D&D (2024) Experienced DMs, how useful is the 2024 DMG to you?

[Emerikol]

Agreed. And for all I may disagree with just about everything you favour in D&D and think that it's a good thing that that mode of play was left largely in the 80s (when computers were starting to lever their advantage that way) as far as I can recall I've never thought your opinions weren't adding something to the conversation.

And for the record I can be scathing about 5e as well. A big part of how is because of how lukewarm it is; it's a compromise edition with almost all the rough edges filed off.

I find discussion with those who disagree far more interesting than just everyone high fiving each other all the time. So we agree on that 100%. I also agree 5e was likely a compromise edition with some rough edges filed off.

I also agree my playstyle started in the 80's (probably the 70's even). I won't agree that my playstyle has gone away or that no one likes to play as I do. I've never claimed it was the majority of people. I'm not sure it was the majority even in the 80's. In those days though the people deviating off the Gygaxian style were just wanting an easier game where they gained power super fast. I call it the Gygaxian style because I think it is the style he proposed. I think there are people inside that style though who vary on the amount of roleplaying they want. I'm probably on the more roleplaying than some. I don't want another miniatures wargame.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think it's totally fair to be part of the discussion with different opinions and insights.

It's just that the game isn't in the book, it's what happens at the table. When one opinion is influenced by their weekly game, and the other by experiences a decade ago, it's hard to take the latter seriously. Not saying that's the case, but does this make sense?

I feel the game is in the book just as much as it's at the table.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Maybe what we need are two books. One can be about table management and getting new DMs started. The second would be about serious world building, weather, city design, npc design, tons of random tables, etc etc etc. There is probably a market for both.

I would actually love this!

 

[Emerikol]

I would actually love this!

Maybe call it the campaign construction kit. Though that might be too limiting. I still have my wilderness survival guide book that I consider one of the best books of its time. I have "The Book of the Righteous". I actually have a lot of DMing books but it would be nice for WOTC to produce one really good book.

 

[Loren the GM]

I doubt many will run in Greyhawk, but some will. And what I consider it to be is a "worked example" of a homebrew setting and tying adventures to your setting.

Definitely. I think it is a great inclusion because of that. Just less relevant to me personally

 

[Oofta]

... What I'm NOT seeing, though maybe I've missed it, is an overarching table of magic items by rarity. Which I'm not happy about.

Have we ever had one? In any case, I decided I wanted one for myself so here you go.

Spoiler: Items by Rarity

Common
Armor of Gleaming
Bead of Nourishment
Bead of Refreshment
Candle of the Deep
Cast-Off Armor
Cloak of Billowing
Cloak of Many Fashions
Clothes of Mending
Dark Shard Amulet
Ear Horn of Hearing
Ersatz Eye
Hat of Vermin
Hat of Wizardry
Heward's Handy Spice Pouch
Horn of Silent Alarm
Instrument of Illusions
Instrument of Scribing
Lock of Trickery
Moon-Touched Sword
Orb of Direction
Orb of Time
Perfume of Bewitching
Pipe of Smoke Monsters
Pole of Angling
Pole of Collapsing
Pot of Awakening
Potion of Climbing
Potion of Comprehension
Potions of Healing
Prosthetic Limb
Rival Coin
Rope of Mending
Ruby of the War Mage
Shield of Expression
Silvered Weapon
Smoldering Armor
Spell Scroll (Cantrip, lvl 1)
Staff of Adornment
Staff of Birdcalls
Staff of Flowers
Sylvan Talon
Talking Doll
Veteran's Cane
Wand of Conducting
Wand of Pyrotechnics


