D&D (2024) I have the DMG. AMA!

[darjr]

Do you mean it's presented as a default rule?

Yes

 

[TiQuinn]

Well...I mean if you are a new DM the rules are gone, because they aren't being republished. And if you can't recreate the same experience without access to materials they refuse to make available to new customers...how much is it really the same game?

I can rattle off a number of major online retailers that still have plenty of copies. You can find every previous edition of the game pretty easily.

 

[Remathilis]

The rules that are gone are the rules that were not used by many players - that's why they are gone.

And as for new players, you can't miss what you never had.

I think that's a big factor in this. The DMG optional rules were part of the fabled "modularity" options that were discussed to attempt to emulate older editions. They weren't popular except for the people who were trying to inject a little older edition flavor to 5e. Most new DMs don't know or care, they play 5e straight. In that regard, it's wasted space in the DMG: a bunch of rules that few people used and the game ignored otherwise.

 

[Parmandur]

I think that's a big factor in this. The DMG optional rules were part of the fabled "modularity" options that were discussed to attempt to emulate older editions. They weren't popular except for the people who were trying to inject a little older edition flavor to 5e. Most new DMs don't know or care, they play 5e straight. In that regard, it's wasted space in the DMG: a bunch of rules that few people used and the game ignored otherwise.

I liked them in theory...but I didn't really use them...

 

[Emerikol]

Nor do I. I have been playing D&D for almost 40 years and I have never kept time records, strict or otherwise! I believe all of my campaigns have been meaningful. So I feel like I am not understanding the question. Care to clarify @Cordwainer Fish ?

"records" may be a bad way of saying it but surely you keep track of time. How do you know it is getting dark or morning has arrived if the group is exploring along? If there is a race against the clock, how do you represent the clock ticking? I know in modern D&D the notion of spell durations has declined but in almost all other versions you had durations you had to track. It doesn't have to be super formal but I'd think in some manner it has to be done.

 

[TiQuinn]

"records" may be a bad way of saying it but surely you keep track of time. How do you know it is getting dark or morning has arrived if the group is exploring along? If there is a race against the clock, how do you represent the clock ticking? I know in modern D&D the notion of spell durations has declined but in almost all other versions you had durations you had to track. It doesn't have to be super formal but I'd think in some manner it has to be done.

Just In Time DMing.

You track time when it’s relevant to track time, otherwise it’s wasted energy.

 

[Emerikol]

I think that's a big factor in this. The DMG optional rules were part of the fabled "modularity" options that were discussed to attempt to emulate older editions. They weren't popular except for the people who were trying to inject a little older edition flavor to 5e. Most new DMs don't know or care, they play 5e straight. In that regard, it's wasted space in the DMG: a bunch of rules that few people used and the game ignored otherwise.

Well even if 50% are new, the other 50% aren't. It seems like it was a small amount of space to give something to players that play a certain way. Not that honestly we need it but it is nice to not be dismissed as one of the styles of play in D&D.

 

[dave2008]

and yet no one starting with 2024 will have them (at least unless / until they show up in a ‘of Everything’ book)

Sure, that is why I am hopeful we will get a UA/Xanthar/Tasha style book in the near future with variant rules. It may not happen, and I don't personally need it, but I hope they do it for those that do want it.

 

[darjr]

Not my video

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I think that's a big factor in this. The DMG optional rules were part of the fabled "modularity" options that were discussed to attempt to emulate older editions. They weren't popular except for the people who were trying to inject a little older edition flavor to 5e. Most new DMs don't know or care, they play 5e straight. In that regard, it's wasted space in the DMG: a bunch of rules that few people used and the game ignored otherwise.

Refers back to the observation that 50% of players have never played any other edition but 5e.