Sean Merwin

One of them is Tony Robertson coming to us via YouTube, who asks, regarding campaign guides, what are you guys' thoughts on how much a setting should change game mechanics? I'm playing in a homebrew Dark Sun game, and Goodberry was taken out, and Create Water was limited. As a player, I like it because it reinforces how this world is different, but it seems to take more effort to get group buy-in.

Absolutely. And for me, this goes right to the heart of what we talked about last week with the gods. Individual DMs and groups can change their games in any way they want and they can change the quote unquote expected setting that comes with a game. As long as everyone's on the same page in your group and if everyone's happy and they're having fun, change it away.

Absolutely. And for me, this goes right to the heart of what we talked about last week with the gods. Individual DMs and groups can change their games in any way they want and they can change the quote unquote expected setting that comes with a game. As long as everyone's on the same page in your group and if everyone's happy and they're having fun, change it away.

but your group is just four or five or six or seven of millions of players involved in our hobby. So you have to account for a lot of player types and a lot of player desires. So I have a restricted experience, but some experience. And what I found is if something goes into the main rules, including the setting that's implied by those rules,

but your group is just four or five or six or seven of millions of players involved in our hobby. So you have to account for a lot of player types and a lot of player desires. So I have a restricted experience, but some experience. And what I found is if something goes into the main rules, including the setting that's implied by those rules,

there is an expectation that those will be available regardless of setting. They're not a suggestion to players or GMs. They are the God's gospel truth. So a significant portion of the player base will push back when you try to make a setting that changes those rules, unless you're changing it by addition instead of removal. Thoughts so far?

there is an expectation that those will be available regardless of setting. They're not a suggestion to players or GMs. They are the God's gospel truth. So a significant portion of the player base will push back when you try to make a setting that changes those rules, unless you're changing it by addition instead of removal. Thoughts so far?

Yeah, for sure. You're right. When you add things, people are totally chill. When you remove it, people get kind of bothered. But I would think this is a conversation. If you're going to DM with this group for a while, like these are this is your group. This is your your gang that you play with. You need to have these conversations.

Yeah, for sure. You're right. When you add things, people are totally chill. When you remove it, people get kind of bothered. But I would think this is a conversation. If you're going to DM with this group for a while, like these are this is your group. This is your your gang that you play with. You need to have these conversations.

You will only be healthier for making it through these conversations. That the world does not owe you Goodberry. And if your life and satisfaction depends on Goodberry, you're probably playing wrong. You don't have to say those words. But to get that sort of understanding of we're not here for Goodberry interactions, right? We're here for the larger play.

You will only be healthier for making it through these conversations. That the world does not owe you Goodberry. And if your life and satisfaction depends on Goodberry, you're probably playing wrong. You don't have to say those words. But to get that sort of understanding of we're not here for Goodberry interactions, right? We're here for the larger play.

And so when we all want to play a game that has a big component of survival and that is supposed to be harsh and difficult to live in, endless water and endless food and endless healing is a problem. And so we need to remove that from the game.

And so when we all want to play a game that has a big component of survival and that is supposed to be harsh and difficult to live in, endless water and endless food and endless healing is a problem. And so we need to remove that from the game.

And that shouldn't be, I mean, it can be initially difficult to grasp, but we want to get to where it isn't hard to grasp and where the players can, can buy off on that. And that is both the DM getting better at explaining, selling that concept, explaining why we're doing this and the players getting better at understanding that and being, being okay to like shed that, which they're so used to.

And that shouldn't be, I mean, it can be initially difficult to grasp, but we want to get to where it isn't hard to grasp and where the players can, can buy off on that. And that is both the DM getting better at explaining, selling that concept, explaining why we're doing this and the players getting better at understanding that and being, being okay to like shed that, which they're so used to.

Right. And that's a good thing. You want to go down that path with your group.

Right. And that's a good thing. You want to go down that path with your group.

Yeah. I agree with everything you just said. Part of the issue is the breadth and depth of the rules that there are. So it's great to have that conversation. I'll be on the same page and say, in these situations, this is how we're going to handle it. However, how long does that conversation need to be? Can be detrimental to my game. Yes, you have a session zero. Yes, you do those things.

Yeah. I agree with everything you just said. Part of the issue is the breadth and depth of the rules that there are. So it's great to have that conversation. I'll be on the same page and say, in these situations, this is how we're going to handle it. However, how long does that conversation need to be? Can be detrimental to my game. Yes, you have a session zero. Yes, you do those things.

But then it's like, well, what about this? OK, and then, oh, a new book comes out. Now we have to sit down and have another three hour conversation about what we can and can't have. And I think that that. That communication is important in any game for any reason. I totally agree with that.