I have been running 5s for a few sessions now. I'm enjoying it. There is a bunch of stuff in there I would cut for a private game but for a public library game, I am letting almost everything in.
I am running The Lost Mines beginner's bot and I have the 5e PHB (because apparently younger folks love tieflings). I'm looking forward to running some other modules when this is done (DCC modules and I'm thinking Isle of Dread).
I have DM guides and MM for at least 4 other editions of the game. I do not have the 5E DM guide or MM. I do have the monsters from the module and the free online basic rules. So...
Am I missing anything crucial in either of those books? Funds are limited but I will probably get one of them by the end of the year. Which one would you get?
If I am missing anything crucial in one of the books that you can get the info elsewhere, please advise.
Thank you in advance.
Between the modules and previous editions, you undoubtedly know how to DM. So both of them are mostly for reference. The DMG has magic items, the MM has monsters beyond the module. Which do you think you would need more? I'd think Monsters would be harder to replicate/the convenience of not having to would be more important. You know how to hand out +1-3 items or things that do ", once per long rest" if the magic items in the modules don't cut the mustard.
95% of the monsters are in the SRD. The only ones that aren't are the five or six that Ryan Dancey didn't have to make any effort to confirm were TSR originals.
The 5E DMG for experienced D&D GM's is in a weird spot. I don't think there's a single thing in it that's essential. Yet just about any GM would get at least a little out of it. The problem is predicting which section will be useful to a particular GM. If there is something in particular you'd like the DMG slant on, we could probably summarize it for you and save the money.
Both can be ordered off amazon for around 35$.
Of the two the DMG has all the magic items. The MM you can in general work without to a certain degree. There will be a point where you might want it. But its the lowest on the priority list.
WotC offers a free Basic D&D 5e version of the DMG & MM in a combined .pdf resource on their website called DMG/MM. It is where you can download the free Basic D&D 5e PHB .pdf. A solid resource for more monsters, understanding how lairs & monster traits work for tabulating your own creations, and other magic item tidbits.
That and the free .pdf Elemental Companion, some creativity, and you should be good to go to make your own stuff. Most book DMG suggestions are OK, as are the tables, but not that big of a bang for the buck. I'd rather use those funds to get a large adventure book on the side.
Quote from: Willie the Duck;996885Between the modules and previous editions, you undoubtedly know how to DM. So both of them are mostly for reference. The DMG has magic items, the MM has monsters beyond the module. Which do you think you would need more? I'd think Monsters would be harder to replicate/the convenience of not having to would be more important. You know how to hand out +1-3 items or things that do ", once per long rest" if the magic items in the modules don't cut the mustard.
***I am leaning toward the monster manual because of the way "proficiency" works with saving throws and attack rolls. I figure it will be easier to plug and play 5e monster stats into older modules. But I'm starting to get the feel for it and think overtime I should be able to convert monster stats on the fly.
So then the question is, does the fluff in the 5E MM out weight the DM guide. AND are the edition conversion guidelines for monsters in the MM or DM guide?
***on the DM guide, I do not need magic items, the basic rules is all you really need and then create more flavourful items from there.
The things in the DM guide that would be worth it would be things like:
***really good edition conversion guides
***revised good mass combat/ domain rules
***extra essential options for PCs
And for the record, I'm not trying to be cheap but funds are limited and there are some other cool books coming out that are more appealing than yet another MM or DMG that does not add much to the 5e game that can't be VERY easily converted.
Quote from: Opaopajr;996915WotC offers a free Basic D&D 5e version of the DMG & MM in a combined .pdf resource on their website called DMG/MM. It is where you can download the free Basic D&D 5e PHB .pdf. A solid resource for more monsters, understanding how lairs & monster traits work for tabulating your own creations, and other magic item tidbits.
That and the free .pdf Elemental Companion, some creativity, and you should be good to go to make your own stuff. Most book DMG suggestions are OK, as are the tables, but not that big of a bang for the buck. I'd rather use those funds to get a large adventure book on the side.
i have the free basic rules, I have not seen the free Elemental companion. Is that on their site?
