UPDATE: Thanks for all the responses, I'm going to go with Option A: All PHB allowed, and a special thanks to Vedexent for concisely answering both issues perfectly. Maybe I'll update this again later, so when someone else comes along, they'll know how (hopefully well) it went.
So I just received my D&D Essentials Kit in the mail, and I'm wondering whether it would mess up the balance to allow classes, races, and spells outside of the basic rules for the included adventure (Dragon of Icespire Peak)?
Basically, would it mess up the balance of the adventure to allow classes, races, and spells from the PHB that were excluded from the basic rules book?
I don't want to limit players outside of things that wouldn't make sense in the adventure setting, and one of my players is particularly experienced...
I'm considering one of the following choices:
A) All PHB content
B) No race/classes/subclasses outside of those in basic rules, but all PHB backgrounds and subraces of included races allowed
C) Strictly Basic Rules
I want to do option A, but only if it doesn't screw the "Dragon of Icespire Peak" module's balance AND isn't impossibly hard on a new DM. I really don't want to do option C, unless heavily advised as a new DM and for balancing.
Dragons of Icespire Peak is still a D&D adventure. It'll work with anything in the PHB, it wasn't built specifically for the five(?) classes in the Essentials rules. The stripped-down Essentials rules are there not for balance, but to try and make it easier for new people to learn the game without having all of 5e's Iconic Explosion of Choices (insert sarcasm marker here) thrown at them at once.
If you're comfortable with letting people use the full PHB, go for it.
Thanks for the response. I guess I'll have to figure out whether I'm up for DMing stuff outside of the bare bones then. I'm in a weird situation where I'm the newest player, and I'm also the DM... (It was the only way to get them to come to me.)
I hope I'll be able to handle it, because at least on the subclass and background front, the basic rules are somewhat limiting, from what I can tell.
We're running this now with a Human Fighter, a Half-Orc Ranger, a Half-Elf Cleric, a Goliath Paladin, and a Tiefling Sorcerer. No issues with balance so far.
That said - you don't have to learn everything if they step outside of the basic classes and races - just be familiar with the classes they pick.
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
You should be all right. If nothing else, remind your players that you're new at this and they can spare a few moments for you to reference something in the book. The DM is in charge. if you don't want to break your pacing to reference the rules, make a decision that feels right at the time and make a note to look up the official rule later, and let your players know that's how you're going to handle it. Being up front about how you'll handle stuff like that is a good start to learning the thankless, sleepless job that is DMing.
We're running this now with a Human Fighter, a Half-Orc Ranger, a Half-Elf Cleric, a Goliath Paladin, and a Tiefling Sorcerer. No issues with balance so far.
How did you handle NPCs hatred towards Orcs in Phandalin? Did the Half-Orc Ranger have to avoid social interactions?
I am a new DM with new players, and decided to not allow Half-Orcs as it would make everything more complicated for everyone.
I know this thread is already answered, however I would like to point out for other reading this that the Essentials Kit Rule book goes beyond the Basic free rules.
For example you can make a War Domain Cleric using this kit, which is not covered by the basic rules
We're running this now with a Human Fighter, a Half-Orc Ranger, a Half-Elf Cleric, a Goliath Paladin, and a Tiefling Sorcerer. No issues with balance so far.
How did you handle NPCs hatred towards Orcs in Phandalin? Did the Half-Orc Ranger have to avoid social interactions?
I am a new DM with new players, and decided to not allow Half-Orcs as it would make everything more complicated for everyone.
I'm not DM'ing this - one of my Players wanted to take a shot at running a game, and this is what they chose.
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Hi Heha - How has running this gone for you? I'm an experienced player but I'll be running this as a first time DM for a party with 3 brand new players and 2 somewhat experienced players. Approaching my prep, I had the same question as you, so thanks for asking it! If you have any more thoughts a few months in, I'd love to hear how you've managed and if there's anything to look out for. Thanks!
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UPDATE: Thanks for all the responses, I'm going to go with Option A: All PHB allowed, and a special thanks to Vedexent for concisely answering both issues perfectly. Maybe I'll update this again later, so when someone else comes along, they'll know how (hopefully well) it went.
So I just received my D&D Essentials Kit in the mail, and I'm wondering whether it would mess up the balance to allow classes, races, and spells outside of the basic rules for the included adventure (Dragon of Icespire Peak)?
Basically, would it mess up the balance of the adventure to allow classes, races, and spells from the PHB that were excluded from the basic rules book?
I don't want to limit players outside of things that wouldn't make sense in the adventure setting, and one of my players is particularly experienced...
I'm considering one of the following choices:
I want to do option A, but only if it doesn't screw the "Dragon of Icespire Peak" module's balance AND isn't impossibly hard on a new DM. I really don't want to do option C, unless heavily advised as a new DM and for balancing.
I guess I'll just poll everyone here.
Dragons of Icespire Peak is still a D&D adventure. It'll work with anything in the PHB, it wasn't built specifically for the five(?) classes in the Essentials rules. The stripped-down Essentials rules are there not for balance, but to try and make it easier for new people to learn the game without having all of 5e's Iconic Explosion of Choices (insert sarcasm marker here) thrown at them at once.
If you're comfortable with letting people use the full PHB, go for it.
Please do not contact or message me.
Thanks for the response. I guess I'll have to figure out whether I'm up for DMing stuff outside of the bare bones then. I'm in a weird situation where I'm the newest player, and I'm also the DM... (It was the only way to get them to come to me.)
I hope I'll be able to handle it, because at least on the subclass and background front, the basic rules are somewhat limiting, from what I can tell.
We're running this now with a Human Fighter, a Half-Orc Ranger, a Half-Elf Cleric, a Goliath Paladin, and a Tiefling Sorcerer. No issues with balance so far.
That said - you don't have to learn everything if they step outside of the basic classes and races - just be familiar with the classes they pick.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
You should be all right. If nothing else, remind your players that you're new at this and they can spare a few moments for you to reference something in the book. The DM is in charge. if you don't want to break your pacing to reference the rules, make a decision that feels right at the time and make a note to look up the official rule later, and let your players know that's how you're going to handle it. Being up front about how you'll handle stuff like that is a good start to learning the thankless, sleepless job that is DMing.
Please do not contact or message me.
How did you handle NPCs hatred towards Orcs in Phandalin? Did the Half-Orc Ranger have to avoid social interactions?
I am a new DM with new players, and decided to not allow Half-Orcs as it would make everything more complicated for everyone.
I know this thread is already answered, however I would like to point out for other reading this that the Essentials Kit Rule book goes beyond the Basic free rules.
For example you can make a War Domain Cleric using this kit, which is not covered by the basic rules
I'm not DM'ing this - one of my Players wanted to take a shot at running a game, and this is what they chose.
However - the NPCs just haven't ... noticed?
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Hi Heha - How has running this gone for you? I'm an experienced player but I'll be running this as a first time DM for a party with 3 brand new players and 2 somewhat experienced players. Approaching my prep, I had the same question as you, so thanks for asking it! If you have any more thoughts a few months in, I'd love to hear how you've managed and if there's anything to look out for. Thanks!