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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Crazy Jerome" data-source="post: 5815275" data-attributes="member: 54877">Some days that I suspect that the biggest problem with such mechanical tools for DMs is not the tools themselves but clearly communicating what they do, when to use them, and what their limits are.  Wandering monster tables are an example of a tool that is routinely disparaged due to misunderstanding of the disparager.  (Not that all objections to them are of this nature, but a significant and regular portion are.) Plus, I think this is one of those things were individual styles and talents makes it difficult to talk to each other, because not every DM will value any given tool.  Some times I want the tool, have no issue using it well, and find it very helpful (e.g. wandering monster tables).  Other times, as far as I'm concerned, it might as well not exist (e.g. name generators, "dungeon dressing" generators).  Those tools are needed at moments when stopping to consult them will totally destroy the flow in my head--or during prep, when I don't really need the tool anyway.  But I realize that's just me. So I guess it is important for me that any tool be clear enough in its application that I can use it or not, but still get results reasonably consistent with it using my judgment.  Perhaps not everyone will agree, but I find the 4E treasure parcel system to be of this nature.  I used it exactly once, grasped what it was doing, and promptly ignored it from then on.  It was still useful to me as a quick way to learn what the 4E team expected for magic item balance (better for me than the 3E treasure rules, which I also eventually grasped and ignored), but only as a teaching tool of designer intentions.</blockquote>

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