Uncommon
Adamantine Armor
Adamantine Weapon
Alchemy Jug
Ammunition, +1
Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location
Baba Yaga's Dancing Broom
Bag of Holding
Bag of Tricks
Belt of Giant Strength(Hill)
Boomerang, +1
Boots of Elvenkind
Boots of Striding and Springing
Boots of the Winterlands
Bracers of Archery
Brooch of Shielding
Broom of Flying
Cap of Water Breathing
Circlet of Blasting
Cloak of Elvenkind
Cloak of Protection
Cloak of the Manta Ray
Decanter of Endless Water
Deck of Illusions
Driftglobe
Dust of Disappearance
Dust of Dryness
Dust of Sneezing and Choking
Elemental Gem
Eversmoking Bottle
Eyes of Charming
Eyes of Minute Seeing
Eyes of the Eagle
Figurine of Wondrous Power(see details)
Gauntlets of Ogre Power
Gem of Brightness
Gloves of Missile Snaring
Gloves of Swimming and Climbing
Gloves of Thievery
Goggles of Night
Hag Eye
Hat of Disguise
Headband of Intellect
Helm of Comprehending Languages
Helm of Telepathy
Horn of Valhalla(?)
Immovable Rod
Instrument of the Bards(see details)
Javelin of Lightning
Keoghtom's Ointment
Lantern of Revealing
Mariner's Armor
Medallion of Thoughts
Mithral Armor
Nature's Mantle
Necklace of Adaptation
Oil of Slipperiness
Pearl of Power
Periapt of Health
Periapt of Wound Closure
Philter of Love
Pipes of Haunting
Pipes of the Sewers
Potion of Animal Friendship
Potion of Fire Breath
Potion of Giant Strength(Hill)
Potion of Growth
Potion of Poison
Potion of Pugilism
Potion of Resistance
Potion of Water Breathing
Potions of HealingCommon
Quiver of Ehlonna
Ring of Jumping
Ring of Mind Shielding
Ring of Swimming
Ring of Warmth
Ring of Water Walking
Robe of Useful Items
Rod of the Pact Keeper(+1)
Rope of Climbing
Saddle of the Cavalier
Sending Stones
Sending Stones
Sentinel Shield
Shield, +1
Slippers of Spider Climbing
Spell Scroll (lvl 2, 3)
Staff of the Adder
Staff of the Python
Stone of Good Luck (Luckstone)
Sword of Vengeance
Trident of Fish Command
Wand of Magic Detection
Wand of Magic Missile
Wand of Secrets
Wand of Web
Wand of the War Mage(+1)
Weapon of Warning
Weapon, +1
Wind Fan
Winged Boots
Wraps of Unarmed Power(+1)



Rare
Ammunition, +2
Amulet of Health
Armor of Resistance
Armor of Vulnerability
Armor, +1
Arrow-Catching Shield
Bag of Beans
Bead of Force
Belt of Dwarvenkind
Belt of Giant Strength(Frost, Stone, Fire)
Berserker Axe
Boomerang, +2
Boots of Levitation
Boots of Speed
Bowl of Commanding Water Elementals
Bracers of Defense
Brazier of Commanding Fire Elementals
Cape of the Mountebank
Censer of Controlling Air Elementals
Chime of Opening
Cloak of Displacement
Cloak of the Bat
Cube of Force
Cube of Summoning
Daern's Instant Fortress
Dagger of Venom
Dimensional Shackles
Dragon Slayer
Elixir of Health
Elven Chain
Figurine of Wondrous Power(see details)
Flame Tongue
Folding Boat
Gem of Seeing
Giant Slayer
Glamoured Studded Leather
Helm of Teleportation
Heward's Handy Haversack
Horn of Blasting
Horn of Valhalla(?)
Horseshoes of Speed
Instrument of the Bards(see details)
Ioun Stone(see details)
Iron Bands of Bilarro
Mace of Disruption
Mace of Smiting
Mace of Terror
Mantle of Spell Resistance
Master's Amulet
Necklace of Fireballs
Necklace of Prayer Beads
Oil of Etherealness
Periapt of Proof against Poison
Portable Hole
Potion of Clairvoyance
Potion of Diminution
Potion of Gaseous Form
Potion of Giant Strength(Frost, Stone, Fire)
Potion of Heroism
Potion of Invisibility
Potion of Invulnerability
Potion of Mind Reading
Potions of HealingCommon
Quaal's Feather Token(see details)
Ring of Animal Influence
Ring of Evasion
Ring of Feather Falling
Ring of Free Action
Ring of Protection
Ring of Resistance
Ring of Spell Storing
Ring of X-ray Vision
Ring of the Ram
Robe of Eyes
Rod of Rulership
Rod of the Pact Keeper(+2)
Rope of Entanglement
Scroll of Protection
Shield of Missile Attraction
Shield, +2
Spell Scroll (lvl 4, 5)
Staff of Charming
Staff of Healing
Staff of Swarming Insects
Staff of Withering
Staff of the Woodlands
Stone of Controlling Earth Elementals
Sun Blade
Sword of Life Stealing
Sword of Wounding
Tentacle Rod
Vicious Weapon
Wand of Binding
Wand of Enemy Detection
Wand of Fear
Wand of Fireballs
Wand of Lightning Bolts
Wand of Paralysis
Wand of Wonder
Wand of the War Mage(+2)
Weapon, +2
Wings of Flying
Wraps of Unarmed Power(+2)



