D&D 5E Question for folks who use D&D Beyond: How well does it work with the new rules?

[Clint_L]

DDB is not perfect, but I find it to be an invaluable tool for running my campaigns both in the time it saves me in prep and in facilitating a game that flows in session. Maps has been an absolute game changer for me in both of those areas as well, effectively cutting my prep time in half from Roll20 (perhaps more) and also allowing me to be far more creative on the fly when players throw a curveball.

This is my bottom line, as well. Particularly with D&D Club, where it is 90 minute sessions with mostly novice players, DDB is a massive time saver for me, between maps, the encounter builder, and the interactive character sheets.

 

[R_J_K75]

I mean you're not wrong... but who are these DMs that have decided on only allowing specific products for their particular game but then letting their inexperienced players go in to make PCs under no supervision whatsoever? That just seems rather sill on the DM's part, LOL!

I will say though that there is a way to get around one of the issues you mentioned about having to go in after characters are created to turn off certain sources. A workaround is that the DM can themselves create "characters" first inside their campaign page... going in and flipping all the switches they want on the first page of the builder for what sources to be used, enable dice rolling, which way ability scores get shown, pre-requisites, ignore coin weight etc. and then just not filling in any other character details except for like a generic name like 'Character 1', 'Character 2' etc. And then leave these "characters" 'unclaimed' on the campaign page... thus allowing the players who receive the link to the campaign via email to come into the DDB campaign page and 'claim' a character... and then can go in and start making feature selections with all the applicable things the DM wanted already in place.

Not a bad idea, but I have found two things. The first being, players think that "it's just a program, how hard can it be, I'll figure it out". They then make assumptions about the program that aren't true. Second, because of the first, they can't be bothered to take an hour outside of game time to sit down with the DM to make a PC. I sent out a text detailing in depth what should be selected and what should be unselected on the first page in D&DB when creating a PC. You'd think that would have been enough but nope, I had a player who created/revised their PC 3 or 4 times because they couldn't follow simple instructions and ended up with 2014 Ranger... 4 times. He eventually just created a new PC. I threw my arms up in air, shaking my head. In the end I don't care what they play anymore. Hell, all of my players couldn't even equip their equipment, and/or select and prepare their spells. You'd think that they would download their PC and review their sheet before the game and realize they don't have weapons and armor equipped, no spells, etc. I had to go into their characters and toggle all this stuff on, text players to tell them they need to select spells, etc.

 

[Bae'zel]

Not sure if it's been mentioned already, but in DDB, a Warlock cannot pick which cantrip they want to use with Invocations such as Agonizing Blast. For the time being you're stuck with the old way (Eldtrich Blast).

 

[DEFCON 1]

Not a bad idea, but I have found two things. The first being, players think that "it's just a program, how hard can it be, I'll figure it out". They then make assumptions about the program that aren't true. Second, because of the first, they can't be bothered to take an hour outside of game time to sit down with the DM to make a PC. I sent out a text detailing in depth what should be selected and what should be unselected on the first page in D&DB when creating a PC. You'd think that would have been enough but nope, I had a player who created/revised their PC 3 or 4 times because they couldn't follow simple instructions and ended up with 2014 Ranger... 4 times. He eventually just created a new PC. I threw my arms up in air, shaking my head. In the end I don't care what they play anymore. Hell, all of my players couldn't even equip their equipment, and/or select and prepare their spells. You'd think that they would download their PC and review their sheet before the game and realize they don't have weapons and armor equipped, no spells, etc. I had to go into their characters and toggle all this stuff on, text players to tell them they need to select spells, etc.

Heh heh... well that just proves a very salient point-- there is no way to make something so simple that everyone will be able to use it correctly. Screwing something up always finds a way!

My wife runs into this all the time at her work where she gets very detailed in her emails to co-workers on things she needs to see done... and invariably, despite the instructions getting written out step-by-step... there's always a few who just don't bother reading the email and instructions and completely botch it. And this occurs despite no matter how many times she tells them to just read the damn email, LOL.

It's part of the reason why I just shrug my shoulders when some folks complain about parts of D&D not being designed "newb friendly". The simple fact being that there will always be people who screw it up regardless of how much WotC or anyone tries to hold their hand. So it never bothers me when in a lot of cases they design towards the median in terms of player experience rather than always to the new player. Yes, it means sometimes the DM or the other experienced players might have to spend a little extra time helping them out rather than relying on WotC to do all the work for them... but as they are going to have to do that anyway just to teach the game, it's not exactly a big ask in my view.

 

[R_J_K75]

Heh heh... well that just proves a very salient point-- there is no way to make something so simple that everyone will be able to use it correctly.

I think this has been a long time coming, going all the way back to the 2E Core Rules program. I think more and more players are using character creation programs as a substitute for actually reading the rules. They can't even identify when something isn't right with their character.

there's always a few who just don't bother reading the email and instructions.

I come to the conclusion that they didn't even read the text I sent them, maybe at the least skimmed it but I doubt they even did that.

