Consistency.
-omitted-
Authority.
Agree with pretty much everything you said, but I would also say that the number one reason I see for wanting official products is consistency of rules and authority to resolve debates on RAW/RAI by a third party.
Players: "
Why GM! the books says I can do X so I built my character around X, but now your saying I can't do X at all even though I could do it last session!?!?"
<Calling the Authority of Official to in force consistency in the rules, so the GM doesn't change the rules to shift the sands in there favor when it convenient to them. >
GM: "
Look, this isn't homebrew, the rules are the rules. I am not telling you how to play, I didn't make new rules for this fight, nor did I build this encounter. It's official content and was play tested and deemed fine. I can tweak some stuff a little bit but I pretty much intend to stick to the script"
< Calling the Authority of Official to in force consistency in the rules, means being able to hold the players to same rules with out having to take the blame for each player having something they don't like. One player doesn't like grappling rules, one does like perception rules, one doesn't like not being all powerful... they all try to blame it on the GM but the GM didn't make this. So instead of everything being the GMs fault. If the GM
chooses to introduce homebrew at the players request the GM doing the player a favor.>
The power of making debates about a trusted 3rd Parties rules removes a certain
personal accountability from the players and GM. Any argument where players and GM disagree can be resolved by just taking the official answer which almost always is expectable by both parties without becoming personal. Players on the other hand can't homebrew while GM homebrew that players don't like can be personally insulting to the GM when rejected and feel like personal attacks to players when its specifically them who is effected (usually nerfed or restricted). Like wise when a player brings in a 3rd party character from a non-official source and it does badly the GM can easily blame players for finding something broken and/or trying to power game. Official content can be circumstantially broken but the player can point to it not being the character but the combination of the character and the setup the GM created. In that case, the player has an argument not to be robbed of their "chance to shine" instead of being called a power gamer.
Some Players will still power game and some GMs will still rail road, but both players and GMs
feel like they are less likely to have to deal with these if they use only official material. Which often leads to players being restricted to official and no-UA content. It also leads to GMs who have been continually nagged by players not liking their homebrew or have to settle debates between player preferences in homebrew by just calling official.
Essay done. Sorry for the long post. But if you know me you know I write books in forums. … still sorry though. Thanks for reading.
