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Using maximum hit points shifts power from resource-limited (e.g. spellcasters, monks, etc.) to the fighter and rogue. With maximum hit points in use, fireball doesn't go as far, those ki points for flurry of attacks mean less and less, and so forth. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but...

40 years ago, I started playing AD&D. I got to play because I cried to my dad that my older brother wasn’t being nice and allowing me to play with him and his friends. They gave me the cleric to play, naturally. The first character I actually made was my ranger. His name was Silver Arrow...

I had to vote "I would never play an adventure someone else wrote," but I would. I just haven't played in any of these published adventures.

Honestly, I don't. I think trying to track each character's efficacy during encounter design would just be maddening to me as a DM. I'm certainly not saying that a DM shouldn't do this, it's just not part of my thought process. I guess there's a part of me that rejects the idea as it is...

For those of you who want to give the War Priest ability a nudge up in power, allow it to refresh usage after a short rest.

I think this is an implicit ruling, which means you could argue it if you wanted to. It's certainly how I'd rule it. Would you require a 5th level fighter to attack twice if they only wanted to attack once?

I'm of the opinion that it's important to test the endurance of spellcasters in order to maintain some semblance of balance. It's probably fair to say that most campaigns don't hit the 6-8 encounters per day and I certainly don't. So, I use house rules to adjust the rest schedule (8 hours of...

I don't think the concepts of character optimization and role-playing (or "story" if you prefer) are mutually exclusive concepts. Players are individuals and each is likely going to have a different opinion of what is and is not fun for their play experience. I love to see players running their...

When I use it, I use it to influence how other NPCs react to the character. You went cheap and slept in the gutter because you're saving for that shiny plate armor? Fine. No, the local reeve has no interest in speaking with you.

My first response is what do you think would be the most fun for you and the players at your table. For me, I'd hit them hard and there'd be no long rest inside the dungeon with duergar at the doors. If you think that's too harsh for your table, go a different direction!

I wanted to add a thought here. I've know plenty of DMs who were very reluctant to let the characters be heroes for their deeds. There seemed to be some kind of odd worry that if they let the PCs be viewed as heroes that the DM was some how being soft. I think there's a lot of pressure when...

For me, characters are "heroes" by their deeds. Nobody cares if your powerful if all you do is squat in your tower and read dusty books. They care if you're the one who shows up when danger is on the doorstep. There are plenty of powerful NPCs in my campaign setting and some of them are heroic...

Logic states that the green dragon gobbles up the copper wyrmling. However, what I would personally find far more interesting is the green dragon rearing the wyrmling and using it in some great scheme. Either it corrupts the wyrmling or just as likely it dupes the wyrmling into doing something...

Release the Kraken! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I'd probably model this with the magic initiate feat as opposed to a wizard level dip. You can grab find familiar as your 1st level spell.

This sounds like a great model for a beer and pretzels game.

I certainly agree that enjoying the character throughout the leveling experience is the most important thing. I think that when you get into the topic of character optimization you're naturally going to pull in some odd multiclass options that highlight some synergies between class abilities...

For me, I like milestone xp if only because without it the only incentive for the players is to solve all problems via combat. I want to run a game where diplomacy or creative thinking can be just as rewarding.

Al-Qadim for the Sha'ir and Mystics of Nog. Neither of these map particularly well to 5e classes.

I'm definitely feeling the nostalgia in 5e (in a good way). 5e has brought me back to the gaming of my childhood. It's like listening to Greta Van Fleet and being reminded of the mighty Led Zeppelin. I may have preferences for which campaign settings I'd love to see re-published for 5e, but who...