight board game * Eldritch Horror * Commands & Colors: Ancients from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, Co-Designer of D&D 5, Head of D&D R&D.

Comment What were the two biggest failings of 4E D&D and how does 5E D&D fix that?
Biggest issues we see from players – combats run too long and characters are too complex. 5e slimmed down baseline complexity and streamlined combat to overcome those two issues.from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, Co-Designer of D&D 5, Head of D&D R&D.