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Yeah, that's basically why I loved 4e. What I want is a challenging game with a strong/fun mechanical focus, with a thematic focus on group storytelling rather than creating a consistent fantasy physics simulator. What I like may not be totally coherent, but I loved it when I got it. :) I...

Yeah, hopefully I haven't actually come out and said that 5e is objectively bad. I'm not an edition warrior, and I don't think it's objectively bad. I strongly prefer 4e, but it's also perfectly reasonable to strongly prefer 5e. I've had an edition that is probably as close to perfect for me...

Yep, that's what I like about D&D. I'm a programmer by trade. There's nothing I enjoy more than taking a bunch of numbers, variables, equations, and formulas, and creating something with them. There's a certain beauty to it, and I consider it a form of art. As a result, I tend to know the...

I agree with you there. If I wasn't having fun in 5e I wouldn't be playing it. I had alot more fun in 4e, but 5e is better than no D&D. I consider 5e to be way better than 2e, and I played tonnes of 2e back in the day. My "Not sure why I'm here" and associated frustrations is more...

Kindof. Traditionally, the Dungeon Master has been both the referee and the storyteller. My belief is despite the fact it's the way we've always done it, it may not be the only or best way to do it. Such a coup doesn't work, in that the DM isn't going to be forced into DMing a way he doesn't...

I'm probably in the middle when it comes to Big Story vs Big Challenge. I actually really want both from D&D, and I'm not sold on the idea that these are actually competing desires. I'm definitely in favor of DM Light though. When the DM is empowered to change, ignore, and make up rules on a...

You'd be correct there. 5e is most definitely not designed for the playstyle I prefer. Trying to make it work is the same as trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole. Not sure why I'm even bothering with this topic, TBH. Perhaps expressing my frustrations now will somehow lead to a 6e...

Yeah, I think personal experience has alot to do with this. Some people's perspective is that they've been running the same campaign for 30 years, with people cycling in and out every year or two, often complete newbies. My experience is that I've been playing off and on for 25 years, moving...

Right, I'm proposing(and I think shoak1 is too) that you shouldn't -have- to become DM to address that problem. There are other ways than replacing the old tyrant with a new(theoretically benevolent) tyrant.

That's actually kindof unfortunate. I find that the game runs more smoothly and enjoyably for everybody(including the DM) when the players are ultra dedicated and knowledgeable about the game. Co-DMs are a thing that should probably be done more, especially in large groups. Have one person...

And all I'm asking for is for people to ponder whether "story teller" and "rules adjudicator" should always be the same person. :)

Sometimes it works. Other times it doesn't. Other times the DM actually -is- the member of the group who's most knowledgeable about the rules. The DMs who react most negatively to the concept that somebody understands the rules better than they do are DMs I don't want to be playing under...

Why was it decided that the person telling the story is also the one running the game? Telling a good story and having a good understanding of game mechanics are two different skillsets. I don't believe this needs to be the same person.

Sure, tell your players that you just don't trust them to know how the game works and you should handle it for them. See what I did there? Why exactly did we decide that the DM is allowed to do that, and not the players?

I'm not sure I want the DM making the house rules either, if he's not the most knowledgeable about the rules. He can handle design, leave development up to the rules guy, if that makes sense? As far as why the DM is often not the most knowledgeable about the rules, it's because he has to...

If I'm understanding shoak1 correctly, I share similar preferences. Light DM is more important to me than Big Challenge though. I've often questioned the need for a rules adjudicator over the years. The more well designed the system is, the less adjudication should be necessary. But, if we...

This is kindof a meta question for character building, rather than a question for a specific build. I know this is fairly variable group to group, but how many rounds would you say the average 5e fight lasts? I'm only a few sessions in so far, and the average fight duration for me seems to be...

TBH, this guy sounds alot like me. He's created a murder machine that annihilates in combat. But he's also into rp. Considering he's a rogue, he quite likely is quite well equipped for the exploration pillar, and it's fairly likely he carved out some sort of social niche as well(deception...

If you've got something like a Sentinel using fighter, no, they might not be able to move. If you've got a pair of tanks, the enemy is going to eat a pair of opportunity attacks to get to you. If a monster eats two attacks to chase me, I feel pretty good about that. You don't get to put out...

Also, Deflect Missiles.