Folks keep tossing about the term 'D&D Experience' like it is a set of rules engraved in two tablets with ten commandments. My D & D experience is 1.0 or 2.0...and I could claim everything since is a travesty. With 500 players you will find 500 different definitions of a 'd & d experience' . For me, I see Volo, I see Shar v Selune, I see Harpers, I see Elturil and Baldurs Gate - all elements of FR and D &D. I see a set of rules, in this case 5e, modified by 'house rules' where the computer simply cannot substitute 100% for a live DM. Are there balance issues? Sure, but that's what EA and beta testing exist for - balancing things out. Are there placeholders for gear, cut scenes, systems (crafting)/ Sure, but those will eventually be inserted into the game. Are there missing spells and skills? Again, certainly, but it makes sense to test, balance and debug these in smaller bunches, rather than all at once. Mechanics change - BG1/2 and IWD1 were 2.0, IWD2 was 3.0, NWN 3.5 - now we get 5e. Each system had positive and negative characteristics. Are there fewer uses and references to character class, race, background, skills and such than we might prefer/ Yes again, but more of each can be added incrementally as development goes forward. Even the planned release in one year is a target - it might be 11 months or it might be 14.
Far as I am concerned, if the game evinces the history, immersion, atmosphere and mindset of FR, and fairly well approximates the mechanics/gameplay of D&D when it is finished, it will be considered a success. There are arguments both for and against things like cantrips/spells impacting the environment - but it in end it is not simply a DOS2 thing - plenty of times playing in D&D groups I've taken advantage of the environment - if I could drop a lightning bolt on someone standing in a river, I sure as hell would, and would argue to the DM that additional damage should be allowed. These are balance issues - not a reason to indict an entire mechanic.
If you are not willing to give Larian a chance to iron out such issues, you shouldn't waste your time and theirs on EA. Wait for a final product and decide them if you want to play it.