Yup, still should be, along with MM/DMG .pdf!
DM rules .pdf gives you the DMG/MM
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules (http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules)
Elemental Evil Players Companion .pdf
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/elementalevil_playerscompanion (http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/elementalevil_playerscompanion)
Also, IIRC, should be available at DriveThruRPG for $0.00.
Quote from: MonsterSlayer;996932The things in the DM guide that would be worth it would be things like:
***really good edition conversion guides
***revised good mass combat/ domain rules
***extra essential options for PCs
Save your money.
I was in the same spot. I got the Monster Manuel. I've read the DMG, there was nothing in there I was interested in. Although the thread on wrestling and the one on healing make we want to look up a couple things I missed the first time through.
I've owned the DMG since it was first released, and have only opened it a handful of times. As others have said, you don't really need it for most situations because into is given in the free rules and/or specific modules.
Quote from: Steven Mitchell;996906The 5E DMG for experienced D&D GM's is in a weird spot. I don't think there's a single thing in it that's essential. Yet just about any GM would get at least a little out of it. The problem is predicting which section will be useful to a particular GM. If there is something in particular you'd like the DMG slant on, we could probably summarize it for you and save the money.
I agree to a degree but I think the 5e DMG is the best DMG for new DMs of any of the DMGs (although I'm not that familiar with 3e or 4e DMGs).
If you're doing OK so far without them, no need to rush out and get them. Of the two, I would say the MM is more helpful to an experienced DM. I use the crap out of my MM, and not the DMG (though I do find the DMG to be a good read, sort of like the AD&D 1e DMG was a good read). On the other hand, I also use a lot of free resources out there on new monsters, like the Reddit "Monster A Day" monsters (https://www.reddit.com/r/monsteraday/). Which, while not perfectly balanced, include a wide assortment of some interesting creatures, most of which I find to be done fairly well. You can even still find the old Monster A Day PDF Compendium (https://dungeonsanddragons.ru/bookfull/Monster%20a%20Day%20Compendium%20-%20UPGRADED.pdf) around.
Quote from: Voros;997012I agree to a degree but I think the 5e DMG is the best DMG for new DMs of any of the DMGs (although I'm not that familiar with 3e or 4e DMGs).
Maybe that's it, I'm not a new DM.
In 5e, the DMG was specifically planned to be something that wouldn't be absolutely essential for play. It was meant to be a great guide to running the game and provide useful additional material.
Maybe just me but I cant imagine playing, let alone GMing a game without every core book of a given system. Hell I feel uncomfortable if I dont have the supplements too! The idea of running D&D without the DMG and MM is just... well its blasphemy!
Thank you for all the feedback. I am experienced enough and think I can get by without the D< amd probably MM guide for 5e. I have been enjoying the free resources posted in the thread too, thank you again.
I think in the end I may get the MM but will save my other funds for things like Yawning Portal and Tomb of Annhilation (spelling?)
Quote from: RPGPundit;997491In 5e, the DMG was specifically planned to be something that wouldn't be absolutely essential for play. It was meant to be a great guide to running the game and provide useful additional material.
As for this quote, I actually appreciate that about 5E and in my opinion it is one of the nice things WoTC did with this edition. Maybe they never sell me a DMG for 5e but I am more likely to go out and get one of their larger setting/ adventure books which I never do with any edition. Since the early 80s I have never owned a hard back copy of any Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Greyhawk, etc. but; for saving me some money and being upfront I am truly interested in something like ToA.
I think the 5e MM is incredibly well-done. Very worth getting, even if not totally essential.
Quote from: rgrove0172;997593Maybe just me but I cant imagine playing, let alone GMing a game without every core book of a given system. Hell I feel uncomfortable if I dont have the supplements too! The idea of running D&D without the DMG and MM is just... well its blasphemy!
Not having collector's OCD is blasphemy!