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I don't think the people who want instruction/s in the DMG are arguing for any "one true right way." When one first learns to play an instrument one isn't taught how to play "classical" or "jazz"or "rock and roll" or any other genre. One is taught how to hold ones hands. If one is learning a...

Sometimes the message is a clue. Sometimes the language the message is written in is a clue. That said in every game I run the PCs have a common language and most of the NPCs will speak it too. I have never seen failure to communicate improve the experience in a TRPG.

This is the reorganization the book needs.

This is the reorganization the book needs.

Seems to me like those two questions could be answered by market research. Poll recently new DMs on what would have been helpful for them. I suppose it'd be possible to do something like a focus group and see what grade-level they're reading. To answer your questions in order. I'd be interested...

I think the fact they're rewriting the DMG might turn out to be evidence supporting my assertion if and only if they rewrite it to be more useful for new DMs. I otherwise agree there's no evidence to argue about. I thought the reason 5e uses natural language is because they were hoping to avoid...

The reason they can't fathom the DMG is because it's written for people with experience DMing. Circular logic is circular. Anyone new to GMing might need to have what setbacks are in TRPGs unpacked for them in the sense of knowing what is reasonable and what players will deal with. That's not a...

Haven't you been arguing they don't have to read the corebooks to run the game? Is there any explanation of how to apply a setback to a failed roll in the Essentials Kit? I'm willing to give the teenagers I've encountered who couldn't figure the game out from the published books credit for...

I do not think explaining what a setback is in the context of a TRPG is holding anyone's hand.

In the specific instance of a failed knowledge check I tend more to no information while others will tend more to false information. While I have a strong sense the former is easier for a new DM I'm willing to consider other opinions. Either approach can certainly work.

That is indeed a good way to handle it. Looking at my post I should apologize. The "you" there was not intended a personal "you" but as more general.

If you are going to have your powerful NPCs off maintaining a state of dynamic equilibrium in your world it's probably a good idea to make that state of affairs visible to the PCs and/or the players. Otherwise they might jump to the obvious if incorrect conclusion.

Yes. It depends. Those powerful NPCs are a detriment to the extent they make the world something the PCs cannot change. They are an asset to the extent they make the world something that can react to the PCs.

Inquiring minds want to know!

I muddled my way through learning to play from AD&D 1e. For new players I'd like to cut down on the muddling-through time and increase the enjoying-the-game time. My point throughout has been that there's no reason the DMG can't be written in a way that works better for new DMs and that it...

I muddled through DMing when I was new to the hobby. I do not dispute the value of experience but I think it'd be a good thing if the books didn't make muddling through mandatory. If there is any TRPG someone is going to purchase with no prior history with or knowledge of the category it's D&D...

A quick search tells me those videos probably are about 500 words each. They must have chosen those words exceedingly carefully because that doesn't seem anywhere near adequate.

So the top-listed piece of putative advice on D&D Beyond is "5 Tips to Making Your Dragons Funny with Improv." I'm sure that's excellent advice and something new DMs should focus on before learning anything about the game. Sarcasm aside the top-listed New DM advice is for Stormwrack Isle which...

The people I know who tried to pick up the game from a Starter Set without any prior experience quit and so far as I know haven't tried again. Anecdotes are of course not evidence and neither is just one. Yes but the Starter Set doesn't teach people how to DM any more than the DMG does. The...

Because if they actually help people figure out how to play the game people will stick with the game longer and plausibly exchange more of their hard-earned money for WotC's goods and/or services? And the more people stick with the game the more they'll recruit more people? The approach in the...