My experience with (table top) D&D is with first and second editions. Reading up on the 5e rules, I see where they have tried to simplify things. And for the most part, I think this is a good thing. But as with most things, there are some things which, at least to me, seem a bit...restrictive. Abilities that used to be "at will" and could be used as many times as desired, are now limited to "once per long rest"*. Some of these abilities can be used a limited number of times per long rest; in this case, they are typically tied to the bonus number of a specific ability (stat) score, such as CHA (charisma). Part of the issue I have with some of these is that there doesn't seem to be a way to increase the number of uses**. So, if you have, say, a score of +4 bonus/uses (stat score of 18) at level 1, you may still only have +4 bonus/uses at level 20. Which seems a bit odd to me.
But then, it is "simplified". There aren't a lot of complicated bonuses or adjustments that need to be made to most rolls. Oh, sure, there are still bonuses and adjustments, but just a few. To make a hit, roll a D20 result that is higher than the armor class of the target. You do have some adjustments (like proficiency) and bonuses (like strength, if it's melee or dexterity if it's ranged), but that's about it.
The number of weapons have been 'consolidated'. Similar weapons are now considered the same type, though you are free to use the different names for "flavor", the stats remain the same. For instance, there are no "shurikens" - they are just "darts". There is no "bast-"...um, "Hand-and-a-Half" sword - it is a "longsword".
The maximum character level is 20, regardless of race† or class(es).
"Brawling" was changed, too. Unless you are a monk, unarmed strikes to 1-point of damage. There is no "pummeling", per se, but you can attack to incapacitate, which amounts to the same thing.
It has been said that 5e is more similar to first edition than the other editions. And while I am not familiar with 4e, from everything I've heard, most have agreed 5e is a vast improvement over 4e. It's not "perfect", but then to quote Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy, "Perfection is unobtainable." It's already 4-years old - which is twice as long as 4e lasted before another edition was released.
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* There are both short and long rests. A long rest is at least 8 hours long, so effectively, something that is once per long rest is "once per day".
** There are ways to increase stats and, therefore, the bonus for them, but one is still limited to a maximum score of 20 (+5 bonus) for normal means of stat increases. (30 is the maximum score allowed under any circumstances.)
† In the original, first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D), only the human race did not have a level cap - all other races did, though I doubt anyone really abided by that rule.
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