Unpopular opinions go here

[Bedrockgames]

These days, barring the use of mobile devices at the gaming table would be a problem for me, because I use them to enhance my gaming participation.

Even without using the internet, my character sheets (and my GM notes, FWIW) have all been on mobile devices since I got a Palm Tumgsten. When I replaced that with an iPod Touch and assorted iPhones and iPads, it all got stored on the cloud in my Notes app and/or emails (shared with the GM).

If I have access to the Internet, I’ll have browser tabs open to powers/spells/abilities I intend to use imminently or frequently used sections of a game’s SRD, etc., because it’s rare that we have a 1:1 ratio of gamers to books being used at the table.

Bonus: texting your GM is a great way to secretly communicate with him, and vice versa.

Bonus bonus: this also matters if the party has a plan they’re trying to conceal from the GM…

Don't get me wrong, I like online games. I play mostly online, so everyone is on a device for the most part as well. The only thing I avoid online is virtual tabletop (I prefer keeping it theater of the mind). I still would maintain that when we are playing in person and devices are down, you get a better baseline level of attentiveness and engagement (there is an certain amount of inevitable surfing that will go on in online games----for example when players are waiting for their turn in combat----that can lead to distraction). But I also agree it has advantages with things like notes and such. I like online gaming, but it took me a while to warm up to it because there is definitely more work to get the feel of a live table. I like online gaming because I have health issues that make in person harder (I can do it, it just isn't especially easy or comfortable for me) and I like that online gaming broadens my player pool to people all over the world. This allows me to have players in my group from England, other states, etc.

 

[Bedrockgames]

That's the point though. If you're playing an elf, the fact that you are essentially, at least from the point of view of most of the other races, immortal SHOULD be a HUGE element in your character. It has virtually no actual mechanical import or impact, but, elven longevity is probably one of the biggest defining elements of elves in D&D.

I think it has quite a bit of mechanical weight, as mentioned previously. It also informs some of the other mechanical bonuses and choices I think. That said, my argument here isn't D&D does these things best. If you are saying they could do more with elven longevity in terms of mechanical heft, I agree. I am very much in favor of having these physiological differences between demihumans have a mechanical effect you can feel. So if the age range, aging effect chart, and other things that can come up (Haste spells and other magical aging, ghosts aging you, campaign length), doesn't feel like enough mechanical heft, I would certainly be open to them coming up with better ways of incorporating the effect of lifespan differences on the races.

Of course, since many players play elves as just humans that can see in the dark, any actual distinctiveness is generally lost at the table - so, in a way I suppose, the mechanical stuff does at least serve some purpose in making some sort of attempt to make your elven fighter different than my human fighter.

I haven't found this to be true. Elves are one of the more distinctive races I think. If anything getting people to not play a stereotypical elf is more of a challenge than getting them to not play them as humans with infra vision

IMO, the mechanical stuff is the least interesting part of the races.

Whether you find it interesting or not, I think a lot of people (probably the majority in my opinion) find these physical differences being expressed mechanically to be very important and help give the races different feels that matter in play. That is just subjective opinion but I think people are way too dismissive of this preference and don't see what is potentially getting lost here if you move away from that

 

[Emberashh]

What you're claiming is patently false - D&D 5E defines 3 types of rolls as the core mechanic, and they differ only slightly
Attack Rolls
Saving Throws
Ability Checks

No it doesn't.

Given all those, claiming D&D 5E isn't combat focused seems rather disconnected from reality.

Quote me saying this.

 

[Emberashh]

I think it has quite a bit of mechanical weight, as mentioned previously. It also informs some of the other mechanical bonuses and choices I think. That said, my argument here isn't D&D does these things best. If you are saying they could do more with elven longevity in terms of mechanical heft, I agree. I am very much in favor of having these physiological differences between demihumans have a mechanical effect you can feel. So if the age range, aging effect chart, and other things that can come up (Haste spells and other magical aging, ghosts aging you, campaign length), doesn't feel like enough mechanical heft, I would certainly be open to them coming up with better ways of incorporating the effect of lifespan differences on the races.



I haven't found this to be true. Elves are one of the more distinctive races I think. If anything getting people to not play a stereotypical elf is more of a challenge than getting them to not play them as humans with infra vision



Whether you find it interesting or not, I think a lot of people (probably the majority in my opinion) find these physical differences being expressed mechanically to be very important and help give the races different feels that matter in play. That is just subjective opinion but I think people are way too dismissive of this preference and don't see what is potentially getting lost here if you move away from that

I find that if you're controlling for the maturity of your playgroup, if theres still an issue with devices then you've most likely have an issue with actually being interesting.

