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RPGBOT.Podcast - 2024 DMG - First Look: The Dungeon Master’s Guide to Pandemonium
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2024 DMG - First Look: The Dungeon Master’s Guide to Pandemonium

11/14/24 • 78 min

RPGBOT.Podcast

Get ready, adventurers—this week on the RPGbot.podcast, we're cracking open the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide (aka “D&D 5.5: Now with Extra Crunch!”) and going deep! From traps to revamped monster mechanics, and maybe a bit too much love for Lesser Restoration, we’re tackling it all. Is Greyhawk back? Are magic item prices going up? Will combat ever stop feeling like wizarding math homework? Join us for a wild ride through dungeons, dragons, and dungeon dragons. Listen in, laugh along, and maybe—just maybe—take that leap into a whole new RPG system!

Summary

In this raucous rollercoaster of an episode, the RPGbot crew dives headfirst into the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide, or as they affectionately dub it, "D&D 5.5: Now with Extra Crunch!" With laughter and some mildly controlled frustration, they tackle everything from trap hazards to reworked monster mechanics, sprinkling in a fair share of "why, Wizards, why?" moments. From marveling at the rebalanced Tomb of Horrors (a little less horror, a lot more trap insurance) to dissecting the Greyhawk revival as a "setting comeback nobody asked for," the hosts leave no stone unturned.

There’s something for everyone in this episode—whether you’re curious about new magic item pricing (hint: dragons might actually start haggling) or just hoping to understand why balancing a combat encounter suddenly feels like filing taxes. Plus, with epic riffs on spells like Lesser Restoration and a side quest into safety tools, they manage to skewer and celebrate D&D’s evolution all at once.

Will they convince you to stick with the game, or inspire a brave leap into the weird and wonderful world of other RPGs? Tune in for laughs, hot takes, and a dungeon’s worth of insights!

Links

Takeaways

  • The new DMG focuses on accessibility, especially for newcomers.
  • With low initial expectations, the 2024 DMG brought some pleasant surprises.
  • Chapter 1 offers a beginner-friendly foundation for new Dungeon Masters.
  • Safety tools are included but cleverly rebranded to sidestep backlash.
  • The hosts are skeptical about the new edition's marketing approach.
  • They explore player dynamics and how different player types impact game flow.
  • Dungeon design has evolved to meet changing player expectations.
  • Tomb of Horrors is called out for being a bit... unforgiving in design.
  • Fun remains the top priority in gameplay, according to the hosts.
  • Community reactions to safety tools reveal a split in player opinions.
  • For better or worse, "a bag of rats" won’t be helping in combat anymore.
  • The DM's toolbox is met with mixed reviews from the crew.
  • Hazards feel softened—danger with a little less bite.
  • Traps aren’t the deadly trials they once were.
  • Player feedback has clearly shaped some rule updates.
  • Monster creation options are more limited now.
  • New mob-handling rules make things simpler for DMs.
  • Settlements now come with additional mechanics and tools.
  • Creating adventures and campaigns received some welcome enhancements.
  • Options for both DMs and players are heavily emphasized.
  • Encounters now include more than just combat—social and exploration play are on equal footing.
  • Greyhawk is used as an example setting, though not the new default.
  • Combat encounter balancing is streamlined.
  • Magic item pricing updates feel half-baked.
  • Crafting magic items now needs proficiency in Arcana and tools.
  • New crafting rules are solid but don’t quite rival Pathfinder 2.
  • Lore updates in the DMG are minimal, with no major revelations.
  • The hosts feel disappointed with the limited magic item pricing details.
  • Low-level characters can create legendary items if they have enough gold—a fun twist!
  • Diseases and magical contagions are introduced but feel underwhelming.
  • Lesser Restoration raises questions on the relevance of disease mechanics.
  • The 2024 DMG has its highs and lows, with various improvements and setbacks.
  • Simplified mechanics divide the community’s reception.
  • A general apathy toward D&D's current state seems prevalent.
  • The hosts encourage exploring other RPG systems for a fresh experience.
  • Players are urged to try new games to discover what truly excites them.
  • Corporate influence in game development worries some players.
  • T...
plus icon
bookmark

Get ready, adventurers—this week on the RPGbot.podcast, we're cracking open the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide (aka “D&D 5.5: Now with Extra Crunch!”) and going deep! From traps to revamped monster mechanics, and maybe a bit too much love for Lesser Restoration, we’re tackling it all. Is Greyhawk back? Are magic item prices going up? Will combat ever stop feeling like wizarding math homework? Join us for a wild ride through dungeons, dragons, and dungeon dragons. Listen in, laugh along, and maybe—just maybe—take that leap into a whole new RPG system!

Summary

In this raucous rollercoaster of an episode, the RPGbot crew dives headfirst into the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide, or as they affectionately dub it, "D&D 5.5: Now with Extra Crunch!" With laughter and some mildly controlled frustration, they tackle everything from trap hazards to reworked monster mechanics, sprinkling in a fair share of "why, Wizards, why?" moments. From marveling at the rebalanced Tomb of Horrors (a little less horror, a lot more trap insurance) to dissecting the Greyhawk revival as a "setting comeback nobody asked for," the hosts leave no stone unturned.

There’s something for everyone in this episode—whether you’re curious about new magic item pricing (hint: dragons might actually start haggling) or just hoping to understand why balancing a combat encounter suddenly feels like filing taxes. Plus, with epic riffs on spells like Lesser Restoration and a side quest into safety tools, they manage to skewer and celebrate D&D’s evolution all at once.

