D&D 5E Megadungeon delving as a campaign’s core; is it compatible with modern play?

[Hussar]

Passive-aggressive discouragement of using the enchanting mechanics or a desire to reflect "realistic" time taken in a game that isn't realistic in any other way to a noticeable degree.

That's pretty much my take on it. Considering that wizards got scroll scribing as a class ability, it seems a bit of a dick move on the part of the DM to force players to ride the pines while other players play, just because they are using class abilities.

In any case though, I think there were significant enough tables that did use things like healing wands (or whatever) that HP attrition became largely superfluous in 3e. 4e and now 5e is a reaction to that. OTOH, if you played in a group that never crafted anything in 3e, then, sure, I can totally see why you'd find 4e and 5e's healing rates jarring. It's a major shift.

 

[Thomas Shey]

That's pretty much my take on it. Considering that wizards got scroll scribing as a class ability, it seems a bit of a dick move on the part of the DM to force players to ride the pines while other players play, just because they are using class abilities.

Its an offshoot of an old view you still see about people grumping that you don't need to take time to do training to level. I'm very experienced with games that had training options, being a longtime RQ and other BRP game player, but those games gave you the option of training in addition to learning in the field (and the latter was, on the whole, usually more efficient though it didn't always land where you might want it to). If you didn't do it, you'd still progress.

In any case though, I think there were significant enough tables that did use things like healing wands (or whatever) that HP attrition became largely superfluous in 3e. 4e and now 5e is a reaction to that. OTOH, if you played in a group that never crafted anything in 3e, then, sure, I can totally see why you'd find 4e and 5e's healing rates jarring. It's a major shift.

Personally, I usually can't care; if I want to be in a game that pays attention to residual injury, I don't think I'd be doing anything in the D&D-sphere.

 

[Micah Sweet]

That's pretty much my take on it. Considering that wizards got scroll scribing as a class ability, it seems a bit of a dick move on the part of the DM to force players to ride the pines while other players play, just because they are using class abilities.

In any case though, I think there were significant enough tables that did use things like healing wands (or whatever) that HP attrition became largely superfluous in 3e. 4e and now 5e is a reaction to that. OTOH, if you played in a group that never crafted anything in 3e, then, sure, I can totally see why you'd find 4e and 5e's healing rates jarring. It's a major shift.

My old group had a 1e mentality, and no edition change survived it. In these latter days, I do my best to keep the lighthouse lit.

 

[MichaelSomething]

A 3E group who doesn't get a cure wand is like a 1E group who never brought torches.

 

[Lanefan]

yeah, we would all agree to down time and just quickly (5-10 mins) say what we did for X time. I can't think of a reason why a DM would make players sit out playing.

IME it's usually not the DM but (some of) the other players* who want to press on while the one PC is busy.

* - sometimes in-character, sometimes not.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

IME it's usually not the DM but (some of) the other players* who want to press on while the one PC is busy.

* - sometimes in-character, sometimes not.

yeah I have seen that...sometimes not even on purpose. I remember my priestess of shar was making scrolls and wands with the wizard and other caster I can't remember when the rogue and monk tried to 'just go drinking' and ended up on there own adventure... lucky for us we were playing somewhere with a PS2 so we could play vice city well we waited.

 

[Maxperson]

yeah, we would all agree to down time and just quickly (5-10 mins) say what we did for X time. I can't think of a reason why a DM would make players sit out playing.

Because the world doesn't stop. The party is free to tell me that they all sit in an inn and don't leave for X days or weeks or whatever, but events are going to continue on without them. The lord who wants to see them isn't going to wait and will find another group. The murders in town will continue while they sit on their rears.

I've found that players will choose not to make items so that they can take part in events that are happening. Again, the world doesn't shut down and freeze just because they want to craft something.

 

[Maxperson]

IME it's usually not the DM but (some of) the other players* who want to press on while the one PC is busy.

* - sometimes in-character, sometimes not.

That, too.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Because the world doesn't stop. The party is free to tell me that they all sit in an inn and don't leave for X days or weeks or whatever, but events are going to continue on without them. The lord who wants to see them isn't going to wait and will find another group. The murders in town will continue while they sit on their rears.

yeah, but what does that have to do with them?

I've found that players will choose not to make items so that they can take part in events that are happening. Again, the world doesn't shut down and freeze just because they want to craft something.

nobody asked you to freeze time, just not keep running the action actively for X% well why % sit out

 

[Maxperson]

yeah, but what does that have to do with them?

They're part of the world. Events will happen, including events dealing with the adventure that they are on. They will hear about events during down time. They can opt to ignore those things or engage them. In my experience some or all of the players will choose to engage, which means that the crafter either gives up crafting, or sits out the fun. Usually they give up the crafting.

nobody asked you to freeze time, just not keep running the action actively for X% well why % sit out

They choose whether X% of the PCs engage what is going on. Not me. The crafter chooses whether to sit out. Not me.