First of all, yes, I still play D&D 5e. RPG's are hard to come by as they are, over here, and I'm a sucker for books, so there.
So, I've bought the 2024 DMG. Everybody and their mother is sniffing its farts (regardless, I would have bought it anyway because I did like 2014). The 2014 couldn't do anything good in the genpop's eyes, apparently (even though I did think it was the best of the core rulebooks). But anyway, the 2024 DMG.
What don't I like about it?
- There was criticism on the 2014 guide for being too "in medias res", that it chucked you in without telling you what's what. I think that is not the case. But now 2024 speaks to you as if you're "special" (if you catch my drift). I get it, people must learn, and all, but it seems to be made for new DMs, I as a DM of several years don't get much out of it (contrary to what I believed I would).
- 2014 DMG had a fantastic way of building your own dungeon. It's gone.
- 2014 DMG had rules for lasting injuries and massive damage. They're gone.
- 2024 DMG assumes that you as a DM don't get into their Bastions. It's my game, I pretty damn well will go wherever I want to go.
- 2024 DMG seems to take power away from the DM. Used to be as a DM you were, essentially, the judge and boss of the game. But now they have tables and sheets and lists for everything: safety tools, hard and soft limits, even discussing the lethality of your campaign. It's simple. If he dies, he dies.
Generally I think this new DMG shoehorns the Dungeon Master in a subordinate position vs. the players. For those of you who may also already have flicked through it, is it me or do you have the same feeling?
- Edit: I'm too young (as a D&D player in a country that only has it for like ten or so years in big numbers) to have any Greyhawk material (I of course have heard of D&D since the early nineties), and the only thing I can think of is that Greyhawk is too much stripped down to be of any use.
Look up the 1978 version. Everything after that was a mistake.
Well if you bought the 2014 DMG, and you enjoyed it; that's great, and it doesn't matter what other people think. Enjoy the thing that makes you happy.
The 2024 DMG sounds more and more, like a hard no.
I already have enough DMGs.
Quote from: Kerstmanneke82 on November 13, 2024, 02:55:34 AMFirst of all, yes, I still play D&D 5e. RPG's are hard to come by as they are, over here, and I'm a sucker for books, so there.
So, I've bought the 2024 DMG. Everybody and their mother is sniffing its farts (regardless, I would have bought it anyway because I did like 2014). The 2014 couldn't do anything good in the genpop's eyes, apparently (even though I did think it was the best of the core rulebooks). But anyway, the 2024 DMG.
What don't I like about it?
- There was criticism on the 2014 guide for being too "in medias res", that it chucked you in without telling you what's what. I think that is not the case. But now 2024 speaks to you as if you're "special" (if you catch my drift). I get it, people must learn, and all, but it seems to be made for new DMs, I as a DM of several years don't get much out of it (contrary to what I believed I would).
- 2014 DMG had a fantastic way of building your own dungeon. It's gone.
- 2014 DMG had rules for lasting injuries and massive damage. They're gone.
- 2024 DMG assumes that you as a DM don't get into their Bastions. It's my game, I pretty damn well will go wherever I want to go.
- 2024 DMG seems to take power away from the DM. Used to be as a DM you were, essentially, the judge and boss of the game. But now they have tables and sheets and lists for everything: safety tools, hard and soft limits, even discussing the lethality of your campaign. It's simple. If he dies, he dies.
Generally I think this new DMG shoehorns the Dungeon Master in a subordinate position vs. the players. For those of you who may also already have flicked through it, is it me or do you have the same feeling?
- Edit: I'm too young (as a D&D player in a country that only has it for like ten or so years in big numbers) to have any Greyhawk material (I of course have heard of D&D since the early nineties), and the only thing I can think of is that Greyhawk is too much stripped down to be of any use.
The goal at WotC has been to remove the DM from the equation as much as possible. This was very prevalent during late 4E, and has now reared it's head again in the 2024 edition. They want to present you with rules to follow, they don't want you making rulings.
Quote from: M2A0 on November 13, 2024, 09:21:12 AMThe goal at WotC has been to remove the DM from the equation as much as possible. This was very prevalent during late 4E, and has now reared it's head again in the 2024 edition. They want to present you with rules to follow, they don't want you making rulings.
I sarcastically predicted this for 5E in 2009, so given that you were there, can I take it as confirmed that this was something they wanted but just couldn't quite pull off outside the board games? :)
Quote from: Kyle Aaron on November 13, 2024, 03:10:19 AMLook up the 1978 version. Everything after that was a mistake.
