D&D General The Tyranny of Rarity

[jmartkdr2]

I normally do spotlighted races (listing my preferred races in the world) and a banned list. The banned list is very small atm it's no fliers. I might ban peace and twilight clerics idk.

I do themed games players get to pick the theme from a list. If the players don't co-operate I'll offer to change the theme. If they're all being contrarian no game I'll boot myself.

Or more generally: if all of your players are pushing back against your restrictions, perhaps this isn't the right game for this group.

If only one player is pushing back, it's them. If all of them are - then perhaps you should be doing something differently.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Your assuming the players always getting what they want equates to fun... thats an incorrect assumption.

What inherent in the position of DM makes them arbiter of all that is fun who knows what's good for the players?

 

[billd91]

Most fantasy novels have a competent magic system* too, but they never change that in D&D either.

*Vance's system was competent in his sci-fi series where it made sense and was fun. This has not translated into D&D.

I would argue that most fantasy novels don't have a competent magic system. There's nothing systematic about most of them, they're mostly just narrative and serve the purpose of the story. It's very hard to tease a magical system out of most novels - just occasional impressions of magic as it becomes useful to the characters in the story.

 

[Lyxen]

I would argue that most fantasy novels don't have a competent magic system. There's nothing systematic about most of them, they're mostly just narrative and serve the purpose of the story. It's very hard to tease a magical system out of most novels - just occasional impressions of magic as it becomes useful to the characters in the story.

And yet, there are exceptions, the Wheel of Time is not too bad, and Brandon Sanderson always design systematic and intricate magic systems that greatly support the narrative.

 

[Arilyn]

Your assuming the players always getting what they want equates to fun... thats an incorrect assumption.

This would make a boring game so I think most players don't want things to go their way all the time. The players I've had over the years usually choose to make their characters' lives harder when given the chance. Up the drama and angst!

 

[Imaro]

What inherent in the position of DM makes them arbiter of all that is fun who knows what's good for the players?

Where did you get that as my position from what I said? I specifically call out that even the DM not having a singular focus (PC and/or party) to advocate for and provide for his interaction with the game doesn't guarantee he is an "arbiter of all that is fun who knows what's good for the players". That said my point is numbers (especially when there are usually more players than a DM) shouldn't be the go to for determining "all that is fun...[and] what's good for the players". If anything I am more apt to trust the DM to make a more neutral call than the players, especially if I have trusted him or her enough to play in their game. I know myself and I know I am going to advocate for my character and what they desire as a player.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Speaking of fantasy worlds, serious question. Other than books specifically set in FR or other D&D property, how many fantasy novels have anything similar to the number of different races that D&D has?

I mentioned the SpellSinger series from Foster, it was populated with all sorts of anthropomorphic animals. But most fantasy novels I've read? Only a handful. Then again I freely admit my selection is somewhat limited.

Star Wars does, and is by far my favorite DnD setting.

(Hot take: it really is the best DnD setting)

But for the most part, it's definitely not the norm. Shannara has four or five races, and I guess technically Discworld, but most seem to have humans and maybe one or two others, even if you include explicitly "monstrous"/antagonist races (ie Wheel of Time has humans, ogier, and trollocs. And arguably up to two other speaking races.)

 

[Scars Unseen]

If all of them are - then perhaps you should be doing something differently.

If all of them are, then one of them is welcome to DM instead. I

 

[Oofta]

What inherent in the position of DM makes them arbiter of all that is fun who knows what's good for the players?

Someone has to make the final call.

In all my years of DMing, it's been an issue with exactly one person. The maniacal fun killing DM is a strawman.

I'm not a big fan of "always say yes" no matter which side of the DM screen I sit.

Star Wars does, and is by far my favorite DnD setting.

(Hot take: it really is the best DnD setting)

But for the most part, it's definitely not the norm. Shannara has four or five races, and I guess technically Discworld, but most seem to have humans and maybe one or two others, even if you include explicitly "monstrous"/antagonist races (ie Wheel of Time has humans, ogier, and trollocs. And arguably up to two other speaking races.)

See, Star Wars having that many species makes sense. Hundreds of worlds, hundreds of different species.

Although why all of their tech is so advanced and primitive at the same time remains a mystery. Which I'm sure has an an explanation somewhere.

 

[jmartkdr2]

If all of them are, then one of them is welcome to DM instead. I

Or perhaps you didn't clearly explain what you're trying to do. Resistance to restrictions is usually, in my experience, rooted in a lack of buy-in to whatever the dm is going for, which is due to the dm selling the idea poorly more often that any problem in execution of the idea.