D&D (2024) Poll) Will the DMG2024 have Infinite Quivers?

[Dausuul]

I used to track things like arrows and spell components (in days of yore, before spell focuses existed) very carefully.

Never once did I come close to running out of anything. Eventually I realized it wasn't worth the bother. D&D doesn't want the hassle of a realistic encumbrance system -- where bulk matters as well as weight, and each additional pound has incremental impact, especially in combat -- so it's trivial to lug around all the cheap consumables you could possibly need, and refill any time you hit a medium-sized town.

This is a problem I often see with attempts to impose "realism" in D&D. Enforcing realism in one area (ammo tracking) does not produce realistic results; it merely highlights another area (encumbrance rules) where realism is not being enforced.

Rather than a quiver of infinite arrows, I'd prefer guidance for DMs on creating scenarios where supply tracking matters, coupled with strong advice to not bother otherwise.

 

[Nefermandias]

Be careful! It's only a matter of time before the resource management crowd comes in and proclaim that counting and keeping track of arrows is vital to the feeling of D&D!

Not ironically, I share this opinion.

 

[Clint_L]

We have de facto infinite quivers in the sense that we just assume characters replenish stuff like that when they are in town a we knock off a nominal sum for basic supplies. We only work shopping into the game when they are trying to find something exotic. Otherwise it's "everybody spends X to resupply the essentials" (typically more for spell casters).

 

[Charlaquin]

Do y’all get a lot of archers in the first place? My experience is that players usually either want to play a spellcaster (in which case damage Cantrips are a better option than a ranged weapon anyway) or they want to fight in melee. Very few specifically want to use a bow. I guess you get a dual hand crossbow user from time to time, but otherwise not a lot of ammo tracking is ever even necessary.

 

[Azzy]

This is the best comment so far.

Seriously, just talk about it with your gaming group.

Absolutely! An open and good-faith conversation between DM and players should solve most problems and help everyone to get on the same page.

 

[ezo]

The quiver of Ehlonna was all I ever needed in my games.

 

[Azzy]

Do y’all get a lot of archers in the first place? My experience is that players usually either want to play a spellcaster (in which case damage Cantrips are a better option than a ranged weapon anyway) or they want to fight in melee. Very few specifically want to use a bow. I guess you get a dual hand crossbow user from time to time, but otherwise not a lot of ammo tracking is ever even necessary.

I played an archer ranger (and had two or three quivers).

 

[Vaalingrade]

Do y’all get a lot of archers in the first place? My experience is that players usually either want to play a spellcaster (in which case damage Cantrips are a better option than a ranged weapon anyway) or they want to fight in melee. Very few specifically want to use a bow. I guess you get a dual hand crossbow user from time to time, but otherwise not a lot of ammo tracking is ever even necessary.

Not as primary weapon obviously as you're 'supposed to' play a ranger to be an archer and that's a non-starter. But every rogue generally has a shortbow backup.

 

[Charlaquin]

Not as primary weapon obviously as you're 'supposed to' play a ranger to be an archer and that's a non-starter. But every rogue generally has a shortbow backup.

Oh, sure, in my experience basically every martial character carries some kind of ranged weapon as a backup, or at least a couple thrown weapons. But do they ever actually get used? Maybe once or twice in an adventuring day at most. So, in that case ammo tracking is completely unnecessary because the risk of running out is zero. It could end up mattering for a character who uses a ranged weapon as their primary source of damage, but that’s an exceedingly rare occurrence in my experience.

 

[Charlaquin]

I played an archer ranger (and had two or three quivers).

Yeah, I mean, obviously it does happen. It’s just very rare in my experience.