There is zero fat or hyperbole in this claim. I've been poring over older material recently, and it's a stone cold fact: pound for pound, the 1e DMG is king.
In all fairness, how long has the OSR community been telling WotC to go fuck themselves?
So yeah, Fisher Price: My First DMG isn't targeted at people who've been around since the 70s. Who didn't see that coming?
Quote from: Armchair Gamer on November 13, 2024, 10:43:04 AMQuote from: M2A0 on November 13, 2024, 09:21:12 AMThe goal at WotC has been to remove the DM from the equation as much as possible. This was very prevalent during late 4E, and has now reared it's head again in the 2024 edition. They want to present you with rules to follow, they don't want you making rulings.
I sarcastically predicted this for 5E in 2009, so given that you were there, can I take it as confirmed that this was something they wanted but just couldn't quite pull off outside the board games? :)
The "we need to remove the DM from the equation" push reached its height in 2010 - early summer 2011. The chief proponent was Kieran Chase. His idea to save 4E was collectible character boosters where you would collect your spells, class, magic items, etc.. in randomized boosters.
Fortunately Mearls & friends started playtesting proto-5E summer of 2011. (Fun fact, the earliest internal incarnation of 5E was essentially 1E D&D using the D20 system).
Quote from: Armchair Gamer on November 13, 2024, 10:43:04 AMQuote from: M2A0 on November 13, 2024, 09:21:12 AMThe goal at WotC has been to remove the DM from the equation as much as possible. This was very prevalent during late 4E, and has now reared it's head again in the 2024 edition. They want to present you with rules to follow, they don't want you making rulings.
I sarcastically predicted this for 5E in 2009, so given that you were there, can I take it as confirmed that this was something they wanted but just couldn't quite pull off outside the board games? :)
The "we need to remove the DM from the equation" push reached its height in 2010 - early summer 2011. The chief proponent was Kieran Chase. His idea to save 4E was collectible character boosters where you would collect your spells, class, magic items, etc.. in randomized boosters.
Fortunately Mearls & friends started playtesting proto-5E summer of 2011. (Fun fact, the earliest internal incarnation of 5E was essentially 1E D&D using the D20 system).
Quote from: M2A0 on November 13, 2024, 11:30:40 AMFortunately Mearls & friends started playtesting proto-5E summer of 2011. (Fun fact, the earliest internal incarnation of 5E was essentially 1E D&D using the D20 system).
With 1E-style lethality, apparently. I remember the ghoul playtest demo ... :)
Quote from: Armchair Gamer on November 13, 2024, 01:25:23 PMQuote from: M2A0 on November 13, 2024, 11:30:40 AMFortunately Mearls & friends started playtesting proto-5E summer of 2011. (Fun fact, the earliest internal incarnation of 5E was essentially 1E D&D using the D20 system).
With 1E-style lethality, apparently. I remember the ghoul playtest demo ... :)
I ran Caves of Chaos using these rules. It was brutal.
Quote from: Kerstmanneke82 on November 13, 2024, 02:55:34 AMGenerally I think this new DMG shoehorns the Dungeon Master in a subordinate position vs. the players. For those of you who may also already have flicked through it, is it me or do you have the same feeling?
This was the design goal of fake 5e. Storygamer shackles on the DM. "The DM is there to serve the players."
Welcome to being little more than a vend-bot.
Quote from: Corolinth on November 13, 2024, 11:15:56 AMIn all fairness, how long has the OSR community been telling WotC to go fuck themselves?
So yeah, Fisher Price: My First DMG isn't targeted at people who've been around since the 70s. Who didn't see that coming?
This is actually not a bad thing and is a sound idea. You really do need to explain to new players and DMs the ropes. AD&D did this in a roundabout way. BX trimmed it down and was easier to get a handle on even with less tools.
Older players seem to keep forgetting that new players on their own kinad you know, need things explained and at least the basics. And then bitch incessantly about how new players "just dont get it."
Problem is wotc is not writing the fake DMG with any good intentions.
Quote from: Omega on November 13, 2024, 02:37:06 PMQuote from: Kerstmanneke82 on November 13, 2024, 02:55:34 AMGenerally I think this new DMG shoehorns the Dungeon Master in a subordinate position vs. the players. For those of you who may also already have flicked through it, is it me or do you have the same feeling?
This was the design goal of fake 5e. Storygamer shackles on the DM. "The DM is there to serve the players."
Welcome to being little more than a vend-bot.
Yes, exactly.
