D&D 5E The 'Optional' DMG

[airwalkrr]

The DMG is totally optional. When I ran AD&D I didn't even own a monster manual, fiend folio, gazetteer or any of those fancy books. All I had was a borrowed copy of the Player's Handbook, a pencil, some paper, and a few second-hand dice (I didn't even have a full set). That first campaign I ran was epic! Sure, it centered on demi-humans quite a bit, but my players and I loved it. We still talk about it to this day. When 3e came out and the PH was the only thing available for a while we didn't run any of the adventures that were released with it. We came up with our own stuff! And it kicked ass! (at least to us) Even to this day, although I mostly use a mish-mash of various 3e-Pf-5e ideas and my house rules change slightly over time, I still prefer coming up with my own stuff. I happened to acquire money at some point in my life and used it to build up a collection of books, including all the DMGs, but I have read them the least of any of my books. My number 1 source material for D&D is fiction and other games!

Now this is purely my opinion. It just so happened that when I learned about the existence of D&D I already knew about other RPGs and had been scribbling down notes and short stories about epic heroes of fantasy of my own design. I had also been influenced by a lot of fiction (and the only one which I had read which was in Appendix N was The Hobbit). So I had plenty of ideas to draw from. And I feel I am a naturally creative person anyway. 5e is no different from previous editions. Any DM with a little creativity and the basic rules can create an entire world in which to adventure. The DMG can be an invaluable resource to a novice DM or offer some helpful tips for experienced ones, and might be inspiration for adventure (I especially like it when a DMG includes ideas on sci-fi elements; Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, anyone?). But it is by no means necessary.

Do I still wanna own it? Hell yea!

 

[pemerton]

The DMG has been optional since 2nd Edition.

The 4e DMG is not optional - it has the standard DC tables and damage expressions, and the skill challenge mechanics. These are core mechanics.

The DMG is totally optional. When I ran AD&D I didn't even own a monster manual, fiend folio, gazetteer or any of those fancy books. All I had was a borrowed copy of the Player's Handbook, a pencil, some paper, and a few second-hand dice (I didn't even have a full set). That first campaign I ran was epic!

What did you do without to-hit tables or saving throw tables?

 

[delericho]

The 4e DMG is not optional - it has the standard DC tables and damage expressions, and the skill challenge mechanics. These are core mechanics.

Okay, page 42 I'll give you. The Skill Challenges not so much, given that those rules don't work as written.

 

[wedgeski]

From a campaign and adventure design standpoint, the DMG has been essential for me. The monster design toolkit, traps and hazards, magic items...sure these things exist in a dozen other books on my shelf, but I want to see the designers' take for 5E before I sit down to work seriously on my next campaign.

 

[Plaguescarred]

DMG is optional, basic rules are enough to DM. I have been DMing 5E without it for quite some time so its definitly not mandatory. But boy what an excellent addition to your DM toolkit if you ask me, its full of gems!!

 

[TerraDave]

The actual poll results are pretty evenly divided.

Of course, we have all the posts saying "Back in my day, we DMed with a photocopy of Appendix N (not any of the the books, mind ya, just the page) and a copy of the Dungeon Geomorphs, and we liked it!"

Yes, you are all amazing DMs. You need nothing.

Of course, this is a naive poll. What matters is not what people say but what they do, or buy, in this case. Maybe in the new year.

 

[airwalkrr]

The DMG is totally optional. When I ran AD&D I didn't even own a monster manual, fiend folio, gazetteer or any of those fancy books. All I had was a borrowed copy of the Player's Handbook, a pencil, some paper, and a few second-hand dice (I didn't even have a full set). That first campaign I ran was epic!

What did you do without to-hit tables or saving throw tables?

Well, we knew they existed, and I think a player gave me a xeroxed copy of them. But we roleplayed a lot more than we fought, and when we fought, the description of the attack was more interesting to us than the mechanical bonuses. I gave a lot of off-the-cuff bonuses to hit for cool descriptions. We almost never used saving throws except against spells. And I just came up with some house rules that were quick and dirty inspired by other games I had played plus easier to use for our more narrative style of playing. Things like dragons and giants weren't creatures to be fought in our opinion, but things to run away from or sneak around. In summation, we played fast and loose with the rules. You don't need a concrete rules set to roleplay. Looking back, it probably would not have fit a lot of other players' concept of AD&D, but we made it fun.

 

[Iosue]

I'm with [MENTION=6701422]Plaguescarred[/MENTION]. The DMG is awesome, and I'd recommend it to anyone. But is a it needed? No.

 

[was]

I voted I don't know. IME, the key to answering this question is the overall experience of the person acting as the DM.

...The DMG is very useful, but not essential, to an experienced DM. Particularly ones who have DM'd multiple game systems and/or editions.
...The DMG is more essential for a novice, or relatively inexperienced DM, who has less experience in dealing with the unknowns that arise during game play. Thus having a written guide increases their confidence and performance.

 

[Jester David]

The DMG is currently needed. There's simply too much that didn't make it into Basic, like treasure tables, an acceptable minimum amount of treasure, DCs, damage by level, etc.

There's talk from WotC that they might update the DM's Basic rules, but it's been almost a month since the DMG went on sale at WPN stores and still no sign. But the holidays a good excuse.