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Dissonant Whimpers

5E character generation is about as simple as it has been since 1E.

There has never been a time in the hobby more open to and demanding of Session 0, so if folks aren't having one, they are doing it on purpose. Even D&D tells you to have one.

Would buy.

The advice is not vague. DH has some of the most complete and specific advice for running it that I have seen.

I really like it for my style of play, where "prep" is mostly what happened last time and what the voices on my shoulder are telling me.

Just remember, nothing is real until it is up for preorder.

The worst spell in the game: Colon Spray

I think some GMs excel when they have done a lot of prep, while other GMs excel when they riff off the play at the table. Some of us even excel with zero or near zero prep. As it relates to Daggerheart, Daggerheart expressly advises GMs to hold on lightly and not overprepare.

I don't think the proposition is that it happens in "every room". It is a tool, like any other, that the GM can leverage to engage players and fill in the world and maybe give themselves some breathing room.

GM paternalism is such a weird position. "I can't give players control over anything, because they will abuse it." I think many, many GMs would do well to hold on a little more loosely.

It is possible, but campaign frames are pretty strong, thematically, and should keep stuff generally in line. Also, the players are not granted any authority here, so the GM can always veto an incongruous element.

Maybe I was wrong about "immersion" being an easily understood term. I feel like there are as many definitions for it in this thread as posters. It may be that my use of "engagement" is the same as someone else's "immersion."

Inflict Pounds (which I am pretty sure a witch cast on me a few years ago...)

A spell name, a class, an adventure, a monster, whatever. Change a letter or a word. Make puns. Commit word crimes. You know how this works. Ex: Magic Mussle.

I am still not convinced "immersion" is what we are really talking about here, as opposed to "engagement." That doesn't mean I have never been immersed in TTRPG play, but it is a rare event and almost always comes via engagement. The only times I can recall it happening are during those moments...

I think the degree to which you show the consequences of violence in entertainment is a function of genre and expectations as opposed to morality. When we are talking about violence in other contexts: sure, it's really important. But human storytelling has always moderated the impact of violence...

I think it is natural to push toward the edges of "what's allowed." One of my most wonderful campaigns ever started with my decree "no elves;no ninjas" and player choosing an elf ninja. The world we crafted based on that last legit 20 real world years.

Times change, my dude. Small publishers still deserve your support even if the economics of print don't work.

I mean, "immersion" isn't an esoteric term. It isn't hard to figure out. That said, I don't think it is especially important to TTRPGs. Others disagree, of course.