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Ginny Di Is Right--Read the DMG! (Extended) (Patreon)

Published:
2024-10-02 11:19:40
Imported:
2026-06
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Videos

Content

PDM on why no one actually reads the DMG and points out some GREAT hidden gems of advice and alternative rules. Cheers!

Files

Previews only

Ginny Di

Comments

Bagel-Man

Excited to watch Professor. When I first got the fifth edition DMG, I read it cover to cover over the course of a month.

Shadoath

Great video! Can’t wait for the DMG section of Deathbringer.

Timothy S Wattigny

Reading the magic items section like the Sears Christmas catalog is a perfect phrase and is 100% accurate

MrGunn

Dear Professor, Great video! You really nailed the value of the Dungeon Master's Guide. I think what puts people off from reading the DMG is the poor layout and sheer density, there is a lot to sift through to get to the best nuggets of goodness. Loved the reference to the Sears catalog, so many great memories. The kids today don't know of this Sears you speak of nor do they know the incredible joy of leafing through a thick paper catalog to drool over the Christmas toys section or the disappointment of getting a bag of tube socks instead of that new GI Joe with the Kung Fu grip; thanks Grandma, love you, miss you. I completely agree about the need for larger fonts, I recently purchased Moria and Worlds Without Number, the 8 point font they use is really hard on my old eyes. I really appreciated the large font of Shadowdark. Great advice Professor! Best regards, MrGunn

Rod Thomson

"My life is too short. I don't have time for that. I only want to design things that my players are going to play." Oh man, I sure wish I had learned that lesson 45 years ago!!!

Frank Mitchell

Thanks for this. I'll look up Ginny D's video. As a general organizational principle, a DMG (or GMG) should resemble a "howto", FAQ, or troubleshooting guide, with the most common problems and concerns first. That would reward people who just want to dip into the text to solve a particular problem at their table ... or to attempt some fancy world-building. Also, having a complete index is a must, assuming the guide doesn't organize by topic. (Bob World Builder had a video that pointed out rules for building a business, temple, guild hall, etc. are strung out among multiple sections.) Unlike player-facing rules in the PHB, *all* the content in the (post-AD&D) DMG is wholly optional: use it if it works, toss it if it doesn't. I'd almost argue that a game needs *multiple*, shorter guides on particular topics, rather than one big guide. One big guide has to be both authoritative and generally applicable. Shorter guides (or magazine articles?) can cover a specific topic thoroughly for those who really care. The catalog of magical loot is a prime candidate to split off into its own book (or booklet).

Enishi X

I've only read one DMG That's third edition.

steven bray

I read that specific dmg, same cover, that players handbook, and the monster manual all cover to cover several times. I always recommend to read the dmg because it tells you how to build a world, an adventure and run a game. specifically that first edition. Gygax knew how to build a fun game. It's really strange how far away from building your own worlds mainstream D&D really is. probably 75% of the posts in the DM groups i'm in are about running 3-4 modules.

Firstspear

I know it is shocking, but I've run D&D and have never read the DMG.

Elvis Ramone

I had the Efritt cover 1E DMG, and have to say, yhea I read the whole thing. Albeit not as a cover to cover reading, but my wonderment took me all over the book. Look up a rule and try to digest the stronghold section. It was more like a pointilist painting, a small bit at a time. 13 year old minds do not absorb High Gygaxian easily. Good times.

Jim Van Cura

Nothing says Friday night like pizza, beer, and property taxes. So crazy!

samurguybri
>>151166730

I don’t remember much from that one except the CR stuff and crafting magic terms info. Was there anything good in that edition’s DMG?

Chris Franklin

Ive never understood why people shit on the DMG. I've used it a ton. Its got great ideas throughout. I dont pull it out all the time but when Im stuck and looking for some ideas its got a ton of stuff to pull from.

MrGunn
>>151165391

@Frank Mitchell Did someone say splat book? 😮🤣🤣🤣

Daniel Defazio
>>151158292

Lol. I'm blown away when people quote ad-libbed lines from my videos. I probably should spend less time on scripts! Thank you!

Daniel Defazio
>>151151577

Ah--the Sears catalogue! Good times. Another ad-libbed line. Those are always the ones that seem to resonate.

MrGunn
>>151145050

@Bagel-Man Teacher's pet, teacher's pet! 😋😁🤣🤣🤣😎

Scott Mckay

My friend group has about 16 folks that play D&D and only two of us have even read the DMG none of my players even read the PH... It's why I like all the rules on an A4 or trifold. I agree with you about LazyGM and ICRPG those books probably played the biggest role in improving my games. Also, I was in a game with 12 people it was absolutely the worst session I've ever experienced after that I set a hard rule of 5.

Frank Mitchell
>>151165391

Traditional splat books focus on a player character class, ancestry, covenant, whatever. What I'm proposing is splitting the DM/GM resources into a general "here's how to run a game" book for newbies, maybe a catalog of magic items and other loot, and an extended series of resources for various campaign types and activities: creating dungeons, creating mysteries, adding horror, letting players build a stronghold (or Bastion in 5.24 terms), etc. See some of the DM resources PDM has featured previously, or the genre / setting books put out for Cypher System 2nd Edition and GURPS 4th Edition. Monetizing players may bring in short-term gains, but providing resources for DMs invest in the hobby as a whole.

NØKKEN_WAITS

I read the 3.5 back in the day... Haven't read 5th edition yet. BUT I HAVE read index card rpg, Lazy Dungeon Master, and Shadowdark, and boy let me tell ya thats some AMAZING GM advice. I also watch these videos.

NØKKEN_WAITS
>>151166730

I read that one back in the day, but as a hyperactive teenager i mostly remember the sick art and prestige classes...

James C

I cherry picked my reading of DMG but I never read from cover to cover. But over time I probably end up reading all of it or most of it. I don’t know anyone who read it completely through.