D&D 5E Deal Breakers - Or woah, that is just too much

[RotGrub]

100% agree.

But, what it means in practical terms is that I can never use any planar sourcebooks. I have to make everything up 100% on my own. The Planar stuff is almost never self contained. Importing, say, a module from Forgotten Realms to Dragonlance isn't generally that hard. Yes, I have to make changes of course, but, I can certainly use large chunks of that module. The planar stuff is just so strongly tied to all the other planar stuff that I've almost never been able to adapt it. Personal failing on my part, but, after the third or fourth attempt, I've just thrown up my hands and completely ignore all of it.

IMO, if you don't like the default lore don't use it. I'd rather have a set of lore that is the default than have none at all. Furthermore, traditional D&D lore shouldn't be something the game should just abandon, that would only upset the fans. I know I was rather upset with 4e for that very reason. It's one thing to change the mechanics, but it was a slap in the face to scrap all the lore I cherished and invested in over the years.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Eh, Halflings you raise a point, but Elves? Elves are really same-y, even without FR having 7 versions, Dragonlance having like, what, two different aquatic elves because ???, and all that.

Have you read about the Elves of Eberron? They seem very unlike the elves of the Forgotten Realms to me.

 

[Shasarak]

That's not even remotely true. A kender, a dark sun halfling and an Eberron halfling aren't remotely similar. Krynnish elves are pretty far removed from Forgotten Realms elves. There's a bajillion dragon variants. On and on.

If all you play is genericland DND then fair enough I suppose. I haven't done that in a very long time.

There is no real difference between Qualinesti and Silvanesti elves or Moon and Sun elves or Grey and Valley elves except which forest they live in and which colour skin they have. Even the Players handbook lumps them all together under "High Elves" so they do not even have a mechanical difference.

 

[AverageCitizen]

I have killed games because the players expected me to be the computer running the hapless victims of their GTA style shenanigans. When players talk about how the DM's job is to "facilitate the exploration of an open world" or something it is a big red flag for me, because it usually means they just want to break into the sheriff's house and poop in his bed. No thanks.

 

[JonnyP71]

Background music.

Specifically atmospheric 'fantasy' stuff designed to heighten the tension and set the mood.

No.

Just no.

 

[ccs]

Nailed it, @Saelorn. Planehopping has always just struck me as an excuse by the GM to say, "Hey guess what! None of the old rules apply, now I can REALLY lay on the fiat nice and thick, and you can't do anything about it because Ethereal Plane reasons."

I'm the DM. If I want to lay the fiat on nice & thick I don't need to stick the characters on a different plain to do so.

 

[delericho]

For me, the biggest issue with the planes is that they are completely divorced from whatever setting you start out on. Whether you start from Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, Eberron, or Dragonlance, the second you step into the Planes as a setting, it's the same Planes. Same Asmodeus, same Demogorgon, same Sigil. Same everything. Which, to me, is far too bland and contradicts the settings in question. Why on earth would there be an Asmodeus if you are playing a Dragonlance campaign? There's no Hell in Krynn. At least, not until the folks at TSR decided to force the Planes onto every single setting, regardless of whether it made sense or not.

Agreed. One of the things I liked about the 3e Realms (and also Eberron) was that they did actually try to set it up with a different planar arrangement. They've since rowed back from that, going so far as to have Elminster repudiate the "great tree" (or whatever it was - it's been a while), but it was good while it lasted.

Likewise, I preferred it what Dragonlance maintained its own cosmology, and when Dark Sun was connected only to the Inner Planes and cut off from Spelljammer. (And, likewise, any setting I homebrew will be its own thing, too.)

 

[Flamestrike]

Background music.

Specifically atmospheric 'fantasy' stuff designed to heighten the tension and set the mood.

No.

Just no.

Do yourself a favor and throw some Manowar on in the background.

I cant listen to Holy War, Black wind Fire and Steel or Dark Avenger without wanting to play a Vengance Paladin.

 

[Azurewraith]

Do yourself a favor and throw some Manowar on in the background.

I cant listen to Holy War, Black wind Fire and Steel or Dark Avenger without wanting to play a Vengance Paladin.

Ok have to give XP just for a manowar reference

 

[Flamestrike]

Ok have to give XP just for a manowar reference

You can base whole characters off their songs:

Full moon's light is calling me
My kingdom lies within
The mystic soul and lion's heart
Brought by the talisman

The ecstasy of battle takes me
Where the falcons fly
Immortal youth was granted me
I will never die

Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born to teach them all to heel
Born of black wind, fire and steel

Pounded by the hammers
Of the giants of the world
I can see in darkness
I'm the overlord

Single combat I await
My shadow brings them fear
The spikes upon my chariot
Will grind them when they're near

Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born to teach them all to heel
Born of black wind, fire and steel

I am an outcast
On the path of no return
Punisher and swordsman
I was born to burn

Black wind always follows
Where my black horse rides
Fire's in my soul
Steel is on my side

Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born to teach them all to heel
Born of black wind, fire and steel

I am an outcast
On the path of no return
Punisher and swordsman
I was born to burn

Black wind always follows
Where my black horse rides
Fire's in my soul
Steel is on my side

Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born of black wind, fire and steel
Born to teach them all to heel
Black wind, fire and steel

Black wind, fire and steel
Black wind, fire and steel
Born to teach them all to heel
Black wind, fire and steel

Thats one for all you Vengance Paladins out there. That or Dark Avenger for all you Vengance Paladins with a more evil bent (the lyrics to which I wont post here!)