I like to “talk shop” with other people Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Masters, but it's become clear to me that there is a fundamental misunderstanding in many gaming groups regarding the difference between a story and a series of events. Some groups see tabletop RPGs as a means for collaborative storytelling, and others are just looking for a dungeon crawling simulator. While there is no wrong way to have fun, for groups who want to tell stories and role play, Not understanding what a story is can lead to unsatisfactory and incoherent experiences at the game table. Understanding story structure…
Author: Derek Garcia
While Dragon Age: The Veil Guard showed that BioWare can still produce quality RPGs, it cannot supplant Dragon Age 2 as the crown jewel of the franchise. DA2 is a unique game that stands out from others Dragon Age games, and which stands out from other fantasy RPGs in a broader sense. Whether it’s a Western-style RPG like Dragon Ageor a JRPG, the genre tends to depict world quests and sweeping epicsfollowing heroes destined to save the world. DA2 followed a family simply reacting to dire circumstancespresenting an urban adventure with masterful characterization and world-building. Dragon Age 2 showed a…
For ten years, 5e Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Masters and players have been dealing with ambiguous and contradictory guidance regarding magical items, but the 2024 revised Player Handbook suggests that positive changes may be in store. In the 2014 version of D&D, the creation of magical items was described as a rare and lost art, and any magical items were relics of a bygone era of advanced magical knowledge. Unlike the previous two editions, players were instructed not to “wait”magic itemsand DMs have received conflicting instructions about which levels to make certain rarities of magic items available to their player…
I knew the 2024 reviews for Dungeons and Dragons would bring changes to the game, but I’m sad on behalf of everyone D&D fans that the recommendation of multiple combat encounters per adventure day appears to be disappearing of the recommendations of the new Dungeon Master’s Guide. The current Damagereleased in 2014, it clearly recommends a day of adventure with six or more battles. I’ve confirmed from my DM experience that this is the only working way to run 5e. The problem wasn’t the multiple combat encounters per day, but the lack of guidance from the DM on how to…
In 2014 Dungeons and DragonsMartial characters focused on ranged damage were among the best builds in the 5th edition rules. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case with the 2024 revision, so players will need to adjust to the best remaining options. Archers and crossbow experts were the best argument for the validity of the martial characters in the 2014 rules, and the ranged damage nerf widens divide between spellcasters and martial characters in the revised rules. While martial characters can no longer keep up with casters in the 2024 rules, archers can still try. Much of long-range constructions that produced…
Long-range martial characters have certainly taken a hit in 2024 Dungeons and Dragons revised rules, but for hand-to-hand martial classes, the review is a mixed bag. There are certain scenarios where the revised Grand Weapon Master feat could work better for martial characters than its 2014 counterpart, and others where players will miss the power lost in the original. Although a literal reading of Great Weapon Master currently suggests that it applies to ranged weapons like longbows and heavy crossbows, this is probably not the intention and will probably receive errata. Hand-to-hand combat experts can rely on this, with some…
Some already have the 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook In hand, and the other two core books will leak out in the next few months, but I worry about those Releases that follow will not address what the game truly needs. If the 2024 revision follows the model of its 2014 predecessor, fans will see core books and starter sets for brand new tabletop RPG hobbyists, and then a series of books that alternate between adventures, campaign-setting books and rule expansions. . The game, instead, requires elaborately explained adventures that clearly illustrate campaign styles, from political intrigue to hex…
For a game where combat is the mainstay, battles in 5e Dungeons & Dragons Can become somewhat monotonous, however Drawing from past editions has allowed me to rebalance high-level encounters and add some spice to all tiers of play. Creating interesting and appropriately crafted combat is certainly a balancing act with the current rules. Until the revised Monster Manual Releases in 2025, DMs as we wait to see if antagonists have more interesting abilities or if they properly balance for the level of heroes they face. With six or more battles per “adventuring day,” 5e encounter design can be challenging.…
Contrary to the impressions of many fans, I had a miserable time reading through the new 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Player’s HandbookAnd the new rules for character backgrounds are emblematic of the revision’s colossal missteps. Six years in 5 E dnd, Tasha’s cauldron of everything was released, which provided exciting new class features and a better way to handle racial ability score bonuses. The 2024 PHB Seems to have unlearned all of them Tasha Lessons. The new background rules are stifling to interesting character concepts, and somehow more offensive than the 2014 rules on racial ability bonuses that Tasha Corrected.…
It still baffles me that the 2014 5e Dungeons & Dragons System managed to sell the idea of ”Decrees, not rules”As a feature for Dungeon Masters and players, Instead of obviously lazy designBut the revised 2024 Player’s Handbook Has no excuse for its half-finished rules a decade later. The philosophy presented at the time of 5e’s release was in line with a “Old school”Gaming sentiment that prioritized DM judgment over the system providing clearly laid out rules. By avoiding some of the legalistic “keyword-driven” language of 3e and 4e DNDNew players and DMs found 5e approachable. Keyword based systems typically…