D&D (2024) Command is the Perfect Encapsulation of Everything I Don't Like About 5.5e

[Not a Decepticon]

Group playstyle discussions are exactly what you should have before starting play. If you know this kind of thing comes up and it's not for you, hey, maybe you shouldn't join that group.

AGAIN my issue is I feel the 2014 Command ENCOURAGED PROBLEM PLAYERS TO IGNORE SESSION ZERO AND LINES AND VEILS and then cry "muh creativity!" when called on it.

Which isn't to say that you don't have the right to play how you want-

I certainly don't have the right to say I don't want toilet humor on my table, according to thins thread.

Well, I guess we should take the entire Enchantment school out, as it can be rapey, along with Necromancy, as violating the dead is creepy, and eliminate combat, since some people don't like vivid descriptions of blood and guts and you can always find someone willing to be descriptive about it.

Well I guess you could be respectful enough to not use fallacious argument, but you're clearly not.

First of all, what do you mean when you say D&D isn't open-ended?

Play some ptbA or Forged in the Dark games.

Second of all, every thing you post on this screams "there's a problem player needs dealing with", not that the game itself is at issue.

My groups are fine, because I do not play with people who would do this kind of thing.

It isn't, but why shouldn't it be?

I'm sure when the game offers people who pick it up to live through adventures from fantasy genre, nobody's idea of it is "lets undercut everything for the sake of fart joke".

 

[TiQuinn]

I certainly don't have the right to say I don't want toilet humor on my table, according to thins thread.

Actually, no. No one has said this. But you’ve used that as the basis for saying it shouldn’t be in the rules at all. For any table.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Do you understand that this is not the only thing one can use this creativity for?

Yet somehow every time this spell is mentioned it's in context of doing something gross or juvenile and bragging about "outsmarting" the DM.

Nope, but there might be some reason to think of you that way when you try to force your preferences on everyone else.

Play how you want. Just don't think your is the One True Way to D&D and that other playstyles are invalid. It isn't and they aren't. You just need to find a group that shares your tastes instead of trying to force your tastes on every group.

So some gross jerk's preference being forced on everyone else is okay but I'm a puritan for not liking that? Honestly, it feels to me you guys think the fart jokes are One True Way and get in uproar someone dares treatign this game more seriously.

I assume this problem doesn’t come up often in your game because otherwise you wouldn’t be playing with those folks for long, but if that’s true, why do you feel the need to change the game for others based on your personal dislike of silliness in games?

I know such situations happen to other people enough for it to be a problem, I am lucky to have players who respect each other and me and are mature enough to nto stoop this low.

It is juvenile. That doesn't mean it can't also be creative.

It's both.

If you're an adult man and your full extend of creativity is gross toilet humor, you're not creative.

 

[Oofta]

If limiting command words to a specific set of phrases (while also improving the spell by dropping the requirement that the target understands) destroys any significant amount of creativity, y'all are playing a different game than I am.

Every time a player uses command "creatively" the DM should be deciding what the word means to the target, and whether they even know what the word means. Use a $20 word on an ogre with 6 intelligence and in my campaign it may have no effect because I would say that ogres are as dumb as rocks but that might be insulting to rocks. In a lot of cases the best you do is cost them a turn.

This is such a minor, minor change that would have such minimal impact on any game I've ever witnessed.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Actually, no. No one has said this. But you’ve used that as the basis for saying it shouldn’t be in the rules at all. For any table.

No, I have said this one spell that has common issue of enabling this gross humor shouldn't be in the rules.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

My groups are fine, because I do not play with people who would do this kind of thing.

Yeah, same. So problem solved?

 

[Remathilis]

So because you didn't have a problem, it means anyone who does is dictatorial puritan? you sound to me like you cannot handle that not everyone are okay with the things you are okay with?

There is nothing creative in the "I want to make villain poop his pants", it's juvenile.

"The enemy strains for a second and laughs. Guess he didn't need to go. Nothing happens."

"The enemy becomes enraged by this embarrassment. He has advantage on all attacks for the remainder of the fight."

The best way to defeat juvenile humor is to make it backfire. Wasting a first level spell to do nothing, or worse to enhance your enemies attacks, is a great way to break the player of this.

You want to get creative? So can the DM.

 

[TiQuinn]

I know such situations happen to other people enough for it to be a problem, I am lucky to have players who respect each other and me and are mature enough to nto stoop this low.

I know plenty of times where it’s caused no problems. Why should your anecdotes hold greater weight in terms of what is included in the rules for everyone?

No, I have said this one spell that has common issue of enabling this gross humor shouldn't be in the rules.

What about illusion or charm spells? They all can be used this way. I don’t see you advocating for their removal.

 

[TiQuinn]

If limiting command words to a specific set of phrases (while also improving the spell by dropping the requirement that the target understands) destroys any significant amount of creativity, y'all are playing a different game than I am.

Why does the spell need to be limited at all?

 

[Remathilis]

It's also worth noting Command lasts 1 round. Six seconds. "Surrender" means the foe gives up, for one round. "Repent" means the foe spends 6 seconds rethinking its life. "Potty humor" is at best drop their weapon and/or lose their action. (Even if you allow it, see above). It's not a one-word wish spell. It's a delay tactic at best.