Known streamers like Critical Role are attracting many newcomers to the world of Dungeons & Dragons. A user has now watched a campaign for the first time and is wondering: Is it always like this? The community provides answers.
Why is the user wondering this? User Kai-Kn reaches out to the community in his thread in the DnD subreddit. He watched a campaign of Dungeons & Dragons for the first time and took on Fantasy High from the streaming group Dimension 20 (short D20) (on YouTube).
The group is regularly led by Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan and usually uses the rules of Dungeons & Dragons in its 5th Edition. They play custom campaigns with a fixed cast, which rotates for some side quests in special episodes.
He noticed a few things that seemed strange to him:
- On one hand, the DM never lets the players spend gold on resources or things like lifestyle
- On the other hand, traveling seems to need neither resources nor time
While he understands that the Fantasy High campaign does not represent a classic DnD setting due to its modern time frame, he still wonders why the DM runs his campaign this way and whether these are typical decisions.
He would also like to run a campaign soon and would definitely decide differently, as he wants traveling to play a big role and gold to be an important currency for the players.
In the comments, the community explains what it’s really about.
It depends on expectations and play style
What does the community explain to him? In the comments, the community answers his question. Users explain that this is primarily due to Brennan’s distinct personal style, and that every DM creates their own rule adjustments and additions over time. In Brennan’s case, this likely comes down to the following reasons:
- Avoiding extensive handling of travel and shopping gives the campaign a faster and clearer line while also saving time. This is especially important because the group streams their sessions, and the focus would need to shift to other, more exciting points for viewers
- At the same time, Brennan tailors the player experience to his players, who also desire a focus on the story and real objectives and would have significantly more fun. Shopping sprees and long travel explanations would slow down the experience too much.
- Additionally, D20 campaigns are usually designed for a rough number of episodes, so “unnecessary” or less important game elements tend to be left out
Therefore, such things would primarily happen “off-screen” to avoid boring both viewers and players. Because a campaign for a livestream typically requires a very different focus and presentation than a campaign played among friends.
What do they advise the user? Therefore, the question is not: “Is this normal,” but: “What do I need or want for my group as a DM or player?” For a good and successful campaign, one must consider the extent and framework in which to play it.
For example, whether to play with friends or strangers or the level of experience would play a big role. As a DM, it is important to know the expectations of the players and meet them “somewhere in the middle” so that all involved can enjoy it.
What matters most is the balance between role-playing, combat, and other mechanics. The rule systems serve as a foundation upon which one can build a unique set of rules tailored to the individual group for each session, especially with new players.
This is the “secret” of a good Dungeon Master from the community’s perspective.
Another Dungeon Master recently shared his plan for a one-shot Dungeons & Dragons session with the community on Reddit. He prepared for “the longest session of D&D ever” – in the literal sense. What he planned can be read here: Player plans the “longest session ever” in Dungeons & Dragons, celebrated by the community