1E DMg had a huge wealth of information, coupled with some of the shittiest, piss poor organization ( even for rpg book of that time.
With the added bonus of Gygax who was very much in his micromanaging mindset of leaving information that need led to be both in the PHB and Monster Manual.
Thieves could build traps who knew because it was in the DMG. Not that I or players did because if you followed RAW you have to draw them. 🖕 Fuck you I ain't doing that.
Random Encounter tables nah DM don't need them in the Monster Manual where they belong. Let's give the DMs time to waste to look at two books.
I still routinely look at my 1E core set for nostalgia and entertainment. Buys let's not kid ourselves at the poor organization and sometimes poor advice given to DMs either.
I love that games like Old School Essentials (B/X cleaned up) still go by the early line of thought that the GM/Referee/DM makes the final call or makes the decision if things aren't covered by the rules.
That is why I am glad I am slowly peace outing on 5e. I am only running it because I have a great group of guys and they want to play it. Once that is done I am selling my books and sticking to OSR games.
In terms of advising people on how to run a good game, the best book I've read is the Lamentations of the Flame Princess Referee Book, but that's out of print, so not a very useful recommendation.
The 1e DMG is certainly very thorough, and interesting as an insight on Gygax himself and his attitudes, but it seems like most of what's in it declines in usefulness if you aren't running AD&D.
Quote from: GhostNinja on November 13, 2024, 05:16:25 PMThat is why I am glad I am slowly peace outing on 5e. I am only running it because I have a great group of guys and they want to play it. Once that is done I am selling my books and sticking to OSR games.
I finished up my last 5e campaign a couple months ago after running it as my main game since early 2015. My son wants the books when he goes to college in September 2025, so that works out. Currently I'm playing in a couple 5e campaigns - two friends are running 5e, one Dragonbane, one had a go at Shadowdark. Shadowdark is my main game now though I definitely want to run Dragonbane again, and probably other games like Cyberpunk Red, maybe some Mini Six. I fancy having a go at a Mini Six super-hero sandbox.
Quote from: ForgottenF on November 13, 2024, 06:42:57 PM...but it seems like most of what's in it declines in usefulness if you aren't running AD&D.
This is a problem with the user, not the product. I've run all kinds of games (5e, OSR, Rolemaster, SotDL, et al.), and I've never found one that the 1e DMG doesn't speak to in some way, and make better...
Quote from: Abraxus on November 13, 2024, 05:07:21 PMlet's not kid ourselves at the poor organization and sometimes poor advice given to DMs either.
The organisation was terrible. But remember they didn't have modern writing software, they were literally cutting and pasting pieces of paper - and basically one guy wrote all those books, and not all in one go, so he'd sometimes slot something in that only occurred to him, or after feedback from people who'd read the previous book.
That said, it was written for a more patient time.
Everything was longer and more roundabout then - just look at
Lord of the Rings, for example. Concise it ain't.
But no, the DM advice was not poor. It was very good. And where it does seem poor, again you have to consider the context of the time. For example, his advice to crack down on annoying players by smashing their characters - well, he had 17 players there in his basement, with 17 players you don't have time to fuck around and talk to people about their feelings, anyone who's annoying needs to be slapped down, better to lose 1 annoying player than have 4 good players give up because of him. When you've just 4 players it's obviously different.
You were expected to read it and then use your common sense. That's also a different time to now. It's like judicial common law vs 9,000 pages of income tax legislation.
Quote from: Abraxus on November 13, 2024, 05:07:21 PM1E DMg had a huge wealth of information, coupled with some of the shittiest, piss poor organization ( even for rpg book of that time.
With the added bonus of Gygax who was very much in his micromanaging mindset of leaving information that need led to be both in the PHB and Monster Manual.
Thieves could build traps who knew because it was in the DMG. Not that I or players did because if you followed RAW you have to draw them. 🖕 Fuck you I ain't doing that.
Random Encounter tables nah DM don't need them in the Monster Manual where they belong. Let's give the DMs time to waste to look at two books.
I still routinely look at my 1E core set for nostalgia and entertainment. Buys let's not kid ourselves at the poor organization and sometimes poor advice given to DMs either.
The Basic D&D rulebook was a much better "Dungeon Master Guide". Well organized, clear explanations and without all the galumphing High Gygaxian Prose and confusing organization.
I definitely find the High Gygaxian inspiring. Moldvay & Mentzer Basic are both good books too, with a different goal.
As far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
Quote from: Nobleshield on November 14, 2024, 08:58:24 AMAs far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
I'm curious to hear any praise of the 2024 DMG, vs the 2014 book. What, if anything; is better?
