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Gating the TRULY powerful spells as being rituals is something I'm definitely a fan of. You can then make casting the spell a big adventure itself, the correct components, the correct situation, etc.

Yes, there are some problematic high level spells. But (and this is where high level play CAN be tough for the DM), with a bit of knowledge and experience they can be dealt with pretty well and intergrated into a fun high level experience. Like wish, The example the video uses (wishing the...

I would happily play in a 3.5 high level game, but, having DM'd through 20th level, will not every volunteer to do so again. The amount of work required was absolutely exhausting.

I see this WAY too much, DMs who think starting at high level is something JUST NOT DONE. I get annoyed by that, as I find high level play the most fun. As for the stuff earlier in your post. I do think high level 5e play presents challenges - but if there is a good push to overcome them - then...

Ah, Honestly. As a player I would MUCH prefer that. I've played LOTS and LOTS of low level 5e play (mostly because I'm the only DM of 2 different groups that's willing to DM high level play). My only mid high-level play (as a player) in 5e has been Adventurer's League which, while fun and...

WoTC has just done something similar (it's actually mentioned in the video, but I'll still spoiler it): I do think making sure the players have experience with the characters BEFORE jumping to high level play is a very good idea.

This is an interesting point. I do think high level play requires significantly more investment in the game. But I think a GREAT part of that investment has to be in the mechanics of their characters than even the world around them, and a lot of players aren't as interested in that. I've run...

I've played "high level" in 2e, 3e, and 5e. Would have LOVED to have played higher level in 4e but it just never happened. For me, high level play is fun. The key is to make sure high level play feels DIFFERENT, not just low level play with the numbers amped up. But yes, it's fairly rare to...

While much of the banter/interaction is lighthearted, Mercer seems to take the mechanics quite seriously. He's pretty old school that way and does not go rules light at all.

I'd be more on board with magic being an exception to reality if it wasn't so completely consistent and almost ordinary in 5e. In 5e magic just works, there are no consequences to the mage for over use (other than running out of spells) and there's no chance of even a mishap (normally, not...

But in the context of this thread re: RAW. We have rules for both magic and non magic situations as RAW. IMO, the DM is being overly selective if they often/usually let the magic RAW pass because "it's magic...." But also often give the side eye and overrule the non magic RAW because they...

One thing I completely agree with- moving on during play. Regardless of if the DMs call was "wrong," play moves on. The call can be discussed after the session (live, email whatever) and a decision made as to what happens next time and the like. The absolute WORST thing to do is to allow play...

As I said in my last post, what "completely nonsensical..." is differs widely, especially in a fantasy game like D&D. The DM shouldn't simply assume that his definition of completely nonsensical and his players definition are necessarily in sync. There should be leeway given.

That's the point. You shouldn't assume that your preference/opinion is the same as your players - not unless you've already gone over the scenario at hand. As such, IMO pulling a gotcha is bad form. At the very least the DM should say something like "that just wouldn't work here, this thing is...

Have to push back on "the story" bit, a bit. IMO you shouldn't have some preconceived notion of what "the story" is or will be. The play MAKES the story. Now if a RAW interpretation actually comes off as completely nonsensical (or worse horribly unfun) even by mythical game world standards -...

The thing was 35ish feet tall, not some impossible height. A high level party fighting that size, while not routine, isn't exactly unforeseeable. And it's not so tall that "standard" tactics shouldn't work. And if they don't, the DM needs to give the player some leeway - not gotcha them into...

Well in this case, he was doing it in front of a live audience of 12,000 screaming nerds. Adds a dimension and a level of difficulty there.

That's my point. By ruling against the player WITHOUT allowing the player to get on the same page as them, the DM is essentially engaging in adversarial DMing - which is far from neutral. The DM, Ideally IMO, is a fan of the players (which DOES NOT mean give them what they want and never rule...

I think the heat was for a different incident. When She had her character dive off a massive cliff just for kicks, figuring she couldn't possibly take enough damage for it to be lethal (she had 127 HP at the time). But Mercer didn't cap the falling damage and had her take 363 damage. She was as...

Seeing as sentinel was a consistent go-to against any given opponent (especially ones that moved a lot), I don't see how this was some kind of surprise. Yes, he certainly shouldn't just have her autofail, that was overly punitive. But I also disagree about overruling RAW here in the first place...