Only the Lonely: Why We Demand Official Product

[Paul Farquhar]

Did this happen? I didn't know.

I'm sure they meant orcas.

 

[Maxperson]

I'm sure they meant orcas.

More probably he's talking about the part in Dragonlance that says orcs don't exist on Krynn. I mean, that's a reference to orcs.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

More probably he's talking about the part in Dragonlance that says orcs don't exist on Krynn. I mean, that's a reference to orcs.

Actually, Kyrnn is canonically connected to Spelljammer.

So they where probably scro.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Sepulchrave II]

The recent thread concerning canon in 5e seems to overlap somewhat with this one.

I wonder if the desire for canonicity, the need for official product – and maybe even an emphasis on RAW play – are all aspects of the same phenomenon, and describe a certain predisposition when approaching the game. A kind of semi-objective concreteness is offered which removes a sense of ambiguity; it also absolves the DM of some responsibility – and allows them to focus more on the immediate needs of the game.

I do think it’s also probably fair to ask who, in the world of 2020, has the time and inclination to extensively homebrew for themselves? You? Lucky you...

 

[jmucchiello]

*My goodness, are you one of those people that tries to explain why teleporters were used in TOS? It's real simple- because of the show's budget.

Watching The Orville, seeing the shuttles fly to the planet makes me laugh every time I see 30-40 seconds of the show's runtime spent on this. (Aka, the second reason they used transporters instead of model shoots of a shuttle flying to the planet.)

 

[Oofta]

The recent thread concerning canon in 5e seems to overlap somewhat with this one.

I wonder if the desire for canonicity, the need for official product – and maybe even an emphasis on RAW play – are all aspects of the same phenomenon, and describe a certain predisposition when approaching the game. A kind of semi-objective concreteness is offered which removes a sense of ambiguity; it also absolves the DM of some responsibility – and allows them to focus more on the immediate needs of the game.

I do think it’s also probably fair to ask who, in the world of 2020, has the time and inclination to extensively homebrew for themselves? You? Lucky you...

I always do a homebrew campaign. But you know what? I find it far less work and time than running a published campaign while also being much more responsive to my players.

The thing is, I'm lazy. Like really, really lazy when it comes to running a campaign. I have a bunch of lists of random names and locations that I generate online. I think of campaign arcs and plot points during my commute. I jot a few notes down when I get a chance, grab a handful of monsters and I'm ready for a session. I almost never predraw maps other than to have a general idea of the likely areas the PCs are going to go. After the session I jot down a few notes. I use a map I made years ago but only use the portions that actually matter to the PCs.

For me it takes roughly half the time to plan and document a home campaign than to run a mod.

 

[Umbran]

There was no need to be terribly specific about the setting. There was only one TSR setting - Greyhawk. EVERYTHING was made for Greyhawk unless it specifically wasn't.

While Gygax had mentioned his home campaign earlier, the Greyhawk Folio Edition came out in 1980, six years after Basic was published, three years after AD&D.

I don't think it reasonable to suggest that anyone other than Gygax's players, were assumed to be playing in Greyhawk before that time. How can material be "for Greyhawk" when Greyhawk... doesn't really exist in the market?

 

[TwoSix]

I always do a homebrew campaign. But you know what? I find it far less work and time than running a published campaign while also being much more responsive to my players.

The thing is, I'm lazy. Like really, really lazy when it comes to running a campaign. I have a bunch of lists of random names and locations that I generate online. I think of campaign arcs and plot points during my commute. I jot a few notes down when I get a chance, grab a handful of monsters and I'm ready for a session. I almost never predraw maps other than to have a general idea of the likely areas the PCs are going to go. After the session I jot down a few notes. I use a map I made years ago but only use the portions that actually matter to the PCs.

For me it takes roughly half the time to plan and document a home campaign than to run a mod.

Yep, this is me too. The only reason I've leaned towards published settings recently is because they have a map, and because I have players that will actually do some homework to learn the setting.

I've never understood the idea that "prepublished adventures save me time". It takes me way longer to read the book and understand the adventure structure than it does to just make something up. And the stuff I make up is already customized for the PCs!

 

[Fenris-77]

I don't mind the reading part. I read the module through, and decide as I go what I'm going to use and not use. More importantly, I have ideas as I go about what to change and add and whatever. By the time I'm done reading I have a pretty clear picture of what the adventure is going to look like. Everyone has a different process though.