Quote from: Man at Arms on November 14, 2024, 04:21:31 PMQuote from: Nobleshield on November 14, 2024, 08:58:24 AMAs far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
I'm curious to hear any praise of the 2024 DMG, vs the 2014 book. What, if anything; is better?
I haven't yet read over much beyond the Greyhawk material. I'll get back to you when I have.
Quote from: Kyle Aaron on November 13, 2024, 11:12:59 PMQuote from: Abraxus on November 13, 2024, 05:07:21 PMlet's not kid ourselves at the poor organization and sometimes poor advice given to DMs either.
The organisation was terrible. But remember they didn't have modern writing software, they were literally cutting and pasting pieces of paper - and basically one guy wrote all those books, and not all in one go, so he'd sometimes slot something in that only occurred to him, or after feedback from people who'd read the previous book.
That said, it was written for a more patient time. Everything was longer and more roundabout then - just look at Lord of the Rings, for example. Concise it ain't.
But no, the DM advice was not poor. It was very good. And where it does seem poor, again you have to consider the context of the time. For example, his advice to crack down on annoying players by smashing their characters - well, he had 17 players there in his basement, with 17 players you don't have time to fuck around and talk to people about their feelings, anyone who's annoying needs to be slapped down, better to lose 1 annoying player than have 4 good players give up because of him. When you've just 4 players it's obviously different.
You were expected to read it and then use your common sense. That's also a different time to now. It's like judicial common law vs 9,000 pages of income tax legislation.
Actually the organization is not bad. It is just not organized in a way some prefer.
I've had the same problem with how white Wolf used to organize their books and you'd be nearly half way into the book before even getting to character creation and some rules are squirrled away in examples instead of as actual rule expanations. And they did this in about every core book,
Quote from: HappyDaze on November 15, 2024, 01:00:59 AMQuote from: Man at Arms on November 14, 2024, 04:21:31 PMQuote from: Nobleshield on November 14, 2024, 08:58:24 AMAs far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
I'm curious to hear any praise of the 2024 DMG, vs the 2014 book. What, if anything; is better?
I haven't yet read over much beyond the Greyhawk material. I'll get back to you when I have.
There was a bunch of hype about getting a better DMG, this time around. Perkins was going to make sure it was better. They had 10 years of 5E, to look back upon.
Quote from: Man at Arms on November 15, 2024, 02:13:29 PMQuote from: HappyDaze on November 15, 2024, 01:00:59 AMQuote from: Man at Arms on November 14, 2024, 04:21:31 PMQuote from: Nobleshield on November 14, 2024, 08:58:24 AMAs far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
I'm curious to hear any praise of the 2024 DMG, vs the 2014 book. What, if anything; is better?
I haven't yet read over much beyond the Greyhawk material. I'll get back to you when I have.
There was a bunch of hype about getting a better DMG, this time around. Perkins was going to make sure it was better. They had 10 years of 5E, to look back upon.
Cool. When I get around to reading it, I'll see what measures up, but I've got a novel and two other RPG books lined up first.
Quote from: Man at Arms on November 15, 2024, 02:13:29 PMQuote from: HappyDaze on November 15, 2024, 01:00:59 AMQuote from: Man at Arms on November 14, 2024, 04:21:31 PMQuote from: Nobleshield on November 14, 2024, 08:58:24 AMAs far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
I'm curious to hear any praise of the 2024 DMG, vs the 2014 book. What, if anything; is better?
I haven't yet read over much beyond the Greyhawk material. I'll get back to you when I have.
There was a bunch of hype about getting a better DMG, this time around. Perkins was going to make sure it was better. They had 10 years of 5E, to look back upon.
Perkins is too busy being woke and pissing on that 10 years and the origins, on top of lying through his teeth to contribute anything sane to fake 5e DMG. "The DM is there to serve the people!" "This is still 5e!"
Quote from: Omega on November 16, 2024, 09:31:56 PMQuote from: Man at Arms on November 15, 2024, 02:13:29 PMQuote from: HappyDaze on November 15, 2024, 01:00:59 AMQuote from: Man at Arms on November 14, 2024, 04:21:31 PMQuote from: Nobleshield on November 14, 2024, 08:58:24 AMAs far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
I'm curious to hear any praise of the 2024 DMG, vs the 2014 book. What, if anything; is better?
I haven't yet read over much beyond the Greyhawk material. I'll get back to you when I have.
