D&D 5E (2024) How do you run an open table game in D&D '24?

[bedir than]

Stock up on premade character sheets. Don't include spellcasters in premade characters. If someone wants a spellcaster, they make one at home or come early to create one with you - that is a miminum they can do as a player to respect you and other players.

I might think that a Warlock would work because the simple version is cantrip and a big spell once in a while

 

[Clint_L]

Students come and go at D&D Club all the time. I just keep them all at the same level; nobody cares and it's much easier to track, create encounters, etc. And it sounds like the purpose of this is to give them a taste of the game. I definitely concur with using the most current rules; for me the main imperative is to make it easy for them to spin off their own games once they get the taste, and you aren't doing them any favours by teaching them a niche system or a system from your youth. The current rules will give them, by far, the system where they are most likely to find other players (better still, use DDB).

I don't bother with experience points; most new TTRPGs don't use them and they're a PITA in this kind of situation in particular. Just have a campaign level, and if that means some players level up after missing a few games, or join with a 4th level character, then that's fine.

I don't really understand the claim that the 2024 rules can't support open table play; it's not hard.

 

[Distracted DM]

Students come and go at D&D Club all the time. I just keep them all at the same level; nobody cares and it's much easier to track, create encounters, etc. And it sounds like the purpose of this is to give them a taste of the game. I definitely concur with using the most current rules; for me the main imperative is to make it easy for them to spin off their own games once they get the taste, and you aren't doing them any favours by teaching them a niche system or a system from your youth. The current rules will give them, by far, the system where they are most likely to find other players (better still, use DDB).

I don't bother with experience points; most new TTRPGs don't use them and they're a PITA in this kind of situation in particular. Just have a campaign level, and if that means some players level up after missing a few games, or join with a 4th level character, then that's fine.

I don't really understand the claim that the 2024 rules can't support open table play; it's not hard.

Yeah, as posted earlier 5e's flat math makes differently-leveled parties playing together fine. And if you're running open table play, a club or a FLGS, keeping everyone the same level and skipping XP makes sense.

The only thing I don't understand is the statement that "most new TTRPGs don't use experience points."

 

[Lanefan]

... everyone I've talked to is 100% adamant that you can NEVER have varying levels within the same party; ...

Whoever is saying this probably cut their teeth on 3e or 4e, which were way harsher on in-party level variance than is 5e.

 

[Scott Christian]

I'm considering starting an open-table D&D campaign at my LGS since several people have come in the past couple of weeks asking about regular D&D games at the shop (there aren't really any) or wanting to learn to play; usually I'd be trying to push "OSR" style games or older editions (my personal preference) but people want to play D&D, not a game that's "just like D&D but...". I would plan to use the old "TSR Hobby Shop Dungeon" approach that I read about in Ernie Gygax's (rest in peace) Marmoreal Tomb, which is close to but not quite what the kids nowadays call "West Marches", the main points of which are:

1) Sessions are scheduled (ostensibly each week), with one single DM and not necessarily with multiple groups (unlike West Marches). Whoever shows up plays; if necessary, a player must create a new character (or promote one, but I don't think D&D'24 has henchmen anymore) to ensure a cohesive party.

2) Each session MUST start and end in a safe place (e.g., a town) to receive treasure and XP (in the old days, this was more important due to 1gp = 1xp, of course)

3) If party levels are too far apart, they need to be balanced (by people having to use/create other characters from their stable)

The first two points can be done easily enough in D&D '24. The third point is the one that seems to be the outlier because everyone I've talked to is 100% adamant that you can NEVER have varying levels within the same party; everyone needs to be equal level at all times to make things "fair", and the idea of saying "Bob your PC is 8th level, you can't play him in a group of 1st levels you need to create an alt character" is openly hostile, which defeats the whole point of people being able to play as they are able, since why commit to play every week if you know that if you miss a month, your character will just get bumped up to everyone else's level when you come back? In older editions (e.g., 1st and 2nd edition), there wouldn't be an issue since A) each class leveled at different XP rates, and B) it was assumed because of A that you could have a 2-3 level gap between PCs and it would be perfectly fine.

I can't figure out how to handle that part and keep the open table—whoever shows up gets to play self-contained adventures in an open-world style game with the current edition—since it's so focused on the "consistent party" gameplay style (which, to be fair, would also have been an issue since the 3rd edition) where everyone is always the same level. I've heard about Adventurer's League, but it seems like WotC has abandoned it except for conventions, as there doesn't seem to be any info on it for D&D 2024.

Is there any way to get around this issue? The hypothetical level gap, if some people can play every session and some can play only once a month or two, is the only thing preventing me from wanting to do this right now, because it seems like D&D'24 cannot support that. Still, it's bound to happen if you go with the idea that if this week, 5 people show up, and next week, 3 people show up, PCs shouldn't receive XP for games they haven't played.

I personally think those rules seem pretty solid. The level piece you can just choose to do via milestones as a group.

If you want a suggestion, I would do Rime of the Frostmaiden, but only the intro, Ten Towns. This gives you a solid setting, and 10 adventures, many of which are pretty darn fun. Then, after those ten, you can create your own wrap up. After that, you can use Saltmarsh or Infinite Staircase for one offs with a home base.

 

[Clint_L]

I think the most important thing is to have clearly prioritized goals for this sort of campaign.

My home game is all about consensus and keeping with the vibe that works for the whole group - it's really a social situation. I assume that's the same for most folks, so whatever is most fun and comfortable for each particular group is what is best. Doesn't matter if it has different levels, uses or doesn't use experience points, etc. If everyone is having a good time, you're doing it right, I figure.

D&D Club, though, has specific objectives, which it sounds like is what the OP is getting at. In that situation, you've got to put aside your own preferences and try to figure out how to best reach those outcomes. Like, you might not be into DDB (totally valid), but recognize that for new players without many resources, it offers a lot of advantages.

 

[Horwath]

Is there any way to get around this issue? The hypothetical level gap, if some people can play every session and some can play only once a month or two, is the only thing preventing me from wanting to do this right now, because it seems like D&D'24 cannot support that. Still, it's bound to happen if you go with the idea that if this week, 5 people show up, and next week, 3 people show up, PCs shouldn't receive XP for games they haven't played.

Solution is simple.

announce what level is the next session.

maybe last 2 sessions your PCs managed to do something important and they advanced the story from 4th to 5th level.
have anyone coming to next session be 5th level.

while you can make different levels work in a same party to a degree, it's is very good idea that all PCs are same level.
if for nothing else, it's less headache for DM to make encounters.

 

[tetrasodium]

This that is a bit of a thread necro, but I'd say IME its best to start with giving out prenade character sheets until you have enough experienced players where you can let one help get a newbie rolling while dealing with any setup & pregame stuff that might come up. Most players walking into a public game for the first time are more than happy to start things out with a pretend and offer to let them make something new before next game if things are hectic and it means they can play tonight after just walking up.

 

[bedir than]

Solution is simple.

announce what level is the next session.

maybe last 2 sessions your PCs managed to do something important and they advanced the story from 4th to 5th level.
have anyone coming to next session be 5th level.

while you can make different levels work in a same party to a degree, it's is very good idea that all PCs are same level.
if for nothing else, it's less headache for DM to make encounters.

I take a closer to classical approach.
Newer players join at the lowest level of the average participating tier. Right now that means first level.
If a non-gaming player does away from table play by advancing towards their goals and plot points via downtime or written play I'll catch them up to the lowest participating player's level (right now that would be 3rd).

The flexibility of 5e means that these characters participate fully and players participate in the functions of the campaign.