D&D 5E Are DMs getting lazy?

[SirAntoine]

Why?

Because it will take longer, and therefore the players will get more use out of the game.

 

[Eric V]

Because it will take longer, and therefore the players will get more use out of the game.

That's one way. Faster advancement means more character turnover though, and I'd think more use out of the game means a greater variety of playing experiences (that one gets by playing different characters).

 

[MechaPilot]

It seems that in a number of threads, a certain subset of folks are very upset at the lack of adventures and such for 5E, to the point of suggesting they will "run out" of things to do with 5E in a year or so. While I would certainly like to see a more robust release schedule with both standalone modules and setting books (not to mention Dungeon and a Dragon back in publication) the idea that you would "run out" of stuff to do with D&D is just plain weird. It's D&D. One of the core conceits is that you, the DM, will be creating most of the game content (usually in conjunction with your players). Need a new and interesting magic item? Create it. Need a monster that the PCs have not faced before? Create it. Need to know what it costs and how long it takes to create a magic item? Decide. These aren't the burden of the DM, they are the joys!

For fear of of sounding like an in-my-day curmudgeon, are DMs these days just too lazy to make the game their own?

I exclusively create my own adventures.

That said, I don't see DMs wanting more published adventures as being lazy so much as I see it that people are just busier these days.

 

[Eric V]

I exclusively create my own adventures.

That said, I don't see DMs wanting more published adventures as being lazy so much as I see it that people are just busier these days.

Just as an additional note, I think 40 year olds today are probably as busy as 40 year olds were back in the 80s.

But 40 year olds today are probably far busier than they themselves were back in the 80s. I know I am.

 

[SirAntoine]

That's one way. Faster advancement means more character turnover though, and I'd think more use out of the game means a greater variety of playing experiences (that one gets by playing different characters).

Yes, that is another way. Thank you.

 

[MechaPilot]

Just as an additional note, I think 40 year olds today are probably as busy as 40 year olds were back in the 80s.

But 40 year olds today are probably far busier than they themselves were back in the 80s. I know I am.

I don't know about that. It has been a growing trend in some places that people have been working more hours, and that the connectivity of modern communication devices means people are often taking work home with them. Now this definitely varies with the kind of job a person has, an accountant is more likely to take home work than someone working in retail or fast food, but people in lower paying jobs are also more likely to have second jobs.

 

[Umbran]

I get the impression that SirAntoine wants to play a game that D&D has never been.

Okay, he may have been a bit hyperbolic, and yes, rate of advancement is about the easiest thing in the game to adjust. But that still doesn't excuse the dismissive tone.

Please SHOW RESPECT for people, and their opinions, even if you don't agree. If this is somehow unclear, please e-mail or PM one of the mods to discuss it.

 

[Eric V]

I don't know about that. It has been a growing trend in some places that people have been working more hours, and that the connectivity of modern communication devices means people are often taking work home with them. Now this definitely varies with the kind of job a person has, an accountant is more likely to take home work than someone working in retail or fast food, but people in lower paying jobs are also more likely to have second jobs.

I tend to agree with you (hence my use of the term "probably"), but many here have been arguing that people have always been busy.

My point is, simply, that that argument is a non-starter. If you were 40 in the 80s, you're in your 70s now (and therefore probably retired). If you are in your 40s now, you were in your teens back in the 80s, and I would hope you had more time back then.

Therefore, 40 year old DMs wanting published mods because they are busy has nothing to do with laziness.

If you have the same level of "busy" now as a 40 year old that you did when you were a teen, well...I don't know what to say.

 

[MechaPilot]

I tend to agree with you (hence my use of the term "probably"), but many here have been arguing that people have always been busy.

My point is, simply, that that argument is a non-starter. If you were 40 in the 80s, you're in your 70s now (and therefore probably retired). If you are in your 40s now, you were in your teens back in the 80s, and I would hope you had more time back then.

Therefore, 40 year old DMs wanting published mods because they are busy has nothing to do with laziness.

If you have the same level of "busy" now as a 40 year old that you did when you were a teen, well...I don't know what to say.

Ah, okay. I see where you're coming from now.

Although, I will say that if you were in your 40s in the 80s and are currently retired, you might want a bunch of published adventures to squeeze out every last bit of that sweet D&D fun before the man in the black cloak comes for to carry you home.

 

[SirAntoine]

Level advancement used to be at a rate of about one level every 100 good fights. That was the standard in AD&D and BECMI. I don't expect many to jump for this again, but it might be worth a try for some of you if you want a longer game. The current rate is much smaller, maybe around every 20 good fights, so try giving 20% of the experience.