Left-handed Hummingbird
First Post
Any change that makes the game more accessible and easier for casual gamers is an improvement IMHO.
True, some DMs may never deviate from the tactics written - which might lead to a poorer gaming experience from the players' perspective, but then - those people may never had had the energy, will or boldness to DM if they hadn't had these "training wheels" - or perhaps they would have used far worse tactics, which might also lead to poor gaming experiences.
Now, more people DMing means that it isn't as exclusive as it was before; there is no longer the same prerequisites as there were before, and thus perhaps a drop in gamer status - you don't have to be as 1337 with the books as you did before. But is that really a big problem? While the fact that you don't need to specialize and learn it the hard way may turn out more mediocre DMs on the short run, I think one of the the most important missions for WotC is to move D&D away from being firmly imbedded in "geek" (for a lack of a better word) territory and moving it into the mainstream.
Perhaps some are distraught that what was considered their precious property / ability is being turned into something everybody owns / is able to?
...Anyway there will always be an elite group of DMs, having more casual DMs won't change that fact.
True, some DMs may never deviate from the tactics written - which might lead to a poorer gaming experience from the players' perspective, but then - those people may never had had the energy, will or boldness to DM if they hadn't had these "training wheels" - or perhaps they would have used far worse tactics, which might also lead to poor gaming experiences.
Now, more people DMing means that it isn't as exclusive as it was before; there is no longer the same prerequisites as there were before, and thus perhaps a drop in gamer status - you don't have to be as 1337 with the books as you did before. But is that really a big problem? While the fact that you don't need to specialize and learn it the hard way may turn out more mediocre DMs on the short run, I think one of the the most important missions for WotC is to move D&D away from being firmly imbedded in "geek" (for a lack of a better word) territory and moving it into the mainstream.
Perhaps some are distraught that what was considered their precious property / ability is being turned into something everybody owns / is able to?
...Anyway there will always be an elite group of DMs, having more casual DMs won't change that fact.
