D&D 5E (2014) Convince me to Spend the Money

[Wicht]

Given the existence of the free Basic (I know you don't like reading pdfs, but it is relevant) you can probably pick up the DMG and understand the lion's share of it. If you're not going to read any of the base mechanics, you won't understand the full relevance of much of what the DMG has. You'll understand it in a broad sense, but not what it really means in context.

Thanks - that's kinda what I figured

 

[Wicht]

Yeah really I'd get the free PDF and run some combats with a few different groups of characters and see how you like that. Maybe a quick adventure. Its nice to get to try before spending 150 bucks on books, though they are cheaper on Amazon I'm sure.

Maybe you should look for a group who is willing to let you join a session or two to experiance the game...

I think there is perhaps a bit of a disconnect between what I am asking and people's perception of what I am asking (and the disconnect is likely all my fault as I know what I want but may have assumed that others would understand as well). I am not asking if I would enjoy playing the game, though that is not entirely irrelevant. I am more trying to ask if I will enjoy and benefit from reading the books. Typically, I buy the books to read and then if I like the system I will contemplate running the games. The 4e books never sold me even for reading, in part, because most people acknowledged the 4e PH was boring. I want books that inspire me, entertain me, or stimulate my interests in some ways. I want sold on the books.

And I thank those who have done their part to help try and sell me on the books themselves, as well as on the game system.

 

[BryonD]

Though I confess, as I think I mentioned once, I actually like fiddliness. (And I am comfortable winging the bonuses for the sake of speed.) But simplicity has its own sort of beauty.

I love fiddliness as long as it is adding to the diversity and quality of the mechanical expression of the story. Which is to say, I've never disliked a game because it was fiddly, but I've disliked a lot of games (or even parts of game is otherwise love) because they have fiddliness that doesn't pay off.

5E isn't fiddly. It definitely has capacity to add some fiddly and "richness" if desired, and I do. Though I still find this to be the part where I can see me leaving for other games after a while.

But, again, that is not a done deal, and I have zero doubt that I'll get my value out many times over first. It is a good game for the collection of options on the shelf.

 

[Umbran]

I want books that inspire me, entertain me, or stimulate my interests in some ways. I want sold on the books.

I have the Pathfinder core book. It is *NOT INTERESTING TO READ* to me. If that's an example of a book you like, I have little idea what you're looking for.

I understand the general point, but the bulk of the time people use the books it is probably for reference of mechanics, not inspiration. And the goals of "pleasant reading" and "reference work" are often at odds. While occasionally one can find a book that does both, by in large, you're asking folks to sell you on a book that's designed to seem to them like a not-great book!

Moreover, a rulebook that can be inspiring to read may still be for a game that is mechanically unsuited to your personal style, or even of the style it purports to support. So, while I can understand your desire, I think you are kind of setting yourself up to have books fail you.

 

[Warmaster Horus]

I read the 5e core books in a day or two after buying each one of them. They were very good reads, wonderfully illustrated and written in a style that evoked adventure and wonder consistently throughout. I was thoroughly impressed.

 

[Wicht]

I have the Pathfinder core book. It is *NOT INTERESTING TO READ* to me. If that's an example of a book you like, I have little idea what you're looking for.

I understand the general point, but the bulk of the time people use the books it is probably for reference of mechanics, not inspiration. And the goals of "pleasant reading" and "reference work" are often at odds. While occasionally one can find a book that does both, by in large, you're asking folks to sell you on a book that's designed to seem to them like a not-great book!

Moreover, a rulebook that can be inspiring to read may still be for a game that is mechanically unsuited to your personal style, or even of the style it purports to support. So, while I can understand your desire, I think you are kind of setting yourself up to have books fail you.

Well - Scotty loved reading engineering manuals, I like good game books.

Books can be interesting in different ways. I confess that I have never read the Core Rulebook from cover to cover, but that's mostly because it was mostly not new to me (I have, I should make clear, since its release probably read every part of it multiple times, but more as a user's manual). On the other hand, the 3e manuals when they came out, I devoured those, and reread them a time or two front to back. It was fresh and reading them made me want to make characters and run the game and write adventures. Monster books often do this for me in spades, as well as setting books.

What I saw of the PH did interest me, but I was not sure that it interested me enough to buy at that price. Several in this thread though have done a decent job of keeping my interest in it up...

 

[thalmin]

Try to read an entry or two in the Monster Manual. Not the stat block, but the information about the monster. That gives a good indication how they are approaching the game, where story is at least as important as the mechanics.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I think there is perhaps a bit of a disconnect between what I am asking and people's perception of what I am asking (and the disconnect is likely all my fault as I know what I want but may have assumed that others would understand as well). I am not asking if I would enjoy playing the game, though that is not entirely irrelevant. I am more trying to ask if I will enjoy and benefit from reading the books. Typically, I buy the books to read and then if I like the system I will contemplate running the games. The 4e books never sold me even for reading, in part, because most people acknowledged the 4e PH was boring. I want books that inspire me, entertain me, or stimulate my interests in some ways. I want sold on the books.

And I thank those who have done their part to help try and sell me on the books themselves, as well as on the game system.

Sorry, Not into reading a RPG book for readings sake so I didn't get you. So for what you asking for I'd say I'm not sure.

 

[Blackwarder]

I think there is perhaps a bit of a disconnect between what I am asking and people's perception of what I am asking (and the disconnect is likely all my fault as I know what I want but may have assumed that others would understand as well). I am not asking if I would enjoy playing the game, though that is not entirely irrelevant. I am more trying to ask if I will enjoy and benefit from reading the books. Typically, I buy the books to read and then if I like the system I will contemplate running the games. The 4e books never sold me even for reading, in part, because most people acknowledged the 4e PH was boring. I want books that inspire me, entertain me, or stimulate my interests in some ways. I want sold on the books.

And I thank those who have done their part to help try and sell me on the books themselves, as well as on the game system.

Oh, in that case don't buy them, you won't like them.

Warder

 

[Wicht]

I read the 5e core books in a day or two after buying each one of them. They were very good reads, wonderfully illustrated and written in a style that evoked adventure and wonder consistently throughout. I was thoroughly impressed.

Oh, in that case don't buy them, you won't like them.

Aahh!

Who to believe!?!