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I am between salient and extensive. I feel the best campaigns I have been a part of had the DM complete "extensive detail" on their campaign setting, be it area, region, or world. Then used salient detail to prep for the actual adventure. With this mixture, improv times become more adhesive to...

I think a lot of campaigns start off this way. A singular, and hopefully, very specific planned encounter that helps incorporate mood, tone, and setting. Heck, as there are often little quests inside the primary story arc, I think several of them start off the same way too. Of course, this can...

While I agree with this sentiment, there is another side to this. Yes, the information is organized clearly. Yes, the examples are clear and concise. And yes, they changed the language in the book to read like a YA novel. The last part, the lower vocabulary and fewer use of compound and...

Ah... I really like the thought of the illusionist. Such a neat idea. But, I think the way newer editions are set up, the wizard's net catches most of what is cool about the "idea" of an illusionist. Also, the illusionist tends to have it Venn Diagram intersect with psionics as well.

On a similar note, I can tell you that several years ago my friend and I were in a random pub in the Northwest. We happened to be sitting next to a very popular (at the time) DM and well-known player for a D&D podcast. For two hours we listened to them discuss "how to introduce a magical item"...

I have not had a chance to read it in its entirety. But my initial takeaways are: The examples of play in the beginning (and the order of the book) seem more cohesive. It seems like it is written for a younger audience. Rule explanations are clear and concise, yet are sometimes separated by...

I 100% agree. I find it impossible to understand the bolded lines. But then I think about all the DMs I have chatted with (played with a few times). And this is what comes to my mind: They don't write an adventure - they outline. In effect, they basically improv their way through most of the...

Ah, ok. Branding would be good. It would actually be really nice if WotC published more "modules," similar to their old sets. I doubt it's financially responsible as a company, but I think it teaches young/inexperienced DMs much better than trying to play through a yearlong AP. Side not, I ran...

Thank you. I have Rime, and now that you mention it, that would be a great addition!

Almost all adventures from WotC have a section titled, "Running the Adventure." They also have flow charts, a section on how to use the maps, and how to tailor it to your table. Can you give an example of what is missing? (Thanks in advance for your answer. I am genuinely curious as to what else...

By the second session? How long are your sessions? (Or were you just using a bit of hyperbole to demonstrate your table's playstyle.) Maybe they mean that they edit as they play the adventure. I know our DM does that; editing as we go and incorporating NPCs we grew attached to or loathe into...

That... is... madness!

I buy adventures purely for inspiration. I like to read NPC motives, see the layout of encounters, and read the plot development along with its hooks. That said, I disagree with your statement about it getting easier. It gets easier to create, yes. But to write, not necessarily. Even for...

I can agree with everything you're saying except the first part. It is obvious to everyone that these two things have similarities. I mean, maybe, if you have never seen a movie or TV show and don't understand anything or have never heard about film, then it's possible those people are out of...

I honestly don't believe that. People can see both sides, it's just that some lean on one side or the other a bit more. That is one of the reasons forums get filled with discussions like these, people are trying to find the line of demarcation. Sometimes they are trying to convince others where...

Isn't it obvious to everyone that a GM shares things in common with a director and author, but is also neither of those things?

I would argue it is players always wanting more/stronger classes. That's it. If the ranger suddenly had one or two powers that made it extremely strong, like a fireball arrow and time-slow arrow at level 3 and 5 respectively, everyone would be praising the ranger. Except of course new DMs, who...

In my own campaign world, I have a tendency to use food as an obvious cultural reference; based on ecology and trade/desire. But, I also use alcohol as a cultural litmus test. Even little songs or toasts associated with drinks or shots or a bite to eat are very common in my prep for a culture...

I am sorry tetrasodium. I am a bit confused by your post. I will try to answer the best I can, but if I come across naive or misinterpreted, please know I was answering in good faith. I split the two posts simply because I realized, after having typed my first explanation and posting, that...

Remember how great 4e was? And the lore - fantastic! ;) (In all seriousness, I did have fun playing 4e. I know others didn't, but I enjoyed it.)