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

[Scribe]

What other options does it show? Not just allow, but show?

Based on the decrease in other variant rules, I think its pretty clear they tried to streamline and simplify the game with the new edition.

I wouldnt hold my breath until we start getting the next Xanathars/Tashas type books.

 

[tetrasodium]

Did they actually say that???

The video came first & said "frustrating for monsters" iirc, pretty sure it was during a bit about the fey warlock or fey sorcerer while talking about its ability to impose disadvantage for not attacking them while imposing disadvantage for being invisible while teleporting away or something. They later doubled down & decided to be explicit about it during a rogue writeup "Frustrating for Dungeon Masters but fantastic for your party".

 

[Emerikol]

Yes it can. Or rather the fear comes from the interesting part - the long term consequences. What it doesn't come from is the boring part - the consequences being a simple numerical change. If you were to e.g. have an Undead Marks of Corruption meter that only went one way or you e.g. recovered one point a year instead of level drain (and that might eventually have PCs half in this realm and half in the etherial realm before they die) they would be as scared and still talk about it.
<snip>

We don't agree on fun that is clear. I have a lot of people who like my gaming style and I like running it. I wish D&D supported us better but they don't. That is really the entire discussion. I'm one of those just saddened that new players of D&D aren't even given the chance at a style they'd probably like a lot better than yours. And some would like yours better no doubt. A matter of taste cannot be disputed.

 

[Neonchameleon]

They were clerics with powers. At first.

And to me setting logic and class fantasy, and especially fiction first, mechanics second, is very good for the game.

We're disagreeing on what the setting logic and class fantasy says. As I have repeatedly pointed out in the real world once a priest is sacramentally invested in at least some of the largest churches then that is done. And can't be revoked. And in the absence of actual magic I would expect things to be based on that.

As for fiction first, I don't want my fiction to say "You think we have a traitor in our Paladin order? Everyone down to the courtyard and we'll see who can no longer Lay On Hands." Or for that to be a sensible solution.

Yeah, I engage in this kind of kayfabe too.

Me three

What options does it present, other than the default you are so happy to advocate for because it happens to align with your preferences?

As mentioned it for example gives multiple approaches to worldbuilding including rolling your own and using one presented (which is Greyhawk in the DMG) and multiple approaches to session prep and goals. It does not however give all possible options.

You're claiming it doesn't do something when you haven't read it?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Then that comes down to just differing philosophical preferences.

I myself do not feel the need to help players who "just don't know any better". If the DM doesn't know of alternative ways of playing and the players do not know of alternative ways of playing, then they most likely will just play as the game is written. And I do not have an issue with that or find that to be a problem. The game works fine for new players. They can make do.

And I feel this way mainly because if this DM and table players decide at some point that they want something different than what is in the DMG... they can just go looking for alternatives themselves out there in Google Search Gameland and find many different possibilities, rather than rely on a singular variant rule they might get from the DMG had WotC printed any.

That's really my thing-- alternative rules in a DMG are going to be just as useless to a predominant number of tables as the new rule is going to be. So with the exception of that small handful of tables who might like that one alternative variant rule WotC could have included... most tables are going to end up going to Google Search Gameland anyway. So why get upset that we aren't helping that small handful when we couldn't care less about the other mass of the player base who isn't going to be helped by any variant rules? And on top of that... I think it is beneficial that these new DMs and players learn about what actually is out there in Google Search Gameland by having to so! There's so much awesome stuff out there to find that I think expecting them to go in that direction is in fact the better way to approach things.

If anyone needs a variant rule... they will find infinitely more and better rules via a Google Search than they would from a chapter devoted to it in the DMG.

(And before anyone asks "How will these players know to do a Google Search to find new rules?" Come on. Let's be serious. Let's have a little faith in the most obvious of choices we as humanity currently have to acquire new information.)

I just don't agree. I think a lot of folks (myself included) tend to be like water. They follow the path they're given even if another might suit them better, because they are not presented with options.

 

[Micah Sweet]

If the "DM as divine magic spigot" fiction is as inherently obvious as you seem to feel, players and DMs won't need an option in the DMG to know to implement it.

This just reads to me like an excuse to argue for fewer specific choices.

 

[mamba]

I assume players and DMs are always staying in contact about metagame concerns, if not at the table then outside the game session.

and I assume that if they discuss the arc, then the character being stripped of their powers by their god can easily be avoided

 

[TwoSix]

Apprecuate the embedded definition. I am concerned, however, that you are using that word because you want to show off you know it.

As I mentioned in the other locked thread, I use the first words that pop into my head, because translating the right word into a bunch of little words is a PITA. I attached the dictionary definition because I know it's a pretty unfamiliar word.

 

[TiQuinn]

The video came first & said "frustrating for monsters" iirc, pretty sure it was during a bit about the fey warlock or fey sorcerer while talking about its ability to impose disadvantage for not attacking them while imposing disadvantage for being invisible while teleporting away or something. They later doubled down & decided to be explicit about it during a rogue writeup "Frustrating for Dungeon Masters but fantastic for your party".

Is that actually in the DMG or is it rage bait?

 

[mamba]

It’s a possibility the earth is flat, but also wrong.

which is a contradiction, not an explanation