D&D (2024) Bastions in the 2024 DMs Guide

[DarkCrisis]

Almost every benefit from the Bastion is magical/not mundane. Creating magic items, getting boons, etc.

D&D is a magical game. Common and Uncommon magic items are built in to that game. I embrace that.

D&D has become an increasingly magical game, where magic has become more ubiquitous. Not everyone likes that or wants it for their game.

Honestly it makes more sense to have a lot of minor magic items around in modern D&D. Where it use to be stuff like "Wizards are rare" to "Just send your kid off to Wizard school next to the Sorcerers, Warlocks, Bards, and anyone and every other class that wants so magic" then yeah it magic items for budget makes sense.

Plus it helps to make sense why thousands and thousands of years can pass without technology really advancing. Who needs electric lights when ever-burning torches are 5 for 10 copper at the local Arcane 7-11.

I'm more of the "If you want a Wizard, seek out a Wizards tower" type.

But yes, whatever works for your table.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Honestly it makes more sense to have a lot of minor magic items around in modern D&D. Where it use to be stuff like "Wizards are rare" to "Just send your kid off to Wizard school next to the Sorcerers, Warlocks, Bards, and anyone and every other class that wants so magic" then yeah it magic items for budget makes sense.

Plus it helps to make sense why thousands and thousands of years can pass without technology really advancing. Who needs electric lights when ever-burning torches are 5 for 10 copper at the local Arcane 7-11.

I'm more of the "If you want a Wizard, seek out a Wizards tower" type.

But yes, whatever works for your table.

I'd rather come up with more satisfying explanations (to me) for that than, "it's magic!", but yes, whatever works for your table.

 

[grimmgoose]

Most of the books released are for the DM. Yet you complain about an optional system the DM can let players use as if it's a slight against the DM. I want you to stop complaining that every player facing option is an insult to the DM.

They are “for the DM” in the way of “a DM is required to run this”. Technically the PHB is “for DMs”.

Hell, WHO are Bastions for? Players. I find it funny that the big selling point for the new DMG is a player-facing system.

 

[Micah Sweet]

They are “for the DM” in the way of “a DM is required to run this”. Technically the PHB is “for DMs”.

Hell, WHO are Bastions for? Players. I find it funny that the big selling point for the new DMG is a player-facing system.

You have to admit, that's pretty funny on the face of it.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I mean, I can’t think of a single 5.5 component that has had me think, “oh, this is great! It’s going to make my job easier!”

It’s all player power boosts. Weapon Masteries that clog up time at the table. Spells that are still encounter-breaking.

I don’t see the benefit for a DM.

This is something I can actually reply to. Weapon Masteries do not clog up time at the table from my experience. They are pretty simple, and the players using them have had no issue remembering them. The time has not been shorter, but it's not gotten any longer. Spells are still more or less the same, but I have seen very few encounter breaking spells in action.

For the most part the game has run better cause my players have been enjoying their new options. Which they should in the PLAYERS handbook.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

They are “for the DM” in the way of “a DM is required to run this”. Technically the PHB is “for DMs”.

Hell, WHO are Bastions for? Players. I find it funny that the big selling point for the new DMG is a player-facing system.

It's an optional system for Stronghold like stuff that has been in many past editions. It's a system that can heavily alter how a game is run, so I think putting it in the DMG makes sense.

Fizban's, Bigby's, Planescape, Spelljammer, the Book of Many Things. These are all books that mostly aimed at DMs not "a DM is required" books.

 

[grimmgoose]

It's an optional system for Stronghold like stuff that has been in many past editions. It's a system that can heavily alter how a game is run, so I think putting it in the DMG makes sense.

Fizban's, Bigby's, Planescape, Spelljammer, the Book of Many Things. These are all books that mostly aimed at DMs not "a DM is required" books.

If they’re aimed at DMs, they missed.

 

[tetrasodium]

Man I don't care about any of your allegory, and references. Just say what you mean instead of trying to make me jump through hoops to understand you. I refuse to watch any videos or follow links to earlier posts just to try and understand your point.

I explicitly said what I meant in post 59. After that Post 62 quoted it making a completely different point. You came along in post 70 where you quoted post62 while saying that both me (post59?) and post 62 were wrong while making absolutely no effort to support either post being wrong.. The onus is on you to support that claim and asking me to rephrase the request to support either of your own post 70 claims that both were wrong is a clear assertion that you were never capable of supporting either of the two claims you made in post 70.

Most of the books released are for the DM. Yet you complain about an optional system the DM can let players use as if it's a slight against the DM. I want you to stop complaining that every player facing option is an insult to the DM.

"Most"? If that were true, there would be an actual effort to appeal to the DM rather than attempting to exclusively appeal to players while hyping both books.

I need no evidence cause it's just my opinion, which is why I said "I think"

Post 59 was quotes from the video & how I felt about them, IoW the opinion you declared "wrong". I asked you to back up the claim with literally anything. Failing that, how about why your opinion apparently matters more? Maybe even enough reasoning to provide a foundation for discussing why that may or may not be. Did you not read the quoted post 59 before declaring it "wrong

 

[Thommy H-H]

"This book about hosting a party is just full of things for your guests to do! Where's the stuff that makes my life easier?"

Wild idea, but what if one of the things that those mavericks at WotC think makes people want to DM is the chance to facilitate their players doing stuff they think is fun? I gave my group a Bastion without them asking because I thought they'd like it, and I was right. Next session they're getting a surprise airship. It's more work for me, but I'm the DM - that's sort of what it's all about. I do most of the work and what I get out of it is a fun time with my group.

 

[Micah Sweet]

"This book about hosting a party is just full of things for your guests to do! Where's the stuff that makes my life easier?"

Wild idea, but what if one of the things that those mavericks at WotC think makes people want to DM is the chance to facilitate their players doing stuff they think is fun? I gave my group a Bastion without them asking because I thought they'd like it, and I was right. Next session they're getting a surprise airship. It's more work for me, but I'm the DM - that's sort of what it's all about. I do most of the work and what I get out of it is a fun time with my group.

That great! But let me ask you this: is the assumption that all DMs get their funny by making sure their players are having fun? Should it be?