D&D 5E In Search Of: The 5e Dungeon Master's Guide

[kenada]

The DMG could probably use more examples of how to use its tools. Moldvay Basic has a nice example of designing, stocking, and running a dungeon on B55 through B60. The 5e DMG does have a a nice example of designing a new race in chapter 9, Dungeon Master’s Workshop. It’d be nice if there were other examples of applying and using the various tools after they were introduced. I’d have certainly appreciated an example to follow of designing a monster the first time I tried to follow the monster design procedure in the DMG.

 

[Cadence]

For the 50th Anniversary, I was hoping that they would release a DMG that was the ultimate homage to Gygax.

Just tables. All tables. 100% tables. Do you want to know what table to use? Why, there's a table for that. And, of course, the 50th Anniversary DMG will come exclusively as a coffee table book. It's tables, all the way down.

It will be like the OG 1e Rogue's Gallery, except less exposition and hand holding ... and more random tables.

At some point into 3.5 I foolishly sold almost all my older D&D books. Kept the 1e DMG and 2e MM, because I'm not (entirely) a monster.

 

[AnotherGuy]

For the 50th Anniversary, I was hoping that they would release a DMG that was the ultimate homage to Gygax.

Just tables. All tables. 100% tables. Do you want to know what table to use? Why, there's a table for that. And, of course, the 50th Anniversary DMG will come exclusively as a coffee table book. It's tables, all the way down.

It will be like the OG 1e Rogue's Gallery, except less exposition and hand holding ... and more random tables.

Ah yes, I see it now...

the Advanced, Complete and Expanded DMG.

 

[hawkeyefan]

The DMG could probably use more examples of how to use its tools. Moldvay Basic has a nice example of designing, stocking, and running a dungeon on B55 through B60. The 5e DMG does have a a nice example of designing a new race in chapter 9, Dungeon Master’s Workshop. It’d be nice if there were other examples of applying and using the various tools after they were introduced. I’d have certainly appreciated an example to follow of designing a monster the first time I tried to follow the monster design procedure in the DMG.

Yeah, there are parts that work... there's a clear goal of the section, and then guidance on how to achieve that goal. I find that very often as it is, it offers a goal and just kind of expects people to know how to achieve it.

Or, more often, states a goal earlier on in the book, let's say on page 6, and then later in the book doesn't make the connection back to the earlier bit.

This is why I'd love to see the DMG revised to be clearer and more specific.

 

[Imaro]

You are. Go back and look at nearly all your replies in this thread. You have responded mostly to both @Xamnam and @pointofyou. Both made suggestions about things that could be included to make the DMG more new user friendly, and you've shot each of them down, mostly in favor of having such in a starter set.

But why? Why can't the DMG be made more new user friendly? Even in a world that also contains a starter set?

What's lost if that happens?

Asking what the point of the starter set is when the DMG is supposed to serve the purpose of introducing new DM's into the game isn't shooting it down, it's asking a question. If I have product A that serves the purpose of X... what is the purpose of Product A if I then make Product C also serve that purpose... also what do I then loose in product C in order for it to better serve that purpose?

 

[Imaro]

Yeah, there are parts that work... there's a clear goal of the section, and then guidance on how to achieve that goal. I find that very often as it is, it offers a goal and just kind of expects people to know how to achieve it.

Or, more often, states a goal earlier on in the book, let's say on page 6, and then later in the book doesn't make the connection back to the earlier bit.

This is why I'd love to see the DMG revised to be clearer and more specific.

More clear sure... more specific to who and what? It's got a wide audience to address how do you make it more specific without alienating some of that audience?

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Ah yes, I see it now...

the Advanced, Complete and Expanded DMG.

The ACE High Gygaxian 50th Anniversary DMG must have tables. Lots of tables. How many tables, you might ask? Let's find out!

00 – 10 The number of tables you wanted, doubled.
11 – 25 Hyperlinks to even moar tablez.
26 – 35 More tables than Ikea has meatballs, or tables.
36 – 50 A table for every awesome name in Greyhawk. Melf went to Verbobonc. Heh.
51 – 65 Sixteen appendices, full of tables.
66 – 75 Every table has four legs, and each leg is a table. Tables, all the way down.
76 – 85 You know the story by Borges? Library of Babel? Yeah, like that. But tables instead of books.
86 – 90 One table, that is a meta-table, that contains all tables. Godel to the yodel, yo.
91 – 92 Only one table, but that table is actually another copy of the book in its entirety.
93 – 94 Three tables- snow, frost, and ice.
95 – 98 No tables, because they were destroyed by the Scarlet Brotherhood.
99 – 00 Roll twice, add the results.

 

[AnotherGuy]

00 – 10 The number of tables you wanted, doubled.
11 – 25 Hyperlinks to even moar tablez.
26 – 35 More tables than Ikea has meatballs, or tables.
36 – 50 A table for every awesome name in Greyhawk. Melf went to Verbobonc. Heh.
51 – 65 Sixteen appendices, full of tables.
66 – 75 Every table has four legs, and each leg is a table. Tables, all the way down.
76 – 85 You know the story by Borges? Library of Babel? Yeah, like that. But tables instead of books.
86 – 90 One table, that is a meta-table, that contains all tables. Godel to the yodel, yo.
91 – 92 Only one table, but that table is actually another copy of the book in its entirety.
93 – 94 Three tables- snow, frost, and ice.
95 – 98 No tables, because they were destroyed by the Scarlet Brotherhood.
99 – 00 Roll twice, add the results.

Exploding tables at 00's

 

[FallenRX]

For the 50th Anniversary, I was hoping that they would release a DMG that was the ultimate homage to Gygax.

Just tables. All tables. 100% tables. Do you want to know what table to use? Why, there's a table for that. And, of course, the 50th Anniversary DMG will come exclusively as a coffee table book. It's tables, all the way down.

It will be like the OG 1e Rogue's Gallery, except less exposition and hand holding ... and more random tables.

Honestly the 5e DMG is already a good enough homage to the 1e DMG

 

[Voadam]

I expect the core three D&D manuals to be the full core game. Not the advanced version next step after the starter set, but the complete core game on its own. A player I expect to only need the PH.

I think starter sets are great as a complete in itself limited intro, showing some select core options and a sample adventure that can be run out of the box without getting anything else. It is a decent way for someone wanting to try the game out.

Nothing wrong with going from the starter set to the full books, but I expect the core books to be all you need. I don't expect D&D to require a starter set before going to the actual core game.