Will they convince you to stick with the game, or inspire a brave leap into the weird and wonderful world of other RPGs? Tune in for laughs, hot takes, and a dungeon’s worth of insights!

Links

Takeaways

  • The new DMG focuses on accessibility, especially for newcomers.
  • With low initial expectations, the 2024 DMG brought some pleasant surprises.
  • Chapter 1 offers a beginner-friendly foundation for new Dungeon Masters.
  • Safety tools are included but cleverly rebranded to sidestep backlash.
  • The hosts are skeptical about the new edition's marketing approach.
  • They explore player dynamics and how different player types impact game flow.
  • Dungeon design has evolved to meet changing player expectations.
  • Tomb of Horrors is called out for being a bit... unforgiving in design.
  • Fun remains the top priority in gameplay, according to the hosts.
  • Community reactions to safety tools reveal a split in player opinions.
  • For better or worse, "a bag of rats" won’t be helping in combat anymore.
  • The DM's toolbox is met with mixed reviews from the crew.
  • Hazards feel softened—danger with a little less bite.
  • Traps aren’t the deadly trials they once were.
  • Player feedback has clearly shaped some rule updates.
  • Monster creation options are more limited now.
  • New mob-handling rules make things simpler for DMs.
  • Settlements now come with additional mechanics and tools.
  • Creating adventures and campaigns received some welcome enhancements.
  • Options for both DMs and players are heavily emphasized.
  • Encounters now include more than just combat—social and exploration play are on equal footing.
  • Greyhawk is used as an example setting, though not the new default.
  • Combat encounter balancing is streamlined.
  • Magic item pricing updates feel half-baked.
  • Crafting magic items now needs proficiency in Arcana and tools.
  • New crafting rules are solid but don’t quite rival Pathfinder 2.
  • Lore updates in the DMG are minimal, with no major revelations.
  • The hosts feel disappointed with the limited magic item pricing details.
  • Low-level characters can create legendary items if they have enough gold—a fun twist!
  • Diseases and magical contagions are introduced but feel underwhelming.
  • Lesser Restoration raises questions on the relevance of disease mechanics.
  • The 2024 DMG has its highs and lows, with various improvements and setbacks.
  • Simplified mechanics divide the community’s reception.
  • A general apathy toward D&D's current state seems prevalent.
  • The hosts encourage exploring other RPG systems for a fresh experience.
  • Players are urged to try new games to discover what truly excites them.
  • Corporate influence in game development worries some players.
  • T...

Previous Episode

undefined - LYCANTHROPES - You do get to make a constitution save to resist the curse

LYCANTHROPES - You do get to make a constitution save to resist the curse

Think you can handle a werebear hug? Or maybe you’re just here for the were-rat cheese jokes? This week on the RPGBOT.Podcast, we’re going fur-deep into lycanthropes in D&D and Pathfinder! From the terrifying to the downright ridiculous, we’re talking werewolves, were-tigers, and, yes, even were-penguins.

Brace yourself for:

  • Full-moon transformation tips
  • Curing curses (spoiler: wolfsbane doesn’t smell great)
  • Debates on infinite polymorph (trust us, it’s a thing)
  • And a healthy dose of “What on earth were they thinking?” were-creatures

Tune in, laugh with us, and maybe howl at the moon a little.

Summary

In this beastly episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts go fur-deep into the intricate and endlessly entertaining world of lycanthropes in D&D and Pathfinder! Dive in as they explore everything from the mythic origins to the quirky mechanics of these furry (and occasionally ferocious) creatures. Werewolves? Check. Werebears? Absolutely. Were-rats and were-tigers? You bet! They tackle the unique alignments, behaviors, and lore for each type, uncovering surprising personality traits—who knew a werebear’s alignment could be so... complex?

But it’s not all snarls and bites. The hosts serve up plenty of laughs as they debate the absurdity of “lesser-known” werecreatures found in games like Dwarf Fortress. Who wouldn’t want to face off with a were-penguin or a were-carp? They delve into the gameplay challenges of becoming a werecreature, including the dreaded curse, healing dilemmas, and whether the whole “infinite polymorph” theory is a brilliant hack or a cursed nightmare for DMs everywhere.

From strategies for curing lycanthropy to tips for players eager to bring their inner were-creature to life, this episode packs in all the storytelling and character-building advice you need to make lycanthropy a howling success in your campaign. It’s filled with insights, clever lore, and plenty of tabletop antics, so tune in, grab your wolfsbane, and prepare for a conversation that’s part D&D myth and part midnight monster mash-up. Warning: May cause uncontrollable howling and urges to challenge nearby werebears to arm-wrestling.

Links

Takeaways

  • Lycanthropes bring both terror and intrigue to storytelling, with rich lore and mythology that deepen gameplay.
  • D&D and Pathfinder offer unique mechanics for lycanthropy, with natural lycanthropes having more transformation control.
  • Werebears are portrayed as nature’s reclusive guardians, while were-rats and were-tigers ha...

Next Episode

undefined - SPELLCASTING & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (Remastered) - Spell Slots & Close Calls: Keeping Magic from Total Mayhem

SPELLCASTING & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (Remastered) - Spell Slots & Close Calls: Keeping Magic from Total Mayhem

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we dive deep into the arcane art of barely keeping magic from ruining everything. From juggling spell slots to wrangling spell points, we're tackling the ultimate resource management struggle: making sure you don’t run out of fireballs right when things get spicy. Listen now and find out if you're just one spell away from total party chaos!

Links

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If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

Ash Ely

Randall James

Producer Dan

  • @Lzr_illuminati

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