D&D General Why Exploration Is the Worst Pillar

[Yora]

10 minutes per turn. Every turn, the remaining time of torches, lamps, and potions decreases by 10 minutes.

 

[Asisreo]

Too abstract for my taste I want a clock.

In the "Time" section of the PHB, they give guidance (not rules) of how the scales of time works. For instance, it takes a minute to check for traps on the door but 10 minutes to search a room.

 

[robus]

In the "Time" section of the PHB, they give guidance (not rules) of how the scales of time works. For instance, it takes a minute to check for traps on the door but 10 minutes to search a room.

Right, but there’s no system.

 

[robus]

Not sure I get the push back on the time pool idea ?! it‘s a simple and effective tool that doesn’t require particular environmental conditions. But I guess different strokes for different folks.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Torches, lanterns and light spells burn for a set duration. As their light dwindles, players are kept aware of the passage of time.

What can you do in an hour? Ask your GM.

 

[Yora]

What's a time pool? Can't find this term appearing before in this thread.

 

[Asisreo]

Not sure I get the push back on the time pool idea ?! it‘s a simple and effective tool that doesn’t require particular environmental conditions. But I guess different strokes for different folks.

No pushback from me, just a reminder about the base guidance.

 

[mrpopstar]

What can you do in an hour? Ask your GM.

I was critical of the minimal guidance provided a few pages back, but I do try to use the minutes scale when tracking movement in dungeon environments as best I can.

Describing the dwindling of light sources has been the most reliable way I've found to communicate time passing. Players do pick up on it, judging the duration of their spells and such by linking them to their torches.

Combat offers a very clear measure of time, I'll give it that.

 

[Aldarc]

I play as close to the rules as written as possible because I think that’s most empowering to the players, but changing the rules as needed to fit what’s happening is a written rule, and I do use discretion in my role as the Dungeon Master to make calls that make sense if the core does not.

I guess I’m just satisfied with a great deal of what the written rules offer in terms of tools for adjudication.

Sure, I get that this is what you do, but the conversation isn't "Why Exploration Is the Worst Pillar except at MrPopStar's Table," but more generally in the wider play culture of the game. And I do think that part of that involves how there is less incorprated structure in the exploration and social pillar in comparison to the combat one (as per even the DMG!), which means that (1) player experiences between DMs will vary more considerably for these pillars than combat (e.g., rulings not rules, GM decides, etc.), and (2) as per @robus's observation: the exploration pillar requires extra work adjusting the dials and knobs from the DM.

 

[Faolyn]

Which is it? I was told that there were IRON CLAD mechanics for determining this. That it was not up for debate in any way. You you two give me conflicting answers right after each other.

I don’t recall anyone saying “iron clad.” All I recall seeing are people saying there are rules that cover it. We both showed you rules.