There was a bunch of hype about getting a better DMG, this time around. Perkins was going to make sure it was better. They had 10 years of 5E, to look back upon.
Perkins is too busy being woke and pissing on that 10 years and the origins, on top of lying through his teeth to contribute anything sane to fake 5e DMG. "The DM is there to serve the people!" "This is still 5e!"
So, you've read the book?
Quote from: Man at Arms on November 15, 2024, 02:13:29 PMQuote from: HappyDaze on November 15, 2024, 01:00:59 AMQuote from: Man at Arms on November 14, 2024, 04:21:31 PMQuote from: Nobleshield on November 14, 2024, 08:58:24 AMAs far as actual info the 2024 book falls flat. The 2014 one had some good advice and charts IIRC. This is like almost 2e levels of trash DMG.
I'm curious to hear any praise of the 2024 DMG, vs the 2014 book. What, if anything; is better?
I haven't yet read over much beyond the Greyhawk material. I'll get back to you when I have.
There was a bunch of hype about getting a better DMG, this time around. Perkins was going to make sure it was better. They had 10 years of 5E, to look back upon.
It was all hype. It is what you get when the material is only seen by the woke echo chamber prior to release. There was supposed to be open playtesting but it never actually happened for either the DMG or the MM.
Quote from: HappyDaze on November 17, 2024, 01:08:00 AMSo, you've read the book?
No. I listened to him spouting off about the book in interview videos.
Quote from: Omega on November 17, 2024, 08:53:28 PMQuote from: HappyDaze on November 17, 2024, 01:08:00 AMSo, you've read the book?
No. I listened to him spouting off about the book in interview videos.
Listening to an interview specifically intended to hype up the product is hardly an accurate way to determine if it's "all hype" or if the book is actually better.
Quote from: S'mon on November 13, 2024, 06:56:53 PMQuote from: GhostNinja on November 13, 2024, 05:16:25 PMThat is why I am glad I am slowly peace outing on 5e. I am only running it because I have a great group of guys and they want to play it. Once that is done I am selling my books and sticking to OSR games.
I finished up my last 5e campaign a couple months ago after running it as my main game since early 2015. My son wants the books when he goes to college in September 2025, so that works out. Currently I'm playing in a couple 5e campaigns - two friends are running 5e, one Dragonbane, one had a go at Shadowdark. Shadowdark is my main game now though I definitely want to run Dragonbane again, and probably other games like Cyberpunk Red, maybe some Mini Six. I fancy having a go at a Mini Six super-hero sandbox.
If you give them to him, they are going to come back covered in beer and nacho cheese. Any book you can't buy now, keep, like volo's ($80 new) and mord's tome of foes ($89 new). Plus as bad as they are bound, buy them now before you are going to only get used.
Quote from: honeydipperdavid on November 18, 2024, 02:09:06 PMIf you give them to him, they are going to come back covered in beer and nacho cheese. Any book you can't buy now, keep, like volo's ($80 new) and mord's tome of foes ($89 new). Plus as bad as they are bound, buy them now before you are going to only get used.
Knowing him they're probably safer with him than if I were using them... also nacho cheese not a thing in UK. :) Anyway if I give him a book it'll be his, not a loan. That said, I am now tempted to sell Volo's & Mord's ToF :D
Quote from: S'mon on November 18, 2024, 03:36:35 PMQuote from: honeydipperdavid on November 18, 2024, 02:09:06 PMIf you give them to him, they are going to come back covered in beer and nacho cheese. Any book you can't buy now, keep, like volo's ($80 new) and mord's tome of foes ($89 new). Plus as bad as they are bound, buy them now before you are going to only get used.
Knowing him they're probably safer with him than if I were using them... also nacho cheese not a thing in UK. :)
Barbarians.
Quote from: S'mon on November 18, 2024, 03:36:35 PMQuote from: honeydipperdavid on November 18, 2024, 02:09:06 PMIf you give them to him, they are going to come back covered in beer and nacho cheese. Any book you can't buy now, keep, like volo's ($80 new) and mord's tome of foes ($89 new). Plus as bad as they are bound, buy them now before you are going to only get used.
Knowing him they're probably safer with him than if I were using them... also nacho cheese not a thing in UK. :) Anyway if I give him a book it'll be his, not a loan. That said, I am now tempted to sell Volo's & Mord's ToF :D
Both are actually really good books with great lore condensed and set in a digestible format without sensitivity readers draining them of all flavor. I mean sell them, but they are good books. Pretty much every WotC 5E book up to the beginning of 2020 were ok to good. After WotC went BLM and overt Race Marixt mid 2020 that's when they could write shit.
