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You're not going to get those kinds of modules from Wotc. Wizards wants to release big epic storylines that they can use for their multi-media initiatives. WoTC is doing a great service to the hobby, but they kind of have their own motives for releases that don't always line up with the needs of...

Agree. Concentration is a welcome addition to the game. There are minor oddities here and there with it. But removing it is throwing the baby out with the bath water. My tweaks so far: I allow rangers to use hunters mark with another concentration spell in combat. It temporarily drops the need...

I’m planning a mega dungeon for my own ‘D&D 5E / Basic Fantasy game. I’m actually already using Stonehell, but I will be expanding it and adding my own elements. Eventually, my additional levels will interact with the existing power structures and become one thing. I would recommend looking at...

Yes. I'm super happy that 5e turned to encouraging more DM authority. It is a strength of the game. To me, those extra tools and guidelines were helpful in the beginning but turned into straight jackets as I got more skilled in the game.

Maybe? It borrows many of the same elements of D&D. So why wouldn't they share the same essence.

Why would you think this? You are making an assumption about DM adjudication that matches your argument. For every reason you can think of that a DM would set the DC too high or flat out not let a thief do this, there is an equally likely reason that a DM would totally go with it. Don't make...

Interesting topic for a thread. I read quite of bit of this thread. I've been busy but I wish I had the time to respond sooner. Just seems like this thread has generated a lot of pointless bickering and edition warring. To me, this primacy of magic thing is a red herring. It has absolutely...

I remember a blog post that analyzed the encounter tables and wilderness rules from the original Book III Underworld & Wilderness Adventures. It basically describes a very post-apocalyptic world. Settlements few and far between, monsters lurking in between and gangs of bandits and brigands...

In the words of one of my players... I messed up some of the rules for illusions, but my mess up ended up resulting in a ridiculously fun session... so all good. It comes close, if not beats the love potion / giant lizard session.

I miss how charm person can last weeks depending on the intelligence of the target. A first level party can charm an ogre and have a powerful ally UNTIL it wears off and you end up with a deadly and mad foe in their midst. It’s a fun push your luck mechanism. As a DM, though, If you want a...

Judges Guild style gazetteers... like City State of the Invincible Overlord... regional hex map, with a hex key and encounter tables. They can be officially FR, but should be generic enough that they can be dropped into anyone’s home campaign. Expert set style mass combat and domain management...

Ah... for me: I require players to declare if they are stealthing or not as a standard operating procedure. That choice results in a stealth check, or lack thereof, that is applied to potential encounters. How does this play out in your game? Do you ask for stealth checks only if you roll an...

oh I hope I wasn't a part of the attack... lol. Yeah this is a fascinating conversation that is very useful and productive. Thank you for bringing this up. This is an amazing discussion thread. I'd offer anyone interested to check out this blog...

Fair enough. Sorry if I misunderstood. So to clarify... I almost always run dungeons that have a 'wandering monster' component. Usually a 1 in 6 chance of a potential encounter for every 20 minutes in the dungeon (I pull this from my B/X roots). So in my games there is always a possibility for...

Sure. I just think it is a little bit of moving the goalposts (in either direction) to change a creatures resistance/vulnerability based on an ability check. I'd have to think about the player who asks: "What is this creature's vulnerabilities?" I'm kind of on the fence on this... I kind of...

I'm not arguing anything of that sort. I just think goal and approach is a tool that is best used with active player action in a known DM location. Sometimes, ability checks can be used to establish a baseline. For example, if a party wishes to move stealthily through an area. The act of...

Personally, this is not my style. When I create a dungeon or lair or adventuring environment... I intend it to be a challenge. Its something the players have to overcome. Metagaming changes in resistance or vulnerability in either direction, to me, subverts this. If I put a monster that is...

Goal and approach is a tool that can be used when it is needed. It doesn't work in every situation but it is still a useful mechanic. I agree with you about the Arcana check. I'm not a fan of consequences that are 'out of scope' of the action taken. This is my biggest problem with Dungeon World...

Good question. I'm not super sure how to make history or knowledge checks exciting. My approach is that if a player asks "What do I know about X?" I first recognize it as a valid question. The player in the real world may not know the same things as their character who lives in the campaign...

When I think of this situation and want to apply the investigation check, I would consider a trinary state of consequences: 1. Attempt to search the library and succeed - you end up with the books you need before the guards discover you. 2. Attempt to search the library and fail - you do not...