D&D 5E WotC to increase releases per year?

[Parmandur]

Different strokes, but ultimately the current downtime rules amount to "spend X gp and roll on this table". They are bland and don't really support downtime as I envision it as a pillar of play.

Xanathar's has an extended system for downtime.

 

[Parmandur]

No they haven't. They have had some DM tools in some books.

The least DM tools focused book, Xanathar's, is still significantly focused on providing DM tools. Books that are all one or the other are not a thing, and we're somewhat if an artifact of 3E specifically.

 

[Reynard]

Xanathar's has an extended system for downtime.

That's the one I'm talking about.

 

[Reynard]

The least DM tools focused book, Xanathar's, is still significantly focused on providing DM tools. Books that are all one or the other are not a thing, and we're somewhat if an artifact of 3E specifically.

Right. ANd since we are talking in this thread about 5E opening up the release schedule a little, and what kind of "bonus" books we would like to see, I think a GM focused book would go over pretty well. It's no more out there than yet another MtG setting book or another sort-of-a-monster-manual.

 

[Parmandur]

Right. ANd since we are talking in this thread about 5E opening up the release schedule a little, and what kind of "bonus" books we would like to see, I think a GM focused book would go over pretty well. It's no more out there than yet another MtG setting book or another sort-of-a-monster-manual.

I mean, the MtG Setting books are DM toolkits, focused on genre material. That's the sort of book I'd expect to see going towards, since it sells.

 

[dave2008]

Different strokes, but ultimately the current downtime rules amount to "spend X gp and roll on this table". They are bland and don't really support downtime as I envision it as a pillar of play.

Well like I said, we've organically expanded them. We can fill a full session on downtime (and do at level up). I guess we use the rules presented more as inspiration, but that is how I take all rules. I'm just not a RAW guy.

 

[Reynard]

I mean, the MtG Setting books are DM toolkits, focused on genre material. That's the sort of book I'd expect to see going towards, since it sells.

I don't think your definitions of what different kinds of books are are typical. Setting books are not "toolkit" books to most people. You can pull a setting book apart and draw out the tools, but you are probably leaving 75% of the material on the table.

 

[dave2008]

Domain management.
Warfare/Mass Combat
Stronghold construction and management
Environmental rules, including for planar adventures
Robust economy guidelines so treasure has a purpose
Expanded travel rules including "journey" style mechanics
Downtime rules that actually work
Campaign creation and management tools
Relics, rituals, and general expanded magic options.
Like that.

I would like a book that covers most of that too, but I've pretty much have all of those categories from other sources. I guess I would probably purchase such a book from WotC, but at this point I definitely don't need it. Maybe the market ship has already sailed for WotC on those fronts.

What I would like to see in a DMG2 (that is really what your asking for) is:

1. Clarification on how to adjust encounters for: number of PCs, PC optimization, PC magic items, etc.
2. Guidelines on making monsters stronger or weaker based on your groups make up (see #1 above)
3. Optional / Variant rules modules for different styles of play: sword & sorcery, horror, high fantasy, superhero, grim-dark, etc.
4. More supernatural gifts and epic boons
5. Advice on DMing high level play
6. Social encounters as combat Optional rules
7. Slower leveling variant
8. E10 variant

 

[Parmandur]

I don't think your definitions of what different kinds of books are are typical. Setting books are not "toolkit" books to most people. You can pull a setting book apart and draw out the tools, but you are probably leaving 75% of the material on the table.

I would recommend taking a look at those Setting books, if you have not: that is where that material can be found. The strategy of spreading the material around has proven fruitful, and will doubtless continue.

 

[dave2008]

I don't think your definitions of what different kinds of books are are typical. Setting books are not "toolkit" books to most people. You can pull a setting book apart and draw out the tools, but you are probably leaving 75% of the material on the table.

I can't speak for anyone else, but that is exactly how I use the setting and adventure books. I use my own setting and I don't use published adventures. I just buy them to mine for interesting bits and bobs.

But I understand wanting it all in one book.