D&D 5E What is Quality?

[Oofta]

I've found the problem isn't a player forgetting to use inspiration. It's a DM forgetting to, or being too distracted to give it out. The ONLY times (in recent memory) I can remember a player getting it (when I've also been a player) is when that player did something extraordinary or was spotlight hogging and REALLY got the DMs attention. That's my issue with it.

I liked the concept of inspiration when it first came out, but I find that I never use it even though I've tried a few variations. The reason to have inspiration seems to be to have a meta-game carrot in order to RP more. To encourage a person to play and act out their character. As the PHB states, it's used to "reward you for playing your character in a way that’s true to his or her personality traits, ideal, bond, and flaw".

But it's a metagame tool, which means that as we're playing as a DM I'm supposed to be constantly thinking of the metagame instead of just engaging with the players at the table. But it also means that I'm supposed to keep track of TIBF for all of my player's PCs. I can barely remember the PC's names half the time, how am I supposed to remember all of that? So not only can it be a bit immersion breaking for me, both as a player and DM, TIBF is often so vague that there's not much there. I mean, if my PC's ideal is "I work hard to be the best there is at my craft", what does the player or DM do with that?

Inspiration, along with TIBF are interesting concepts and I'm sure for some people they give the appropriate nudge or add to character concepts. I just find that they're always ignored.

 

[Maxperson]

But it's a metagame tool, which means that as we're playing as a DM I'm supposed to be constantly thinking of the metagame instead of just engaging with the players at the table. But it also means that I'm supposed to keep track of TIBF for all of my player's PCs. I can barely remember the PC's names half the time, how am I supposed to remember all of that? So not only can it be a bit immersion breaking for me, both as a player and DM, TIBF is often so vague that there's not much there. I mean, if my PC's ideal is "I work hard to be the best there is at my craft", what does the player or DM do with that?

Yeah. I don't bother tracking TIBF for the players. Instead, whenever there's a really cool RP moment where I think, "Wow! That was a really good RP moment." I will award inspiration to the players. My players can track their own TIBF and integrate it into their roleplay. I don't need to do it myself.

 

[Oofta]

Kinda with you, but I think you are making a mistake here like the original 5 star vs McD's argument. People dont pick McD's because they like it better, they pick it because you cant get a Gordon Ramsey burger at the price of a happy meal. As for health, 5 Star restaurants have menus too. You can get a healthy 5 star meal like you can get a salad at McDs.

While I don't care for McD's, if I had a choice between a random expensive restaurant and Culver's (another fast food chain) I'd probably pick the Culver's. It's not just the money, although that is part of it. It's that I've had consistently satisfying food at Culver's but expensive restaurants are always hit and miss for me.

Wine is a different story. Price often determines quality, but its not a sure factor of quality. Sometimes a wine is expensive only because it's rare. Wineries also have seasonal crop effectiveness to their quality. Some years will just be better than others. Hard to account for that in pricing, but the best wineries have the best crop and technique. Which, is why they often fetch the best prices due to the power of their brand.

Several studies have shown that unless you are a trained sommelier, you probably can't tell the difference[1]. Most people have to have special training to distinguish wines. On the other hand, if they know (or are told whether it's true or not) that one wine is more expensive than the other, the more expensive wine will be deemed higher quality.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Well, getting whacked and dropping in HP is a pretty good indicator that you can do something about it. Also, dont let GMs off the hook, they forget about it too.

For sure. A GM forgetting about Inspiration then is perhaps no different from a GM forgetting that Ability Checks should only be called for when there is a meaningful consequence for failure. But that's a different thread.

Fortunately, there is an easy fix for the former as @Mort posted, making a good mechanic (for some+) even better.

 

[payn]

While I don't care for McD's, if I had a choice between a random expensive restaurant and Culver's (another fast food chain) I'd probably pick the Culver's. It's not just the money, although that is part of it. It's that I've had consistently satisfying food at Culver's but expensive restaurants are always hit and miss for me.

The consistency that comes with brand shows its power again!

Several studies have shown that unless you are a trained sommelier, you probably can't tell the difference[1]. Most people have to have special training to distinguish wines. On the other hand, if they know (or are told whether it's true or not) that one wine is more expensive than the other, the more expensive wine will be deemed higher quality.

Right, folks judge quality at the rate of their ability. The less you know, the more you lean on factors like price and brand recognition.

 

[Morrus]

While I don't care for McD's, if I had a choice between a random expensive restaurant and Culver's (another fast food chain) I'd probably pick the Culver's. It's not just the money, although that is part of it. It's that I've had consistently satisfying food at Culver's but expensive restaurants are always hit and miss for me.

Of course, you're also paying for the atmosphere and the service. When I go out to dinner with friends, we'll be there for 3 hours or so, eat 2-3 courses, drink. It's not just the food (although that is often delicious). I'm not going to spend 3 hours eating a cheeseburger at McD's.

 

[delericho]

Several studies have shown that unless you are a trained sommelier, you probably can't tell the difference[1]. Most people have to have special training to distinguish wines. On the other hand, if they know (or are told whether it's true or not) that one wine is more expensive than the other, the more expensive wine will be deemed higher quality.

Yeah, but that survey was done in Scotland. Once it's been battered and fried, it all tastes the same.

 

[Oofta]

The consistency that comes with brand shows its power again!

Which to me is one indication of quality.

Right, folks judge quality at the rate of their ability. The less you know, the more you lean on factors like price and brand recognition.

Yes, but is that judgement influenced by the actual quality of the beverage or the knowledge of it's rarity and price?

I don't think there will ever be a perfect way of judging quality. It's always going to be based on criteria. A bison burger is higher quality for me because I put value on lower fat and cholesterol content. Others prefer beef with a high fat content. I prefer Culver's over a "gourmet" burger because I don't eat all that much red meat and I can get a single burger Culver's (and is still an exception to my general "try to eat healthy" rule) where a gourmet burger will have additions I don't care for and be far more hamburger than I would ever want.

I will be the first to admit my wanting a cheap burger instead of a fancy meal is an oddity. Then again I grew up in farm country where I could get really, really good steaks when I wanted but general food choices were decidedly limited.

 

[Oofta]

Yeah, but that survey was done in Scotland. Once it's been battered and fried, it all tastes the same.

Hmm ... that's an interesting idea for our next state fair. Wonder if you could get away with Fried Merlot on a Stick?

 

[Mort]

Hmm ... that's an interesting idea for our next state fair. Wonder if you could get away with Fried Merlot on a Stick?

Iowa State Fair had fried butter, fried merlot should be a cinch!