D&D General Hot Take: Dungeon Exploration Requires Light Rules To Be Fun

[Reynard]

Shadowdark is not based on 5e. The only mechanic it takes directly from 5e is the Adv/Disadv system.

I bet that is a surprise to Kelsey Dione.

 

[Mannahnin]

I’ve wondered before if DnD could implement a workable encumbrance based less on exact weights and just doing a weight point heavy/moderate/light/trinket model alongside depletion dice on some types of consumables, so say, a Bundle of torches is a medium item, medium items are 4 weight, and torches begin with a d10 sized depletion die.

Some kind of slot/location based system would be nice. Make it easier to track, gameable, and hopefully have it drive interesting decisions and support fun play when random equipment gets lost or busted rather than just tracking weight.

Can even make the whole system optional for all the folks who prefer to handwave/eyeball "that looks ok" it.

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

I bet that is a surprise to Kelsey Dione.

x.com

x.com

 

[Reynard]

x.com

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Interesting. That sort of conflicts with some of her videos promoting SD and interactions otherwise.

But it's her creation. I stand corrected.

 

[Velderan]

Interesting. That sort of conflicts with some of her videos promoting SD and interactions otherwise.

But it's her creation. I stand corrected.

I forget which video interview I heard her say it, but I think I remember her saying something to the effect of "wanting the game to be recognizable to 5e players".

 

[CreamCloud0]

Some kind of slot/location based system would be nice. Make it easier to track, gameable, and hopefully have it drive interesting decisions and support fun play when random equipment gets lost or busted rather than just tracking weight.

Can even make the whole system optional for all the folks who prefer to handwave/eyeball "that looks ok" it.

While I understand the appeal of a slot based system I don’t really see how it would be helping to simplify things, it’d just be an extra thing to track, unless you’re using it to cap the amount of stuff everyone is carrying because they don’t have the location slots for it.

Wouldn’t ‘you have 17 STR, you have (17x3=)51 carrying capacity’ be more straightforward?

 

[Mannahnin]

While I understand the appeal of a slot based system I don’t really see how it would be helping to simplify things, it’d just be an extra thing to track, unless you’re using it to cap the amount of stuff everyone is carrying because they don’t have the location slots for it.

Wouldn’t ‘you have 17 STR, you have (17x3=)51 carrying capacity’ be more straightforward?

Tracking something like 12 (or 17, for 17 Strength) equipment slots is simpler than tracking, say, 51 lbs of carrying capacity with all kinds of varied weight values. Generally in a slot system items are 1 slot, 2 slots, or x to a slot (5 or 10, commonly, for bundled small stuff like torches or rations; pick one value and keep it simple).

 

[CreamCloud0]

Tracking something like 12 (or 17, for 17 Strength) equipment slots is simpler than tracking, say, 51 lbs of carrying capacity with all kinds of varied weight values. Generally in a slot system items are 1 slot, 2 slots, or x to a slot (5 or 10, commonly, for bundled small stuff like torches or rations).

that is what i was suggesting, just with your number of slots being derived by your strength, (51 points/slots of carrying capacity), i was interpreting your suggestion of slots being more like 'this is your headwear slot, this is your chest slot, your beltpouch slots...', previously mentioned heavy/moderate/light/trinket designations being labels for standard weight point values

so say, a Bundle of torches is a medium item, medium items are 4 weight,

 

[Micah Sweet]

Ah yes. The "AD&D works fine if you ignore chunks of it" argument.

It works fine if you don't ignore those other things too. There's just more going on. Assuming that it doesn't is just projecting your preferences on others.

 

[Micah Sweet]

So let us be specific what exactly makes it unfun?

Tracking provisions?
Tracking ammo?
Tracking the light resource?
Time management?
Continuous random encounters?
Zoom-in investigation/perception skills?
Same-y descriptors?
Slow depletion of resources (hit points, spell slots...etc) from exploration and traps as opposed to actual combat which burns things much faster?
Other....

I'm good with all of these, because people find different things fun.