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I think 1 thing we can all agree on, is that the future of RPGS depends on making running a game of a TTRPG seem easier for future GMs.

I know D&DOne is focused on the VTT and AI DMs. The idea is that players would probably have to pay premiums to get access to these "solo-rpg" options and probably strip the PC related rules into asset classes that are paid for individually. I.e. Champion Fighter is free! But to get the rules and Mods for Battlemaster is a $0.99 a month sub.

This smells of not understanding what makes a TTRPG really stand out from a CRPG experience. My question is, what tools, resources, or ideas have we seen in D&DOne to help create future and more DMs?

 Easy E wrote:
I think 1 thing we can all agree on, is that the future of RPGS depends on making running a game of a TTRPG seem easier for future GMs.

I know D&DOne is focused on the VTT and AI DMs. The idea is that players would probably have to pay premiums to get access to these "solo-rpg" options and probably strip the PC related rules into asset classes that are paid for individually. I.e. Champion Fighter is free! But to get the rules and Mods for Battlemaster is a $0.99 a month sub.

This smells of not understanding what makes a TTRPG really stand out from a CRPG experience. My question is, what tools, resources, or ideas have we seen in D&DOne to help create future and more DMs?

Great points.

I haven't read anything about One in the view of a GM. As a matter of fact, the design intent that I have seen, is for DND to move Away from person DMs. They've flat out stated, "We don't like how one person has all the books, and everyone gets the access, we need to monetize everyone at the table." So they want 6 paying players, no DM, instead of 1 Paying DM, 5 non-paying players. I would be very surprised if there was ANY addins for making a real GM's life easier in 1.

Absolutely not.

Wizards of the... cost ...is dead.

I have my old 1st, 2d, and additional games. The games I'm playing now come from Renegade, Free Leagues, Chaosium, and Modiphius they are just that much more fun without the creators and writers and everyone from a company that prides itself at being outright douche canoes. They are the very definition of Toxic Environment.

The Walking Dead, Twilight:2000, Fallout, Call of Cthulhu, etc are just that much more interesting then a halfhearted retread of base mechanics turning a 60-70 year old game into something out of the Twilight Zone.

When there are more then enough companies out there that WANT your business and treat you with a modicum of respect, are approachable, and want to interact with you, Microsoft front companies are just not worth your time.
This Company hates customers. They hate players. All they want is to throw gasoline at the dumpster fire that they themselves have started.

Stop giving money to people who hate you.

Going way down the rabbit hole to an alternate universe in here.

They're still selling the books, same as normal. Don't want virtual play or piecemeal transactions, or whatever? Not a problem.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1660-dungeons-dragons-turns-50-see-how-were-celebrating#2024-book-releases

2024 Player's Handbook September 17, 2024
2024 Dungeon Master's Guide November 12, 2024
2025 Monster Manual February 18, 2025

Don't want, don't buy. No one is going to throw a fit if you don't buy the latest edition of D&D. But the fantastical corporate warmongering getting tossed about is... becoming real weird.

I really wish Paizo would make a self designed app or anything even approaching the nature of DND:B, and I'd start playing that tomorrow. Biggest issue I have is getting new players into a completely different system. I have mostly people like myself playing, Middle Aged corporate drone workers who between: Life, kids, job, and family time, have about 2-3 hours a WEEK to dedicate to DnD. That's only enough for a session a week, throw a completely new system into the works, and everyone is out.

It's why I can't get a game of 3rd together.

The actual money paying player base of DND is held together by the ducktape that is 40+ year olds that are clinging to their books, desperate to keep playing. The old style of "DM has all the books anbd stuff" has made a culture of only one person really needs to know the rules. Everyone else is just there to throw dice and drink beers/attempt to seduce X. No DnD is going to a "Everyone must contribute" model of ownership, and I'm guessing this will kill the hobby for WOTC at least.

Personally i would be happy if DTRPG did something like that with their library.

You have have just regular pdfs. Or produce your docs according to their standards with their support to make them more functional as a database for usage.

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
I really wish Paizo would make a self designed app or anything even approaching the nature of DND:B, and I'd start playing that tomorrow. Biggest issue I have is getting new players into a completely different system. I have mostly people like myself playing, Middle Aged corporate drone workers who between: Life, kids, job, and family time, have about 2-3 hours a WEEK to dedicate to DnD. That's only enough for a session a week, throw a completely new system into the works, and everyone is out.

This is also my experience. However, my group ranges from 20-somethings, to 50+ grognards.

That said, with actual books being available for 6th, I am not sure what my group will do.

They are all addicted to the ease of D&D Beyond, so if that kind forces a move to 6th, I would not be shocked if my group also makes the move too.

I played in a PF2 game. I can tell it's a pretty robust system and if I was 20 years younger I'd probably really like it.
But as it is, I just found it so tedious. Every time we had to level up I was depressed at the thought of having to scroll through all the feat lists. Eventually I just let a guy in the group who loves building characters level me up. I reckon it's the kind of game where you need an app because the system is so complex, and that's really offputting to me.

I'm all about games where you don't worry about that crap now, just get to the table in the minimum amount of time and get playing. White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game, a retro-clone of OD&D is my favourite go to at the moment.

I don't like apps for my RPGs though, never used D&D beyond or any of that stuff. I used to do a lot of prep on computer and have even moved away for that now. All my prep is in a bullet journal these days.

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
I really wish Paizo would make a self designed app or anything even approaching the nature of DND:B, and I'd start playing that tomorrow. Biggest issue I have is getting new players into a completely different system. I have mostly people like myself playing, Middle Aged corporate drone workers who between: Life, kids, job, and family time, have about 2-3 hours a WEEK to dedicate to DnD. That's only enough for a session a week, throw a completely new system into the works, and everyone is out.

It's why I can't get a game of 3rd together.

The actual money paying player base of DND is held together by the ducktape that is 40+ year olds that are clinging to their books, desperate to keep playing. The old style of "DM has all the books anbd stuff" has made a culture of only one person really needs to know the rules. Everyone else is just there to throw dice and drink beers/attempt to seduce X. No DnD is going to a "Everyone must contribute" model of ownership, and I'm guessing this will kill the hobby for WOTC at least.

The devs of Beyond actually made Demiplane and Pathfinder Nexus, which covers most of what you're looking for. Mind, adoption feels like it's been pretty slim, as it doesn't have 3rd party content from Infinite AFAIK, and both Archives of Nethys and Pathbuilder exist for rules reference and character building, and both of those are free (or a one-time $5 payment for Pathbuilder if you want the premium features).