D&D (2024) What can WotC do in OneD&D to make the DM's Guide worth buying?

[Scott Christian]

Sure, but you already own it! If this version is compatible.....how could they make a DMG you'd want to buy again?

Personally, I think they add realms and rules associated with those realms. Conan-esque with two pages of specific alternate rules, Harry Potter with two pages of specific alternate rules, etc. Give it an extra sixty pages. It doesn't need to be balanced or even harbor D&D core values. Just alternate rules. Maybe one where no one ever gets above third level or another where the damage you take permanently reduces an attribute or another where if you're a wizard you have a chance of blowing up. Obviously a lot of those are hyperbolic, but you get my point.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Personally, I think they add realms and rules associated with those realms. Conan-esque with two pages of specific alternate rules, Harry Potter with two pages of specific alternate rules, etc. Give it an extra sixty pages.

Yes! Van Richten's guide is a good model for this in my opinion. Then I could tell my players I'm running a Conan-esque adventure, check page 125 of the Dungeon Master's Guide to see what that entails.

 

[SteveC]

I know this is unlikely, but I'd like any modules to be fully developed, not a shell that needs the DM to make them useful at the table. There are some ideas in the current DMG but they all need a lot of work to expand them. "Here are some ideas for you to design with..." is really not useful to me. Yes, that might mean fewer modules, but more that I'd actually use. And the only way I'd get the book is if it has something I want to use at my table.

 

[Scott Christian]

Yes! Van Richten's guide is a good model for this in my opinion. Then I could tell my players I'm running a Conan-esque adventure, check page 125 of the Dungeon Master's Guide to see what that entails.

Well, one thing I think you could do if it was taken seriously, is alter how players make their characters - which is a fun part of the game for many. So an alternate rule regarding rituals might make some players reconfigure their character, especially if it made them unique or stronger or even able to do the bizarre. An alternate rule on damage might make people more aware of AC. I have never really mapped any of this out in my head, but I do know anything that alters the mindset of character creation is a pretty strong influence.

 

[MichaelSomething]

Bring back the NPC classes! Let the Commoner class ride again!

 

[Weiley31]

Wasn't the 4E DMG liked by a lot of players? Like both books? Or am I getting mixed up with another thing?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Wasn't the 4E DMG liked by a lot of players? Like both books? Or am I getting mixed up with another thing?

Liked by a lot of 4e players, certainly.

 

[SteveC]

Wasn't the 4E DMG liked by a lot of players? Like both books? Or am I getting mixed up with another thing?

It was. Both it and the DMG2 had a lot of material that is useful even today. I think they were excellent books that still hold up.

 

[Beleriphon]

The DMG needs to operate like an actual teaching textbook does. Introduce concepts and ideas in measured doses so you build upon each idea from the previous one.

Chapter One really should be what is the game, how to start a game, and why different people play. This can include how to appeal to different ways to play, as well as why you want to DM. Advice on problems that can arise in a D&D game. Use WotC IP examples to keep that brand train rolling.

From there introduce the idea of what kind of game to play. This is where fun random generation tables can start being introduced. Once you have what kind of game you want further chapters about building adventures to whole settings. Include customer monster rules in either chapter.

Setting design chapter should go over general advice about world building, including cosmology with the Great Wheel used as the example to illustrate different ideas. Discussion can contrast how say Eberron and Forgotten Realms handle high level NPCs why both approaches are valid and how choosing one of them can affect the game and how you need to approach it as the DM.

From there move onto how to provide both the players and the characters rewards. This is where we get into magic items and what not.

Full random generation and crazy tables can be in appendices.

 

[kronovan]

If WotC's plan is to design it similar to the 5e DMG, then I'd prefer if essential things like magic items would also be available in a smaller/lower cost companion. IMO too much of what was in the DMG was novice and introductory and I have other publications that are reasonably system agnostic (i.e. PF1E GameMastery Guide) that do a better job covering it. While I made use of magic items, crafting, sub races, sub class and monster creation info in the 5e DMG, everything else was just filler. I needed it for encounter creation guidelines in the early days of 5e, but WotC eventually released the free 5e DMG PDF which included that. Not to mention others eventually published alternatives.

These days I much prefer PDFs to Hardcovers though, so I'm unlikely to migrate to OneD&D anyways.