Quote from: honeydipperdavid on November 18, 2024, 10:30:41 PMQuote from: S'mon on November 18, 2024, 03:36:35 PMQuote from: honeydipperdavid on November 18, 2024, 02:09:06 PMIf you give them to him, they are going to come back covered in beer and nacho cheese. Any book you can't buy now, keep, like volo's ($80 new) and mord's tome of foes ($89 new). Plus as bad as they are bound, buy them now before you are going to only get used.
Knowing him they're probably safer with him than if I were using them... also nacho cheese not a thing in UK. :) Anyway if I give him a book it'll be his, not a loan. That said, I am now tempted to sell Volo's & Mord's ToF :D
Both are actually really good books with great lore condensed and set in a digestible format without sensitivity readers draining them of all flavor. I mean sell them, but they are good books. Pretty much every WotC 5E book up to the beginning of 2020 were ok to good. After WotC went BLM and overt Race Marixt mid 2020 that's when they could write shit.
Yeah they are fine, I used Volo's a bit but not nearly as much as Kobold Press Tome of Beasts. Oh I/we have used the new PC races a fair bit. Mord's I think I used exactly once, for the Grey Render. Not being Open Content really hurts them as the monsters don't appear in 3rd party products; I don't think they appear in WoTC stuff even.
I finished with 5e when my 5e Stonehell ended a few months ago & have no plans to run it again. So it would probably make sense to thin out my book case. I should see what my son wants first though.
Quote from: S'mon on November 19, 2024, 02:14:49 AMQuote from: honeydipperdavid on November 18, 2024, 10:30:41 PMQuote from: S'mon on November 18, 2024, 03:36:35 PMQuote from: honeydipperdavid on November 18, 2024, 02:09:06 PMIf you give them to him, they are going to come back covered in beer and nacho cheese. Any book you can't buy now, keep, like volo's ($80 new) and mord's tome of foes ($89 new). Plus as bad as they are bound, buy them now before you are going to only get used.
Knowing him they're probably safer with him than if I were using them... also nacho cheese not a thing in UK. :) Anyway if I give him a book it'll be his, not a loan. That said, I am now tempted to sell Volo's & Mord's ToF :D
Both are actually really good books with great lore condensed and set in a digestible format without sensitivity readers draining them of all flavor. I mean sell them, but they are good books. Pretty much every WotC 5E book up to the beginning of 2020 were ok to good. After WotC went BLM and overt Race Marixt mid 2020 that's when they could write shit.
Yeah they are fine, I used Volo's a bit but not nearly as much as Kobold Press Tome of Beasts. Oh I/we have used the new PC races a fair bit. Mord's I think I used exactly once, for the Grey Render. Not being Open Content really hurts them as the monsters don't appear in 3rd party products; I don't think they appear in WoTC stuff even.
I finished with 5e when my 5e Stonehell ended a few months ago & have no plans to run it again. So it would probably make sense to thin out my book case. I should see what my son wants first though.
There are a few, very interesting creatures in Volo's. Then it's mostly just some alternate player races, if your players want something different. It was a very popular book; back when adventurers league only allowed the PHB+1 book, for character options.
Quote from: Abraxus on November 13, 2024, 05:07:21 PM1E DMg had a huge wealth of information, coupled with some of the shittiest, piss poor organization ( even for rpg book of that time.
In the era of PDFs I'm amazed nobody has re-organized the core AD&D books so they make a bit more sense. * Merge the three monster books and remove the crappy entries, add a few monsters from the Dieties & Demigods. Add the random encounters tables to the thing.
* Merge the Players Handbook with the few useful bits from Unearthed Arcana.
* Re-organize the DM's Guide.
Yes it wouldn't be copyright legal but I imagine such a thing, if released for free would be popular enough that it would be passed around despite WotC legal threats.
By the way Professor Dungeon Master dropped a video praising the new DMG for what it's worth. So there is someone that likes it.
The more I hear about the 2024 edition of D&D, the more I want to stay as far as I can from it. The fact that half the credits are are taken by DEI censors turns me the heck off. I won't be buying it. Won't be caring to look at it.
I made my choice. I went with Tales Of The Valiant as my alternative. And it suits me fine enough. Kobold Press made a version of 5e that I can actually stomach. With books that aren't filled with irrelevant crap. Instead of the actual tools a GM actually needs to run the game.
I think Blackrazor leans left, having said that his review is scathing.
http://bxblackrazor.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-death-of-adventure.html