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

[pointofyou]

And yet 50 years ago, without internet, without Enworld, without Mercer or Colville, without the twitter handle of Chris Perkins, people managed. And yet today with all those resources at their fingertips they're still lost? It is sad to see how far we have fallen or how little faith we have in today's youth.

I figured it out by slogging my way through the Book of Gygax and by playing first. It seems reasonable to want the game to have improved by this measure over the intervening forty years.

 

[AnotherGuy]

I figured it out by slogging my way through the Book of Gygax and by playing first. It seems reasonable to want the game to have improved by this measure over the intervening forty years.

But it did (just look at the DMGs between 1e and 5e), they then made a decision to remove that portion out the Core and into the Starter Set. Some people liked it, some people didn't which is fair.

 

[pointofyou]

I think there are a ton of people learning the game from the core books and I don't think you or anyone else has the data to determine whether they did or didn't serve the purpose adequately. Can they be improved, sure... nothing in the world is 100% but there's this idea that the 5e corebooks don't teach the game well and nothing except anecdotal evidence and speculation seems to support that.

The OP throws a bunch of things from the DMG at the wall with presumption people don't know those things are in the DMG because people don't read the DMG. How can a book that people don't read be useful? Why don't people read it?

 

[pointofyou]

But it did (just look at the DMGs between 1e and 5e), they then made a decision to remove that portion out the Core and into the Starter Set.

I agree there are ways in which the 5e DMG is worlds better than the 1e. It is not better at helping new DMs figure out how to DM. The fact there is maybe something helpful in the Starter and/or Beginner Sets does not change that.

 

[Imaro]

The OP throws a bunch of things from the DMG at the wall with presumption people don't know those things are in the DMG because people don't read the DMG. How can a book that people don't read be useful? Why don't people read it?

Maybe because it's easier and quicker to learn from videos for some people... for others they use the starter set because they need to "do" in order to get it.... I think the OP is mainly referencing experienced players who come onto the forums, claim something isn't addressed in the DMG... only it is.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

The OP throws a bunch of things from the DMG at the wall with presumption people don't know those things are in the DMG because people don't read the DMG. How can a book that people don't read be useful? Why don't people read it?

The 5e one is not very readable, at least to me. 4e was better. A lot of it repeats, stuff from older DMGs giving the impression that it is a rehash of what is in the older DMGs. Which it is, except the places where it is not.

One of the things it should do is discuss the previous iterations of the game, what has change between iterations both in terms of game mechanics and play assumptions and draw attention to what the new and the experienced DMs should pay attention to and in what order and why.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

The OP throws a bunch of things from the DMG at the wall with presumption people don't know those things are in the DMG because people don't read the DMG. How can a book that people don't read be useful? Why don't people read it?

Honestly, I would say that the olds, like us, aren't the target market. Learning how to run a game by reading a book was never the preferred method (most people learned by playing with others back then, and then branching off), but today, most people learn by watching youtube and twitch streams.

Or, for that matter, going to the website-

How to Play | Dungeons & Dragons

Ready to begin playing Dungeons & Dragons? Let's get you started!

dnd.wizards.com

How to DM | Dungeons & Dragons

Ready to try your hand at becoming the Dungeon Master? Let's get you started!

dnd.wizards.com

And if you want more, the website, after videos, guides you to...
First, the starter set.
Then, the essentials kit.
Finally, the core rulebooks.

 

[pointofyou]

Maybe because it's easier and quicker to learn from videos for some people... for others they use the starter set because they need to "do" in order to get it.... I think the OP is mainly referencing experienced players who come onto the forums, claim something isn't addressed in the DMG... only it is.

Yes. Different people will learn differently. Why do so many experienced DMs not read the DMG?

 

[pointofyou]

Honestly, I would say that the olds, like us, aren't the target market. Learning how to run a game by reading a book was never the preferred method (most people learned by playing with others back then, and then branching off), but today, most people learn by watching youtube and twitch streams.

Or, for that matter, going to the website-

How to Play | Dungeons & Dragons

Ready to begin playing Dungeons & Dragons? Let's get you started!

dnd.wizards.com

How to DM | Dungeons & Dragons

Ready to try your hand at becoming the Dungeon Master? Let's get you started!

dnd.wizards.com

And if you want more, the website, after videos, guides you to...
First, the starter set.
Then, the essentials kit.
Finally, the core rulebooks.

No. We are not the target market.

It does seem reasonable though to expect a book called the Dungeon Master's Guide to be useful to someone new to DMing. I'm not sure how useful the current version would be to someone who'd been playing.

 

[Imaro]

Yes. Different people will learn differently. Why do so many experienced DMs not read the DMG?

Arrogance, assumption, comfortability in our own accumulated knowledge, "It's the same ole D&D" and so on... do I need to go on... I honestly think very few people have ever read any edition's corebooks from cover to cover. Moreso now than ever it is literally easier (for nearly any ttrpg) to watch a how to play video.