DMG to include a "starter town".

[T. Foster]

The D&D Expert Set (1983 version) spends, what, 3 pages (including map) describing the town of Threshold? I can't imagine anyone finding that objectionable, and I imagine a lot of people (not just rank newbies) would find it useful -- if nothing more than as a concrete illustration of the designers' assumptions about style and setting.

 

[Imaro]

If the 3e Basic box is any guide towards WotC's thinking, the Basic game focuses on an introduction to the tabletop miniatures aspect of D&D, rather than an introduction to the roleplaying/social aspect.

And this, IMHO, is the bigger problem. The Basic Set is so bad at being a Basic Set it doesn't serve the actual purpose for a new player, and thus the core books are expected to take up the slack. Solution to problem would easily be to create a real Basic Set for players that is actually concerned with giving them a foundation for the game of D&D as opposed to marketing minis and tiles.

 

[The Little Raven]

Web enhancement or DI

Sure, but having something right there, in the book, is pretty comforting to someone new to all this. They are less likely to use things outside of the book.

And if a sample town is in sooo much demand, I'm sure WotC could package one and sell it at a profit for all the people who really want this.

It's not necessarily about answering demand. It's about what will help someone learn the ropes as easily as possible, while providing enough tools to make mastery a long and fun process. Examples help big time. It's the starting point from which potential DMs should approach the core game (because a Basic Set is still pretty limited in terms of what it can teach a potential DM). If spending a few pages on a sample town will help new DMs tackle the game (or give experience DMs like us a town we can throw in at a moment's notice), then it's well worth it.

So what exactly would be an appropriate amount of space, because the blog does say town...and I'm going by the one example of a town in a DMG.

That sorta depends on how extensive the "town generation" section is. If that section has the details for types of places covered enough, then the sample town could be fairly small. My hope would that the town would be maybe 10 pages or so, with 15 on the absolute outside (maybe they include a couple of plot hooks).

 

[Wormwood]

The D&D Expert Set (1983 version) spends, what, 3 pages (including map) describing the town of Threshold? I can't imagine anyone finding that objectionable, and I imagine a lot of people (not just rank newbies) would find it useful -- if nothing more than as a concrete illustration of the designers' assumptions about style and setting.

7 pages into this thread, imagine my surprise at discovering how contentious a few pages actually are!

 

[Korgoth]

A sample town is a great idea. It helps newbies, establishes a common experience and showcases the design assumptions. It also takes some work off the DM if he is pressed for time and wants to start up a quick trad fantasy campaign using published materials.

 

[Fifth Element]

establishes a common experience

This is a big selling point to me. Bargle and the Keep on the Borderlands are two things (for example) that I share with many, many D&D players around the world.

 

[Reynard]

This is a big selling point to me. Bargle and the Keep on the Borderlands are two things (for example) that I share with many, many D&D players around the world.

Effing Bargle!