D&D General [rant]The conservatism of D&D fans is exhausting.

[Bedrockgames]

If he was like, really struggling, and his books desperately needed art, I'd disagree with it but could forgive it. But frankly his Kickstarters do extremely well, and actual art is not inherently expensive - you just have to actually look around and find reasonably-priced artists (there's no shortage of them!). So him refusing to do that really doesn't work for me. If he changes his tune next Kickstarter I'd happily pay more for a "real art" illustrated book. It's a black mark rather a permanent dealbreaker imho.

I don’t use AI art at all, still happy to hire artists. I always felt that art was as much a part of the book as the writing (look at the old Ravenloft books with Fabian art and compare them to ones without it and the mood changes).

But art is the most expensive part of making a book for me. There are cheap options but they either look cheap or you are under paying if they look good. I am not saying he should use AI. But art as one of the bigger expenses is a real thing

 

[Umbran]

... or something equally absolutely demented.

Between this and at least one other post, it is time to mention - if you aren't going to treat others with respect, maybe just don't respond.

Because the dismissive tone is starting to be a problem.

 

[Micah Sweet]

If he was like, really struggling, and his books desperately needed art, I'd disagree with it but could forgive it. But frankly his Kickstarters do extremely well, as do his aftersales on Drivethru (rarely does he not have multiple books in the top 100, often in the top 20), and actual art is not inherently expensive - you just have to actually look around and find reasonably-priced artists (there's no shortage of them!). So him refusing to do that really doesn't work for me. If he changes his tune next Kickstarter I'd happily pay more for a "real art" illustrated book. It's a black mark rather a permanent dealbreaker imho.

To each their own. I really have no dog in the AI art race.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don’t use AI art at all, still happy to hire artists. I always felt that art was as much a part of the book as the writing (look at the old Ravenloft books with Fabian art and compare them to ones without it and the mood changes).

But art is the most expensive part of making a book for me. There are cheap options but they either look cheap or you are under paying if they look good. I am not saying he should use AI. But art as one of the bigger expenses is a real thing

Art has never been a big factor to me. If it's unclear what something looks like, I want a picture. That's about it.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I don’t use AI art at all, still happy to hire artists. I always felt that art was as much a part of the book as the writing (look at the old Ravenloft books with Fabian art and compare them to ones without it and the mood changes).

But art is the most expensive part of making a book for me. There are cheap options but they either look cheap or you are under paying if they look good. I am not saying he should use AI. But art as one of the bigger expenses is a real thing

Sure, but it's a choice, and he's not struggling - he's making hundreds of thousands every time. He managed to afford real art on his much less successful KSes too, I note.

I will say I notice he made a lot less on the openly AI-art-using Ashes Without Number than Cities Without Number, where most people (including me) didn't learn he'd accepted/used some or all AI art until after the KS, and I suspect there's a connection there, because whilst there was no organised boycott (which rarely work anyway), I know I and a couple of other people I know were put off by that. So maybe he'll learn a lesson? Maybe it's worth commissioning $3k or $5k of art when you're going to make $100k more on the KS and get a better rep?

 

[Bedrockgames]

Art has never been a big factor to me. If it's unclear what something looks like, I want a picture. That's about it.

I get it. And cranky my life would be easier if most people felt that way lol. But I must admit I like art as part of conveying the concept and setting. Doesn’t have to be fancy, I actually prefer black and white.

 

[Kromanjon]

As requested:



Note, Kromanjon, I am not trying to re-litigate this with you. I am only quoting the post because Bedrockgames asked for the place where that was said.

You didn’t want to re-litigate but you pull me in when you call my opinion patently ridiculous in a post where you don’t even quote me, basically denying me a chance to defend against your strawman. Do better.

The quote about the GMs power being worth naught never stated the GM had no power. It said ALL that power, meaning the GM has a lot of power. However it is not inherently worth anything at all without player buy in.

 

[Campbell]

Opinions on flexibility of games that utilize daily resource refresh or other time-based resource refreshes are going to very much depend on how comfortable you are with long stretches of play where we are tracking resources, but they are not close to being challenged. There's nothing I hate more than tracking stuff that does not matter. My experience is that these sorts of games are really only compelling when you are dealing with well detailed site-based adventures where there is a cost for resting.

 

[Kromanjon]

Then use whatever term you choose that makes you happy. What do YOU call it when someone is railroaded behind the scenes in such a way that they often can't see it, such as with the quantum ogre that is behind whichever door they pick?

Some call it the invisible railroad, others the illusionism railroad, and it is a railroad because the DM is invalidating PC choice by forcing them down the path he wants them on. What kind of railroad do you call the kind you can't see?

It only has to be one single time for it to be a railroad. One time won't make it a railroad game, but that one time will be an instance of the DM railroading the players in such a way that it's not easily seen.

You’re very passionate about the hobby, I see that, but it’s hard to bring any kind of nuance to a discussion when so much as hinting there might be a planned scenario constitutes a railroad.

And what term do I use? None. I judge GMs on a case by case basis. No need for categories.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Opinions on flexibility of games that utilize daily resource refresh or other time-based resource refreshes are going to very much depend on how comfortable you are with long stretches of play where we are tracking resources, but they are not close to being challenged. There's nothing I hate more than tracking stuff that does not matter. My experience is that these sorts of games are really only compelling when you are dealing with well detailed site-based adventures where there is a cost for resting.

That's a pretty excellent point.

2E, 3E, and 5E have all featured a lot of tracking of resources that aren't actually going to run out or even have to be rationed on a given day. It's usually only your top three levels of spells that really are likely to be depleted, and even then, in so many D&D games, one-combat or two-combat workdays are so common - due to plot, not due to player shenanigans or DM incompetence - that often doesn't happen.

4E's tracking of more limited and commonly-depleted resources was much closer to serving an actual purpose, and less burdensome too, as only Dailies and Healing Surges really needed tracking outside of an individual combat.