But if the game is a DND heritage game then that can also cause issues, as the known issue of not being engaging off-turn is going to let minds wander.

Finding a more engaging game would help, in that instance. But ultimately unless your players are just immature and have no self-control, its going to still be an issue that the game being run just isnt as interesting as it could be. That might be due to the game itself, but more often its the GM.

 

[Umbran]

You're not engaging what I said at all. Do feel free to try again.

Mod Note:

Nobody is required to engage with what you say in the way you want them to. Indeed a great deal of the value of a message board is in the diversity of approaches and interpretations. The idea is to learn from them, not tell people they cannot express them. So, please refrain from this "try again" approach - you don't get to give people orders.

The intent can be inferred by the competent English reading individual

Positions of the form, "If you don't agree with me, you can't read," (or are stupid, irrational, mentally ill, etc.) are insulting. Please refrain from such approaches.

All in all, folks, this thread is labelled as "unpopular opinions". Folks who cannot engage on them without getting condescending or insulting should excuse themselves from the discussion.

 

[Hussar]

That is just subjective opinion but I think people are way too dismissive of this preference and don't see what is potentially getting lost here if you move away from that

But, again, nothing has been lost. You absolutely can make a character that is identical to a pre-Tasha race. Zero problem. There is nothing stopping you from doing that.

What we have instead gained is the ability to have broader choices by the players. If you want to play an elven wizard, that's groovy. OTOH, if you want to play an elven barbarian (for example) that's equally groovy.

Everyone wins.

 

[Bedrockgames]

But, again, nothing has been lost. You absolutely can make a character that is identical to a pre-Tasha race. Zero problem. There is nothing stopping you from doing that.

But making it customizable just means it’s a choice, not something that comes with the choice to be that race. I get some people want more ability to realize a character concept or something. And that is fair but there are games that are way better than D&D. Did a lot of us, the whole point is making elves consistently be elves and have race selection be part of a simple process of character creation

What we have instead gained is the ability to have broader choices by the players. If you want to play an elven wizard, that's groovy. OTOH, if you want to play an elven barbarian (for example) that's equally groovy.

Everyone wins.

this isn’t an everyone wins situation. Not everyone thinks D&D gets better when you expand choice in race and class options. One reason I go back to 2E is it puts caps on these choices

 

[AnotherGuy]

Tasha's Caudron of Everything is 5e's version of Skills and Powers.
If you didn't mind Skills and Powers why you be hating on Tasha's now?

(ducks)

 

[Bedrockgames]

I find that if you're controlling for the maturity of your playgroup, if theres still an issue with devices then you've most likely have an issue with actually being interesting.

But if the game is a DND heritage game then that can also cause issues, as the known issue of not being engaging off-turn is going to let minds wander.

Finding a more engaging game would help, in that instance. But ultimately unless your players are just immature and have no self-control, its going to still be an issue that the game being run just isnt as interesting as it could be. That might be due to the game itself, but more often its the GM.

I think the quoted the wrong post, but here I will say reasons are going to vary.

I don’t know. Moderation in all things I think. If you aren’t engaging enough as a GM, distractions can arise and that is instructive. But people are also human so there will be moments in games where, if you are playing online, some might succumb to a temptation to check e-mail or something (it need not be combat, it could be the party splitting up or anything that gives other players reason to not pay attention to what is happening). I don’t think playing D&D or D&D like games is the issue. I play lots of different games and there will always be moments where someone isn’t as focused as others. The real issue is if this becomes a problem that affects the game. My view is, I am not here to tell people how to conduct themselves. If someone has a habit that gets annoying there may be a conversation at some point of course but otherwise being a bit tolerant of normal distractions arising during a game is more a sign of maturity to me than overreacting to someone checking a text from their wife or having to check on something in the other room. One side effect of playing online is people are in their homes still available to the people they live with and all that is more important than a game. When people take the game too seriously, that is a bigger indication of emotional immaturity

 

[Bedrockgames]

Tasha's Caudron of Everything is 5e's version of Skills and Powers.
If you didn't mind Skills and Powers why you be hating on Tasha's now?

(ducks)

I hated skills and powers. We didn’t even allow it at the tables I played at