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

[Micah Sweet]

What do you mean by that bold bit? Not taking sides in this, but I couldn't get a solid grip on it by going back a couple posts in the chain.

I said that I think the game is as much in the books as at the table. @Sulicius responded with the non sequitor (IMO) of asking if I've read the 5.5 books yet. I responded as I did because I don't feel the 5.5 books change my initial statement about the game being in the books and at the table from where it stands in the 5.0 core (ie., the game is still in both places), so whether or not I've read them doesn't change anything vis a vis my earlier statement.

 

[abirdcall]

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

That's great. I think I will make them d100 lists and then print it off.

 

[Demetrios1453]

I pretty much stop reading any thread that goes past 10 pages, because that's how long it takes to get derailed into the same interminable arguments with the same small handful of people. People who, as you say, hate 5e and only stick around to loudly remind everyone else of that fact in Every. Single. Thread. about a new book. Arguments where nothing new is ever said and no one's position ever shifts.

The Ignore feature only helps so much when every post I do see is people beating their heads on a brick wall trying to argue against invisible comments. Seriously now. If people aren't going to use the Ignore feature, maybe at least exercise some self-control and don't bite on the same bait every thread. It benefits no one and produces no productive conversation.

Yeah, I wish that everyone else would just agree to simply disengage completely with them.

Just. Don't. Respond. To. Them.

However tempting the bait may be.

(And I see the post directly above this one has done just that)

This is not to say to do that for everyone who has complaints about 5e or the 2024 revisions. Those are, in the vast majority of cases, perfectly valid views and can lead to interesting and useful discussions. Even completely negative viewpoints are fine when done with restraint. This is just for the handful of posters whose sole purpose on this forum seems to be writing nothing but posts that yuck everyone's yum, over and over and over again.

 

[Zaukrie]

Yeah, I wish that everyone else would just agree to simply disengage completely with them.

Just. Don't. Respond. To. Them.

However tempting the bait may be.

(And I see the post directly above this one has done just that)

This is not to say to do that for everyone who has complaints about 5e or the 2024 revisions. Those are, in the vast majority of cases, perfectly valid views and can lead to interesting and useful discussions. Even completely negative viewpoints are fine when done with restraint. This is just for the handful of posters whose sole purpose on this forum seems to be writing nothing but posts that yuck everyone's yum, over and over and over again.

Preach

 

[Sulicius]

Yeah, I wish that everyone else would just agree to simply disengage completely with them.

Just. Don't. Respond. To. Them.

However tempting the bait may be.

(And I see the post directly above this one has done just that)

This is not to say to do that for everyone who has complaints about 5e or the 2024 revisions. Those are, in the vast majority of cases, perfectly valid views and can lead to interesting and useful discussions. Even completely negative viewpoints are fine when done with restraint. This is just for the handful of posters whose sole purpose on this forum seems to be writing nothing but posts that yuck everyone's yum, over and over and over again.

I just really disliked being confused when I ignore someone. But lesson learnt, you're right.

 

[Demetrios1453]

I just really disliked being confused when I ignore someone. But lesson learnt, you're right.

Remember, both the mobile and desktop versions of this site allow you to view posts by ignored members, so you can just click on that if you're that tempted.

 

[Remathilis]

I haven't read it either but I think from the vast number of threads we could at least infer a lot of information about it. Do we really have to buy it to make any comment about it? Should he have said, "based on what I've heard and read, I don't believe it will be a book I will use very often?" Maybe but I think you're being pedantic.

I have never seen any of the Star Trek movies, but based on what I've seen on the Internet, I can confidently say over 50% of them are terrible. Fans hate them, they never won any awards. I feel confident I don't need to watch any of them to have this opinion.

 

[MerricB]

I find it a profoundly disappointing book. It's not that it's all bad - but a lot of it is superficial, and I feel the style is incredibly handwavy. There's stuff I think is fantastic and I turn the page hoping for a continuation of this usefulness, only to be disappointed.

The stuff on chases, for instance. Let's reprint the (not working) rules from the 2014 rules, and include fewer options!

But it has a section on reactive tactics - on having monsters react to what the players do rather than just stand there waiting to be slaughtered! Cool! That's what I want!

But then I turn to the section on designing dungeon adventures and... there isn't one. In fact, the section on designing adventures seems the most underwritten in the book. Lots of handwaving, a few good bits of advice, but the lack of a strong core about adventure structure or even what a dungeon adventure is.

For an experienced DM - sure, you'll be fine. Though the book lacks a lot of the resources found in the 2014 DMG for stocking dungeons (many of which were reprinted from the 1E DMG - for good reason!)

As a DMG that was intended to introduce new DMs to the game - which I heard a few times was the intent - I think it's passable on running the game (some good and bad advice), but often very bad at preparing for the game and designing adventures.

 

[MerricB]

I have a lot of (mostly stylistic) problems with "So You Want To Be a Games Master" by Justin Alexander, but just at the moment I'd give it to a new DM who wants to run & design adventures over the DMG 2024.

There's stuff that the new DMG does it should be commended for, but I don't come out of it feeling that it provides solid advice and examples on designing or running dungeon or wilderness adventures.

 

[Kurotowa]

I have never seen any of the Star Trek movies, but based on what I've seen on the Internet, I can confidently say over 50% of them are terrible. Fans hate them, they never won any awards. I feel confident I don't need to watch any of them to have this opinion.

I find that reviews are nearly useless if I try to skip to the tl;dr final score or "good/bad" stamp. I have to read the full review, get a sense for what the reviewer's taste are and how they compare to mine, and pick out the specific good or bad points cited and measure how important those are to me. Often I'll watch or read something and then look at reviews after the fact, trying to pick out reviewers whose take was similar to my own and noting them as more reliable sources for the future.

Objectives measures of quality rarely come up unless something is at one of the extreme ends of the scale. Most of the time, the real question is "Does this match my personal tastes?" and reviews are just a data source that has to be analyzed to get that answer.