You are spot on in terms of how the game has been divided since 4e. While I understand the complaints about DMing 3e, I actually enjoyed DMing it, and I’ll note two effects of the 4e shift. First, one reason I liked DMing 3e was that building monsters and NPCs scratched the same itch as building PCs as a player. I actually wish 5e had more templates to apply to monsters. Second, the internal consistency of 3e meant that players and the DM looked at the world through a common lens. The rules gave players insight into the nature of the world that were reflected in what the DM presented. I clearly recall being a player in an early 4e adventure, and a goblin did something unexpected that made me think, “Oh, the world is no longer the PCs’ to know.” I’m not saying that the new direction was bad, but I don’t think the old one was bad either, just a different design philosophy.
I think it’s helpful to think of 5e as more of a framework or engine than a game, the game is something you build from it but the 5e rules are only your starting point
I don't get it. I constantly transform character sheets into stat blocks and only loose the inventory?! Monsters are usually build along the same lines, as PCs? Hit die/HP, AC, Proficiencies, Traits/Feats, Attacks, Spells,...?!?
mm.. What "different" or "same" game means? If we use the software metaphor, the same application can be programmed several different ways. For me the game is more about the fiction and less about the mechanics that we use to represent it. Sure, there differences between 3e and 5e for example, but it's more like a difference in the platform, not in the application. Playing Dragonlance in 5e is more "the same game" as playing Dragonance in 3e than playing Ebberon in 5e from my perspective.
This may not be a topic your channel covers but in my game my players voted for me to run an oppression based storyline, would you be able to make some videos off of this to help us understand it better?
One's imagination is different than insanity mostly in degree, to imagine is to leave the real. And so a ttrpg is an attempt at a mutually constrained and informed bout of collective madness. To do it well is a art.
Hi, I ran into a few problems when preparing my next session. How does one come up with interesting scenes? I feel like I need a long time to come up with them. I am pretty new to this but I would like to come up with them faster.
You are spot on in terms of how the game has been divided since 4e. While I understand the complaints about DMing 3e, I actually enjoyed DMing it, and I’ll note two effects of the 4e shift. First, one reason I liked DMing 3e was that building monsters and NPCs scratched the same itch as building PCs as a player. I actually wish 5e had more templates to apply to monsters. Second, the internal consistency of 3e meant that players and the DM looked at the world through a common lens. The rules gave players insight into the nature of the world that were reflected in what the DM presented. I clearly recall being a player in an early 4e adventure, and a goblin did something unexpected that made me think, “Oh, the world is no longer the PCs’ to know.” I’m not saying that the new direction was bad, but I don’t think the old one was bad either, just a different design philosophy.
Always love the content, thank you for all you do for the TTRPG community!
In the board game community, we still consider it one game, but it's called Asymmetrical.
I think it’s helpful to think of 5e as more of a framework or engine than a game, the game is something you build from it but the 5e rules are only your starting point
As a DM thatrs what I intend to do except I will be using Kobolds Monster Vault.
“Asymmetric” is a term often used in video games - it was a particularly popular talking point when WiiU came out
It's also used in board games, too! Examples include Vast: The Crystal Caverns, Root, and Oath.
Yeah look at classic jrpgs. Characters and the monsters have wildly different stats, but it works.
Netrunner is an awesome card game with asymmetrical game play.
I don't get it. I constantly transform character sheets into stat blocks and only loose the inventory?! Monsters are usually build along the same lines, as PCs? Hit die/HP, AC, Proficiencies, Traits/Feats, Attacks, Spells,...?!?
mm.. What "different" or "same" game means? If we use the software metaphor, the same application can be programmed several different ways.
For me the game is more about the fiction and less about the mechanics that we use to represent it. Sure, there differences between 3e and 5e for example, but it's more like a difference in the platform, not in the application.
Playing Dragonlance in 5e is more "the same game" as playing Dragonance in 3e than playing Ebberon in 5e from my perspective.
This may not be a topic your channel covers but in my game my players voted for me to run an oppression based storyline, would you be able to make some videos off of this to help us understand it better?
One's imagination is different than insanity mostly in degree, to imagine is to leave the real. And so a ttrpg is an attempt at a mutually constrained and informed bout of collective madness. To do it well is a art.
Great stuff Mike, thank you.
Hi, I ran into a few problems when preparing my next session. How does one come up with interesting scenes? I feel like I need a long time to come up with them. I am pretty new to this but I would like to come up with them faster.