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  1. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Can my table focus on making things fun instead of optimizing?

    Steps one and two are infested with metagame. And you didn't even come up with a whole paragraph for step three. So you're right, it IS simple. And that's the problem. But whatever floats your boat, dude. I do understand how a DM might get sick of it, though. Too bad you can't. It might...
  2. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Can my table focus on making things fun instead of optimizing?

    That's actually not true, particularly of real world snipers. Some were avid hunters and the like, but many didn't discover they were talented in this way until after joining the military. People aren't born knowing their talents, and many go their whole lives without really feeling awesome at...
  3. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Can my table focus on making things fun instead of optimizing?

    Seems like someone who didn't know there was a character optimization metagame going on might not always make the optimal choice. Or perhaps you are saying your character's development is not guided by choices your character would actually make? What are you saying, exactly?
  4. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Can my table focus on making things fun instead of optimizing?

    How Does Your Character Know? For example, how does your character know that he'll need to provide his own magic weapon? And going back a step, how does he know that he will even require one? Leave it rhetorical if you'd like, because I'm guessing there's no graceful answer here.
  5. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Can my table focus on making things fun instead of optimizing?

    I want to take my theory to the OP. jodyjohnson would you agree or disagree that your players have metagamed away anything interesting about their characters? Do you think this is an apt description for how you feel?
  6. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) DMG excerpt: random magic item tables

    I'm actually a little miffed. There's no yellow. How do you mix colors with green where yellow should be?? :)
  7. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Can my table focus on making things fun instead of optimizing?

    Why does your character know he is in a game, so he can make his life choices accordingly? Is it like the Matrix? Or trained in some Hunger Games style fashion? Or how do you explain it? What is the in-game explanation for your metagaming? Because that's what we're really talking about...
  8. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Can my table focus on making things fun instead of optimizing?

    So many great subtopics... but must be brief. Notes - Yes, very. Go get those little 50 cent spiral pocket notebooks and have each player keep their own up to date. Have them turn them in each night, and award minor perks for participating (as above). The added bonus of being able to go...
  9. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) If you aren't buying magic items, where will you spend your gold?

    I also like the broker approach, but could also see elite shops in very large cities. Though I picture them as invitation only type galleries. I also think investing in a community or shipping company is a good way to go about a general money sink. Not sure about rules for any of that, though.
  10. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) If you aren't buying magic items, where will you spend your gold?

    The problem with making monster parts treasure is that the party will start collecting parts off of all the monsters. It gets a bit dark when they start lobbying for darkvision goggles made from Drow eyes, for example. This is also why you never put magic items in monster stomachs - and yes...
  11. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) DMs: How Do You Handle Metagaming?

    Ask whether the player believes the character would have that knowledge, and if so how. If the character has any plausible link in its back story, let it slide. If not ask for a Knowledge roll or similar. If that fails, simply remind the player that the character doesn't seem to know yet...
  12. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Firearms, Explosives and You

    Yep. If all your wizard is good at is damage, then that fighter is already better without the guns.
  13. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Living Rules System?

    Since they have also stated that they hope to get at least a decade of mileage out of this edition, I'd assume that reprints are inevitable.
  14. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 7 Legitimate Beefs with Hoard of the Dragon Queen

    I'm glad you like it. I didn't miss your post, I just found someone else to reply to who said basically the same thing.
  15. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Published Adventures: Yea or Nay?

    Very true. This can be pretty awesome when the adventure is widely known enough. Talking about your home game typically goes the other direction, IME. For this reason I often read adventures that I doubt I'll ever run.
  16. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Magic Item Purchasing is in the DMG

    I would expect those guidelines to be along the same lines as his advice in that same AMA. " The key for me as DM is to avoid giving the players a blank check - for magic items, I'd have them create a list of ones they want to buy, then incorporate that into the game as a key event (someone...
  17. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 7 Legitimate Beefs with Hoard of the Dragon Queen

    I get that, and have considered it. But Occam points me towards 'because someone thought a flying castle was a cool way to complete the superfluous treasure loop'. Imagine the genesis here. Did the Cult approach him? If so, why? Or did he show up with his castle, all like "so I see you...
  18. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Published Adventures: Yea or Nay?

    I like them, and always have. For 5e's staggered release they especially make sense because you don't have all the rules yet. Treasure alotment for example. I also take pride in extending/enhancing/customizing them for my group.
  19. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) 7 Legitimate Beefs with Hoard of the Dragon Queen

    So if he can't personally be there, Tiamat would no longer be a cause worthy for the Giants to fight? Why does he believe such a falacy?
  20. mcbobbo

    D&D 5E (2014) Dungeonscape no more?

    I think this gets less true as you zoom out. If DS is the one and only digital offering, for example, it would be a much bigger deal. I personally haven't heard of any other plans, and I was served the kool-aid about how it was the only digital tool anyone would ever need. So I hope you're...
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