D&D 5E D&D is Getting Unweildy

[Charlaquin]

So let's say I've never played D&D before, but after watching Stranger Things, checking out Critical Role, and talking to my friends, I've decided to take the plunge, purchase some books, and get to playing. I walk into my local Barnes & Noble and I see the holy trinity of D&D books, The Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual, and I go ahead and purchase all three because I'm a masochist and DMing seems like its right up my ally. (Alternatively I'm a sadist and I wish to make my players suffer.) I've got an introductory adventure I'd like to run, and I invite a few of my friends over to play, some of whom have been playing D&D for a few years. What shows up to my table? Well, I've got an Artificer and a Celestial Warlock. Okay, I guess. And don't the stats on the Halfling fighter seen a little wonky? Since when did they get a bonus to strength?

I don't really care if we call it a new edition or what, but I'd like the rules codified in one set of books. If we're going to go with Tasha's when it comes to race in the future, then put that in the PHB. This might not be a big deal to those of of us who have been playing for a while, but this kind of thing will frustrate new players.

That’s the point of the 2024 revised core rules, isn’t it?

 

[Hawk Diesel]

@MGibster​

Congrats on your first foray into DM'ing! One thing I would suggest moving forward is having a session 0 with the players at your table. It helps set up the expectations for the game, including what you are comfortable running and what you aren't. This would be the time that you let your player know if you only want to use material available in the Player's Handbook, for example. Also, this would be the time when you decide whether people will be rolling stats, using standard array, point buy, or something else. That way if you decide to roll stats, people can roll in front of you so you know what to expect and prevent people from fudging their rolls.

Below are a couple of creators I really enjoy with their suggestions on running a session 0. I know D&D can be overwhelming when you consider ALL the content that's available. So hopefully this gives you some tools to reduce that stress.

Nerdarchy -
Matt Colville -
Dungeon Dudes -
Edit: Oops, didn't realize the OP was a hypothetical, but the point of my post still stands. Communication and being on the same page are important factors to having an enjoyable game experience, regardless of the rules being uses. If this hypothetical person is watching Critical Role, it's not unreasonable that they may be checking out other YouTube channels about how to play and get started.

 

[jasper]

While I take your point, in this hypothetical situation why didn't the budding DM consult with the friends he knew played D&D before buying anything? In the absence of such friends, hopefully, the would-be DM sees the D&D Starter Set on the shelves at the book store.

I think most groups that begin playing D&D grow from someone who already knows it (and has books), or they are all starting at the same level of knowledge/materials.

I have friends...... you mean I have to talk to my fellow nerds as we are being shoved into our wall lockers.

 

[dave2008]

They really should draw a line in the sand and reprint the core books with all of the changes to date.

Otherwise it will get unwieldy.

Remember when it used to be "PH plus 1" for options?...

That is exactly what 2024 will be. So I guess they've listened to you!

 

[Benjamin Olson]

I do feel like the Tasha's alternate class rules really undermined the core simplicity of the game, as did adding a whole class not in the PHB, in a way that nothing else really did. Either you have to ban the book, or have it with you when you run or (for some classes) play in a game. And the attempt to softly rewrite things like the race system meant I haven't really felt like we were in a coherent system since Tasha's came out.

All the added races, subclasses, spells, and feats over the years naturally did their part as well, but those were generally much more a situation where the new player options could be digested by a DM as they came up. A player might want Xanathar's guide, but playing your first character without it or any content it added would not put you at any substantial disadvantage. Playing some of the classes without Tasha's optional features puts your character at a serious disadvantage.

 

[Retreater]

Last night, I had the great experience of running my first session for a multi-generational group including my wife and our neighbor (a grognard around my age). The rest were teens from 13-19 - of which one was playing his first character he'd made and the other playing her first game of D&D. In case you're curious, we were playing The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh and I don't think anyone was overwhelmed. We had fun, ate cookies and pizza. They battled giant insects and searched for hidden treasures, just like we did back when I started in the 1980s.
So you know what else is more confusing than what I did when I was a kid? Video games. If a kid can figure out a modern FPS when at the same age I had an Atari joystick with one orange button, they can handle the options of D&D.

 

[MGibster]

So you know what else is more confusing than what I did when I was a kid? Video games. If a kid can figure out a modern FPS when at the same age I had an Atari joystick with one orange button, they can handle the options of D&D.

It's not really about whether or not someone can figure it out. Of course they can. It's about how easy it is for someone to come into the hobby. (I especially had this problem with Warhammer 40k when I returend in 2020 after a 20 year absence. WotC is not as bad as Games Workshop in that regard.)

 

[Retreater]

It's not really about whether or not someone can figure it out. Of course they can. It's about how easy it is for someone to come into the hobby. (I especially had this problem with Warhammer 40k when I returend in 2020 after a 20 year absence. WotC is not as bad as Games Workshop in that regard.)

Oh, I think it's immensely easier now. Games sold in every store. Shown on popular TV shows. You probably have a school or library that has a gaming club. You can stream online. You can download free basic rules on the Internet.
It's never been easier to get into the game. It's a far cry from where I had to go to get my books and dice when I started - a comic store where the owner would literally chain smoke and flip through Playboys at the cash register.

 

[payn]

Oh, I think it's immensely easier now. Games sold in every store. Shown on popular TV shows. You probably have a school or library that has a gaming club. You can stream online. You can download free basic rules on the Internet.
It's never been easier to get into the game. It's a far cry from where I had to go to get my books and dice when I started - a comic store where the owner would literally chain smoke and flip through Playboys at the cash register.

Not only this, but there are tons of youtube videos on how to do it. Had no such thing as a kid so it was much worse.

 

[Maxperson]

If 80s kids could play at tables that mixed BECMI, B/X, AD&D and OD&D, plus stuff from Dragon and White Dwarf, I think new players today will manage.

I don't know. My daughter seems to have a frightening lack of life skills, despite living on her own at school for years, and I see a similar lack in a lot of young people at stores and that I overhear other places. It's scary.