A detailed town in the DMG: your preference?

[Wormwood]

Sorry, I just get tired of scrolling past what seems to be vicious circle of debate.

No, you pretty much nailed it in this case---except this topic was mostly 'vicious circle' and very little 'debate'.

 

[Nifft]

I like how they did Saltmarsh in the DMGII, so I can see how it would be cool to have that. I just hope it doesn't take up a huge chunk of the book.

Same here.

I didn't use ANY of Saltmarsh, though, because by the time I got the DMG-II, my campaign was already well off the ground.

If they had put a town in the DMG-I, I might not have written all the earlier towns I used.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Jhaelen]

I don't need it and I most certainly won't use it but I definitely want one to be in the DMG.

As others have already mentioned a mini starter adventure (like the one in the ECS) would also be most welcome.

 

[catsclaw227]

I voted Maybe, but in truth I think that a town in the DMG is a good idea, but best as a free supplemental download or something OGL that can be posted online and distributed for free.

I think it's a good idea, just maybe not something I want 20+ pages of the DMG used for. I would rather see a lot of DMG II style sections.

 

[Lurks-no-More]

Just out of curiosity has there EVER been a version of DMG that didn't contain lots of advice and sample encounters/adventure locations/NPCs and similar things for the DM?

The 2nd edition DMG, which was lousy. It had neither the charm and information density (all those tables and rules!) of 1e DMG, nor the clarity and information density of 3.*e DMG.

As for the example town, I'm for it; as others have said, it's going to be helpful for the new DMs (especially if they bundle it with an example dungeon), and it won't detract from the experienced DMs.

 

[argo]

A full-page map plus a 3-4 page writeup as an example of town-building in the "Create your World" chapter would be just dandy thankyouverymuch.

 

[Imaro]

A classic ENWorld result: many posts against, a good number of votes for



(the town in the DMG in this case)

I would more chalk this up to lack of specific details. Taking DMG 2 as an example change the poll and ask who wants 30+ pages dedicated to a town and your poll results will probably be different. Or ask who would rather have an adventure as opposed to a town. The basic question is a majorly positive because it skirts the negative consequences with the inclusion of a town, since we have no details on anything, if at all, that will be cut for the town.

My own oppinion on the matter is it's only good if there is an adventure attached to it. If not, then the arguments that Mourn and others have posted about it's feasibility for beginners is greatly diminished, especially since I would assume that these beginner's who will need a pre-constructed town would need an adventure even more. The first adventure (the Shadowfell one) has alluded that it will contain a town and an adventure. This makes the town in the DMG kind of redundant for both new DM's and those who aren't new. And with the first adventure clocking in at an extra $30...well it casts doubt in my mind on the feasibility of the "requiring new players to incur extra costs" argument.