Very Rare
Ammunition of Slaying
Ammunition, +3
Amulet of the Planes
Animated Shield
Armor, +2
Bag of Devouring
Belt of Giant Strength(Cloud, Stone)
Boomerang, +3
Candle of Invocation
Carpet of Flying
Cauldron of Rebirth
Cloak of Arachnida
Crystal Ball
Dancing Sword
Demon Armor
Dragon Scale Mail
Dwarven Plate
Dwarven Thrower
Efreeti Bottle
Energy Bow
Executioner's Axe
Figurine of Wondrous Power(see details)
Frost Brand
Helm of Brilliance
Horn of Valhalla(?)
Horseshoes of a Zephyr
Instrument of the Bards(see details)
Ioun Stone(see details)
Ioun Stone(see details)
Lute of Thunderous Thumping
Manual of Bodily Health
Manual of Gainful Exercise
Manual of Golems
Manual of Quickness of Action
Mirror of Life Trapping
Nine Lives Stealer
Nolzur's Marvelous Pigments
Oathbow
Oil of Sharpness
Potion of Flying
Potion of Giant Strength(Cloud, Stone)
Potion of Greater Invisibility
Potion of Longevity
Potion of Speed
Potion of Vitality
Potions of HealingCommon
Quaal's Feather Token(see details)
Quarterstaff of the Acrobat
Ring of Regeneration
Ring of Shooting Stars
Ring of Telekinesis
Robe of Scintillating Colors
Robe of Stars
Rod of Absorption
Rod of Alertness
Rod of Security
Rod of the Pact Keeper(+3)
Scimitar of Speed
Shield of the Cavalier
Shield, +3
Spell Scroll (lvl 6, 7, 8)
Spellguard Shield
Spirit Board
Staff of Fire
Staff of Frost
Staff of Power
Staff of Striking
Staff of Thunder and Lightning
Sword of Sharpness
Thunderous Greatclub
Tome of Clear Thought
Tome of Leadership and Influence
Tome of Understanding
Wand of Polymorph
Wand of the War Mage(+3)
Weapon, +3
Wraps of Unarmed Power(+3)



Legendary
Apparatus of Kwalish
Armor of Invulnerability
Armor, +3
Belt of Giant Strength(Storm)
Cloak of Invisibility
Cloak of Invisibility
Crystal Ball of Mind Reading
Crystal Ball of Telepathy
Crystal Ball of True Seeing
Cubic Gate
Deck of Many Things
Defender
Efreeti Chain
Hammer of Thunderbolts
Holy Avenger
Instrument of the Bards(see details)
Iron Flask
Luck Blade
Moonblade
Plate Armor of Etherealness
Potion of Giant Strength(Storm)
Ring of Djinni Summoning
Ring of Elemental Command
Ring of Invisibility
Ring of Spell Turning
Ring of Three Wishes
Robe of the Archmagi
Rod of Lordly Might
Rod of Resurrection
Scarab of Protection
Scroll of Titan Summoning
Sovereign Glue
Spell Scroll (lvl 9)
Sphere of Annihilation
Staff of the Magi
Sword of Answering
Talisman of Pure Good
Talisman of Ultimate Evil
Talisman of the Sphere
Tome of the Stilled Tongue
Universal Solvent
Vorpal Sword
Well of Many Worlds

Artifact
Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
Blackrazor
Book of Exalted Deeds
Book of Vile Darkness
Demonomicon of Iggwilv
Eye and Hand of Vecna
Orb of Dragonkind
Sword of Kas
Wand of Orcus
Wave
Whelm

 

[Oofta]

Again, don't play D&D 5e. I play 5e games all the time.

But you don't play D&D (2024), correct? Which is the thread category and why you get pushback.

 

[Micah Sweet]

But you don't play D&D (2024), correct? Which is the thread category and why you get pushback.

Fair enough. I just don't like being characterized as hating 5e when that's the wrong term.

 

[Oofta]

Maybe call it the campaign construction kit. Though that might be too limiting. I still have my wilderness survival guide book that I consider one of the best books of its time. I have "The Book of the Righteous". I actually have a lot of DMing books but it would be nice for WOTC to produce one really good book.

Previous editions of the game had some interesting splat books, they also had what seemed like a lot of filler books that likely didn't justify their development cost. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference because a relative handful of people will always want more. I don't blame WotC for recognizing that the book of the month club they tried for a while with 4E simply isn't sustainable or profitable in the long run. I don't know where the happy balance would be.

P.S. in my previous post I was referring to a generic "you", people that fall into a certain category. It was not necessarily you specifically. Sorry it wasn't clear.

 

[Laurefindel]

Since updated rules for downtime and crafting in Xanathar, I don’t think I even opened it. I read it through and trough when I first got it, used it a bit for magic items. It was definitely a useful book but it lost its relevance as more and more supplements got published.