It's part of the reason why I just shrug my shoulders when some folks complain about parts of D&D not being designed "newb friendly". The simple fact being that there will always be people who screw it up regardless of how much WotC or anyone tries to hold their hand. So it never bothers me when in a lot of cases they design towards the median in terms of player experience rather than always to the new player.

If I get a new player, I'll help them out for the first few sessions, making their first PC, but after 3-4 games it's their responsibility to take initiative and read the rules at least what applies to their character, general combat and skills. It's not fair for players to expect the DM to learn and memorize all the rules.

 

[AlViking]

I think this has been a long time coming, going all the way back to the 2E Core Rules program. I think more and more players are using character creation programs as a substitute for actually reading the rules. They can't even identify when something isn't right with their character.

I come to the conclusion that they didn't even read the text I sent them, maybe at the least skimmed it but I doubt they even did that.

If I get a new player, I'll help them out for the first few sessions, making their first PC, but after 3-4 games it's their responsibility to take initiative and read the rules at least what applies to their character, general combat and skills. It's not fair for players to expect the DM to learn and memorize all the rules.

A great example of not understanding the game is the players on Critical Role. How many times has Matt had to explain how even basic things work? I don't expect them to understand all the rules of the game, but good grief, the least you could do would be read the section on your chosen character class and their spells.

Sadly it's not just limited to them. I still have to correct one of my players about how sneak attack works, sometimes more than once in a single session. Then again this is the guy that refuses to use Steady Aim even when he doesn't move on his turn and won't get sneak attack without it. Then I have the player who runs a druid and the only thing she really uses of her abilities is to occasionally shapechange. In the first campaign I made a pregen champion fighter because it was simple but this time she wanted to play a druid. A druid that never casts a spell other than shillelagh so she can hit things. Unless she's shapechanged so she's better at hitting things.

You can lead a horse to water but even if you explain how to do it you can't get them to drink.

 

[R_J_K75]

A great example of not understanding the game is the players on Critical Role. How many times has Matt had to explain how even basic things work?

Never watched an episode that I recall, maybe a few minutes of one but that was all I could stand. You would think that as these people are making money from this podcast, that they'd all be well versed in the rules within reason.

Sadly it's not just limited to them. I still have to correct one of my players about how sneak attack works, sometimes more than once in a single session.

There are certain rules over the years from various editions that no matter how many times I read them, in practice at the table I still have to look them up or just wing it. Usually the latter.

Then I have the player who runs a druid and the only thing she really uses of her abilities is to occasionally shapechange.

A druid that never casts a spell other than shillelagh so she can hit things. Unless she's shapechanged so she's better at hitting things.

I'm not one of those players when I get the opportunity to play that falls into a routine, at least I try not to. I think some players are just content to learn the very basics of their PC and just go with the flow. I think with the popularity of 5E for a lot of people it has become more about getting together with friends and socializing rather than the actual game. Most of the people Ive played with in the last 10 years just want to show up and play and don't really put any time in outside of that, like we did when we were younger. Even my groups game is casual at best most sessions.

 

[AlViking]

Never watched an episode that I recall, maybe a few minutes of one but that was all I could stand. You would think that as these people are making money from this podcast, that they'd all be well versed in the rules within reason.

There are certain rules over the years from various editions that no matter how many times I read them, in practice at the table I still have to look them up or just wing it. Usually the latter.


I'm not one of those players when I get the opportunity to play that falls into a routine, at least I try not to. I think some players are just content to learn the very basics of their PC and just go with the flow. I think with the popularity of 5E for a lot of people it has become more about getting together with friends and socializing rather than the actual game. Most of the people Ive played with in the last 10 years just want to show up and play and don't really put any time in outside of that, like we did when we were younger. Even my groups game is casual at best most sessions.

I may vent occasionally to my wife about some of the issues, it's not my job to tell people how to play. I just have to shrug and adjust my encounters to their skill level even if I sometimes want to ask why they're running a druid that never casts spells.

 

[R_J_K75]

I just have to shrug and adjust my encounters to their skill level even if I sometimes want to ask why they're running a druid that never casts spells.

I had a player a few years back playing a rogue and every round all he ever did was use (or try to) cunning action. It was so bad that anytime his turn came up we stopped asking what he was gonna do and just assumed..."Cunning Action". Funniest part was that after the first game or two when I actually read what it did, he had bastardized its use so bad it was no longer recognizable from the printed text in the PHB.

 

[AlViking]

I had a player a few years back playing a rogue and every round all he ever did was use (or try to) cunning action. It was so bad that anytime his turn came up we stopped asking what he was gonna do and just assumed..."Cunning Action". Funniest part was that after the first game or two when I actually read what it did, he had bastardized its use so bad it was no longer recognizable from the printed text in the PHB.

Don't get me started on people that "misinterpreted" a rule into something unrecognizable. It's one thing to get something slightly wrong and it's something we all likely do now and then but I've seen some doozies that don't even resemble the rules. I give people the benefit of the doubt but I never know how much of it is unintentional and how much is just straight up cheating.