Critical Role Why Critical Role is so successful...

[Haffrung]

Preparing for exploration and preparing for combat encounters both take time and skill. Since 3E, play culture has emphasized the latter, so most GMs have put effort into crafting encounters. If you came up with 3E, you probably feel creating and running combat encounters is a core task of being a DM, while creating engaging exploration content is a bonus 'nice to have.' However, it's not inherently more difficult to prepare exploration than combat encounters. It's just different.

 

[Seramus]

I've played with hundreds (if not thousands) of people in the 40+ years I have been playing D&D. Some people will ... just ... not ... get ... it. You can try all you like, but they either lack the mind or desire to get even the basics - but they love the story and enjoy being in the game. A few of the players that asked questions like, "What do I roll when I attack?" or "What do I add for my initiative?" after playing for years were great fun to have at the table - they just didn't give a rat's atouille about the rules and never would.

Those players do exist, but you don't have to play with them. I understand if you are doing it for the sake of great friendship, of course. I love my friends and forgive a lot of shenanigans. But there are players who are great fun to have at the table and also know the rules of the game.

And if you don't know them, you can meet them! One of the coolest things about our hobby becoming so popular is being able to find good players and become friends with them.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Those players do exist, but you don't have to play with them. I understand if you are doing it for the sake of great friendship, of course. I love my friends and forgive a lot of shenanigans. But there are players who are great fun to have at the table and also know the rules of the game.

And if you don't know them, you can meet them! One of the coolest things about our hobby becoming so popular is being able to find good players and become friends with them.

Or as the boardgaming hobbyists like to say: "it's easier to makes gamers into friends than friends into gamers."

Although for me it's more of a different style of play when we're mostly friends as opposed to a group formed for the sake of gaming.

 

[Scott Christian]

I've played with hundreds (if not thousands) of people in the 40+ years I have been playing D&D. Some people will ... just ... not ... get ... it. You can try all you like, but they either lack the mind or desire to get even the basics - but they love the story and enjoy being in the game. A few of the players that asked questions like, "What do I roll when I attack?" or "What do I add for my initiative?" after playing for years were great fun to have at the table - they just didn't give a rat's atouille about the rules and never would.

True words. Very, very true.

 

[Seramus]

Or as the boardgaming hobbyists like to say: "it's easier to makes gamers into friends than friends into gamers."

Yeah. And it really is true. Some gamers have become my best friends, and others are just amazing people I am glad to have met. My friends? They are awesome too, and some of them are great gamers. Others are still my friends, but have no business being near a gaming table.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I've played with hundreds (if not thousands) of people in the 40+ years I have been playing D&D. Some people will ... just ... not ... get ... it. You can try all you like, but they either lack the mind or desire to get even the basics - but they love the story and enjoy being in the game. A few of the players that asked questions like, "What do I roll when I attack?" or "What do I add for my initiative?" after playing for years were great fun to have at the table - they just didn't give a rat's atouille about the rules and never would.

This. And I honestly find the idea that those players are somehow "mediocre" players that you'd be better off without at your table pretty...gross.

Nah. They're some of the best players in my group. They engage with their character and the story, and just do not care about the numbers and crunchy widgets. I'd rather have them at my table than their opposite.

 

[Wishbone]

There is more spread throughout the books, but it does deserve more. I really wish WotC would release a series of videos - with quizzes to prove you paid attention - that address the art, rather than the science, of being a DM. It could be a 10 hour series and if you completed it, you could have completing it associated to your DCI number.

Has WotC ever attempted to put out a whole book dedicated to exploration?

 

[Oofta]

Has WotC ever attempted to put out a whole book dedicated to exploration?

Well, they've never put out a book on how to run combat or how to handle social interactions. Why would they do a book on exploration?

I think this is one of those things a video series would be better, but honestly even then I'm not sure anyone could do it justice. There are so many different styles, your best bet is likely just finding a podcast or stream you enjoy and try to get ideas from there. I could explain how I handle a lot of things, but it may not work for anyone else. Maybe a separate thread of suggestions?

D&D gives you the tools, the DM and players have always been responsible for figuring out how to use those tools. The answer may well vary from table to table.

 

[rgoodbb]

Maybe a separate thread of suggestions?

I like that idea and would most likely benefit from it greatly.

 

[Seramus]

This. And I honestly find the idea that those players are somehow "mediocre" players that you'd be better off without at your table pretty...gross.

Gross is not taking a shower. Maybe the rest of the table is totally cool with your smell, but it's generally polite to show up clean.