D&D 5E Are we banking too much on the DMG?

[Boarstorm]

It seems to me that we, as a community, are setting the bar for the next DMG pretty darn high. Conversations (read: arguments) on this forum tend to go a lot like this...

"I don't like aspect X!"
"DMG will have a module."
"I don't like aspect Y!"
"DMG will have a module."
"Q is broken!"
"DMG will have a module."

And so on.

Modules to emulate aspects of 3E, or 4E, or OSR, or FATE.
Modules for realms management, downtime activity and alternate spellcasting methods.
Modules for mass combat, item creation, lingering wounds.

Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment here? How much actual content can one book have -- and can it possibly satisfy the different needs that we all have?

Gosh, I hope so.

 

[doctorhook]

I don't think all these modules must necessarily appear in the DMG. WotC has hinted at avoiding a glut of player's option splatbooks for 5E, and that it wants 5E to be highly modular and flexible with regards to gamestyle. Building on these assumptions, WotC might lean towards more DM's option-type sourcebooks in this edition; alongside new campaign settings and fully-supported adventures, it could also publish books of variant rules and modules that share a theme.
[sblock="For example"]The Ravenloft Campaign Setting could be published along with the Tyranny of Strahd adventure/event and a Heroes of Horror book of horror-themed rules modules.

Birthright could appear alongside a Fantastic Kingdoms sourcebook that spelled-out rules for mass combat and ruling nations.[/sblock]

Obviously this is just uninformed speculation, but there's no reason the DMG needs to cover every single possible playstyle option in detail right out of the gate.

 

[Campbell]

I will say that I'm not all that pleased with having optional content that players might need to reference during play contained in the DMG. I'm also somewhat concerned that modules are going to be too reminiscent of the material in 3e's Unearthed Arcana - barely play tested, not integrated with other parts of the system, etc.

 

[GravyFingerz]

Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment here?

No.

 

[Agamon]

Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment here? How much actual content can one book have -- and can it possibly satisfy the different needs that we all have?

Maybe. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how it's set up, but not because I'm looking forward to using any of it. I'm both most interested, and least interested, in getting my hands on the DMG.

 

[Giltonio_Santos]

I expect the DMG to be 3.5 Unearthed Arcana on steroids. If it's anything like 3.5 UA, with a higher page count, it will probably be good enough to me.

 

[Wolfskin]

Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment here? How much actual content can one book have -- and can it possibly satisfy the different needs that we all have?

I don't really expect much of the DMG, personally. To be honest, for most editions the DMG has been the least interesting book among the core three. If it can be just a little bit more inspiring than its predecessors, I'll be happy.

I do agree that it's impossible to satisfy the needs for everyone, though.

 

[Savage Wombat]

I admit to worrying about this issue. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I think my players are more worried about the character options in the PH.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

It's only the details that worry me, as well as the fact that seems like some things may be thrown in sort of last minute without much playtesting. Sometimes that actually works fine. A rule option is obvious and its results will fall inline with expectations. Other times it works out poorly.

Are we going to see everything as an option? Of course not. Here are some things that have been pretty much confirmed (or at least really darn close to confirmation) for the DMG:
1. Spell point system
2. Battlesystem (small scale mass combat)
3. Slower healing
4. Lingering wounds
5. Fear and horror
6. Additional races (such as warforged)
7. Expanded downtime activities (standard ones in PHB)
8. Two or more systems for magic item crafting
9. Guidance for creating subclasses

Things I'm pretty sure have not been confirmed (or have been confirmed as absent), and we have reason to believe may not be there:
1. Alternative spellcasting other than spell points
2. Multiple slow healing options
3. Faster healing option
4. Realm management
5. Aasimar

Some of those very well may make it, such as multiple healing rates or realms management (I hope so on both of those issues.)

There are more, but they aren't coming to me right now.

 

[Uchawi]

Yes.