D&D General Why Exploration Is the Worst Pillar

[mrpopstar]

Exploration is the worst because it's onerous for the Dungeon Master in comparison to the other two pillars. If you want to follow all of the suggested guidance, you do have to be running a command center behind the screen. It takes time to figure that out and find your groove. There could be better ways for the game to approach it, but what we have isn't underdeveloped trash.

How's that?

 

[iserith]

It takes time to figure that out and find your groove.

Unacceptable - I don't want to spend time developing a skill. I want a button to push or a pill to take. And I certainly don't want to read the DMG!

 

[Ovinomancer]

Exploration is the worst because it's onerous for the Dungeon Master in comparison to the other two pillars. If you want to follow all of the suggested guidance, you do have to be running a command center behind the screen. It takes time to figure that out and find your groove. There could be better ways for the game to approach it, but what we have isn't underdeveloped trash.

How's that?

Aside from it being impossible to follow all of the guidance because there's a good bit self-contradictory stuff? I mean, easy example, actually read the DMG page on inspiration.

 

[mrpopstar]

Aside from it being impossible to follow all of the guidance because there's a good bit self-contradictory stuff? I mean, easy example, actually read the DMG page on inspiration.

What am I looking for when I read it? So I can see what you see.

Edit: Actually, let's not do the inspiration thing again.

 

[mrpopstar]

We're 30+ pages deep on this thread, everyone has stated their position, there's plenty here for anyone frustrated with exploration to get a sense of what's what, the conversation has run it's course, let's all high-five and go tackle something else.

 

[Ovinomancer]

What am I looking for when I read it? So I can see what you see.

I dunno, maybe contradictory suggestions in the rules? That is what I said, right?

 

[Ovinomancer]

We're 30+ pages deep on this thread, everyone has stated their position, there's plenty here for anyone frustrated with exploration to get a sense of what's what, the conversation has run it's course, let's all high-five and go tackle something else.

No one is forced to participate and it's a bit presumptuous to attempt to unilaterally declare the discussion over, yes?

 

[Chaosmancer]

I'm still about 15 pages back, and catching up, but I had a thought and I don't want to forget it.

Exploration never solves the problem.

A successful combat can end a problem by defeating the source of the problem. Or maybe you need a McGuffin to end the threat and you explore to find it... you likey have a combat after finding it and then another as you try to use it.

Or same thing with a social encounter. You can solve the problem by talking it through, using social connections. Maybe you need to explore to find the evidence to convict the bad guy... there was likely a fight before and a social encounter after to convince people with the evidence.

Exploration is the connective tissue, but it never seems to actually solve the problem by itself. It always is leading to either a combat or social encounter that solves the problem.

 

[robus]

Exploration is the connective tissue, but it never seems to actually solve the problem by itself. It always is leading to either a combat or social encounter that solves the problem.

Put another way, exploration sets up a dramatic question and an encounter (combat or social) answers it one way or another. Though sometimes the dramatic question is “can the party make it across death valley before succumbing?” so that could be an extended exploration encounter

 

[Hussar]

For reference, I have control of the other characters who will act as reasonable players. I had their spells and stats, but I'll assume your spell lists for them all.

Your character is the druid.

I'll let you know what the party does, you can choose what the druid does and I'll let you know how it all pans out. I'll let you go first, though, so you don't feel like you're doubling up on someone else.

Again, its up to you how you want to proceed.

Your players never talk to each other? Never plan anything or choose resources as a group?

That would explain a lot if they didn't.