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What I liked about the game Dungeon World was that it explicitly stated to the players and the DM that the available classes are unique in the world, like super heroes. For example, you are the "Cleric". There are other religious practitioners in your setting who may call themselves clerics, but...

Hm if the default assumption is that D&D classes are meant to just be abstract collections of mechanics that a player chooses purely for individual preference on how to “be” some role (striker, tank etc) I personally would have written the game the other way around (player picks a role, chooses...

No matter how fantastic a setting is, I guess some players still want to be something even more unique and fantastic. In a world of wizards, warlocks, paladins, clerics, druids and monks, Sorcerors must really appeal to players who have very unique visions that go beyond the “norm”, I guess. I...

Fascinating that science fiction gaming hasn’t yet been reviewed to such an extent in a similar light. Perhaps because some speculative fiction explored current socio-political issues in allegorical form? Others however are often deemed practically propaganda. Just wondering why this current...

I like the old mustachioed Drow. Reminds me of Celts or Gauls. And imagine if they were more like Romulans as a society, with a caste of "Reman" like sub type that look like the subterranean creatures in the Descent movies or those creatures in the Elder Scrolls. Ooh and the Drow could all...

There’s already a seed for group rituals thanks to the Hag Covens concept. A lot to work with. Boosts in spell level (beyond what each individu could do), boosts in number of HD affected (mass Sleep or Turn Undead or whatever). The heroes must stop a many hour long ritual of the Witch Queen who...

Fascinating discussion. Honestly my perspectives have changed while reading this. @Steampunkette ’s view definitely appeals to me. I guess it comes down to which mechanics one prefers for handling magic to help support a specific campaign setting’s take on it. For example, having only Wizards...

I've always said that it would make more sense for a subterranean race to have pale, if not translucent white skin.

In human history, the shield was used for offense as well as defence. True, it doesn’t resemble any weapon in the PHB. But as I stated earlier, D&D designers have definitely missed out on the opportunity to take inspiration from real life to make the game more interesting. I mean, I feel sorry...

It’s too bad that the game designers for D&D over the years never took more inspiration on how shields were really used throughout history. They definitely did more than passively made you harder to get hit. I’d allow those proficient with them to use them as a d4 bludgeoning weapon while still...

I don’t think having in-game consequences of deliberately negative character behaviour is necessarily passive-aggressive. When a PC is a known bully to NPCs in a village, there will be an impact on their reputation. Getting caught committing an obvious crime will draw the attention of...

I’ve found that the issue that DEFCON1 brought up is also a problem with Illusions. I’ve had DMs ask me to make Deception checks to make sure that my illusion spells actually work as intended (despite using up a spell slot). It is frustrating and discourages creative thinking outside of combat...

I’d eliminate the ubiquitous assumption that all D&D campaigns, regardless of unique or IP-derived settings, are obligated to include all of the PHB race and class options. As it stands, I can expect a Game of Thrones or Earthsea 5e Kickstarter campaign that will automatically shoe-horn in...

Ah I was wondering then the conversation was going to come to this point. The concept of Original Sin has a secular version these days {i.e., "judge me not based on my deeds and beliefs, but on the sins of my ancestors"). All around this topic is full of depressing toxicity. It's not enough to...

As an aside, I’m running a Witcher campaign right now with these resources and they are fantastic. We’re also using the variant classes from Adventures in Middle Earth. It’s been fantastic so far.

Modern artists have the luxury of digital paint for endless experimentation and exploration. The old school artists were much more limited in terms of material. Also modern artists have plenty of inspiration and reference thanks to social networks and, well the internet in general. You hardly...

I think it is fantastic. Makes the game have character creation options that feel more liberated like the Cypher System or Savage Worlds. Sure, you can’t have dragon breath, but some of the magic Feats could be re-skinned as such. Dragon breath is once a day, and the magic feats provide a level...

I was toying this this sort of thing myself (hating the whole "whack-a-mole" concept too). But I always felt that the game got too complex. Instead, I took a page from games like Fate: When a character is reduced to below half their HP total (not current score, but normal maximum), I tell the...

FYI: Yan (or Yann, both usually short for Yannick) is a real name in French. Here in Quebec, I've known at least 5 people named Yan. Although I doubt that this character is French-Canadian.

Recommending Adventures in Middle Earth is valid because it was made for 5e. There are great ideas and systems in there that are easy to port over into standard 5e. Everyone relax!