I am a very new DM and i have a question. How much homebrew is too much. One of my players is very into the rules, and he gets a little annoyed with me when I make and use a homebrew monster, race item or spell. So how much is too much?
That’s a really loaded question. In my opinion there’s no such thing as “too much homebrew.” I’m personally inclined to ‘brew up as much as I possibly can. Others would say any homebrew is too much homebrew. Most people would probably say somewhere in between those two opinions. I will say however that when new to DMing, it’s often a good idea to ease into homebrewing at first.
It can be hard to get things balanced sometimes even for people like me who’ve been at it for a long time and brew a lot of stuff. I’ll be the first person to admit I don’t always get it right lots of times. But I do homebrew a lot, so the total times I get it wrong is still probably not a huge percentage of the brewing I do. At least I like to think it isn’t anyway. Homebrewing is as much art as science in my opinion, as much intuition as calculation. It can be tricky to feel when things are right when you haven’t felt a tone of stuff already to know what right feels like and then be able to feel when something isn’t right. Does that make sense?
That doesn’t mean don’t brew stuff. I will probably be the last person on earth to ever say that. Just, Y’know, start small at first. Always compare what you’ve made to official stuff. Never be afraid or embarrassed to ask for feedback or input, and try to remember to take constructive comments and suggested edits as opportunities to learn rather than put downs. By that I mean if someone ever says “that homebrew is bad and here’s why,” don’t get salty about it but instead use it as a way to make stuff better In future. Most importantly pay attention to what about your homebrews works in your games, but pay even more attention to what doesn’t. Most everyone always learns more from their mistakes than from their triumphs. Making mistakes is not a sign of failure, but not learning from mistakes is.
As for your friend, what is it about your homebrews that upsets them? Is it that fact that stuff isn’t from a book somewhere, or is it because your brews don’t fit with the stuff in the books for some reason?
It's probably because he has read almost every book he can get his hands on and can remember them word for word. When i told everyone in the group i made a new race they could use for a backup character, he just rolled his eyes at me.
I am not complaining about him though. He is my best friend.
No, I understand. Even best friends can not appreciate our work at times, and we can not appreciate their lack of appreciation at times too and still be best friends.
I am a very new DM and i have a question. How much homebrew is too much. One of my players is very into the rules, and he gets a little annoyed with me when I make and use a homebrew monster, race item or spell. So how much is too much?
Spells: My spells. Races: My races Monsters: My monsters Magic items: My items
That’s a really loaded question. In my opinion there’s no such thing as “too much homebrew.” I’m personally inclined to ‘brew up as much as I possibly can. Others would say any homebrew is too much homebrew. Most people would probably say somewhere in between those two opinions. I will say however that when new to DMing, it’s often a good idea to ease into homebrewing at first.
It can be hard to get things balanced sometimes even for people like me who’ve been at it for a long time and brew a lot of stuff. I’ll be the first person to admit I don’t always get it right lots of times. But I do homebrew a lot, so the total times I get it wrong is still probably not a huge percentage of the brewing I do. At least I like to think it isn’t anyway. Homebrewing is as much art as science in my opinion, as much intuition as calculation. It can be tricky to feel when things are right when you haven’t felt a tone of stuff already to know what right feels like and then be able to feel when something isn’t right. Does that make sense?
That doesn’t mean don’t brew stuff. I will probably be the last person on earth to ever say that. Just, Y’know, start small at first. Always compare what you’ve made to official stuff. Never be afraid or embarrassed to ask for feedback or input, and try to remember to take constructive comments and suggested edits as opportunities to learn rather than put downs. By that I mean if someone ever says “that homebrew is bad and here’s why,” don’t get salty about it but instead use it as a way to make stuff better In future. Most importantly pay attention to what about your homebrews works in your games, but pay even more attention to what doesn’t. Most everyone always learns more from their mistakes than from their triumphs. Making mistakes is not a sign of failure, but not learning from mistakes is.
As for your friend, what is it about your homebrews that upsets them? Is it that fact that stuff isn’t from a book somewhere, or is it because your brews don’t fit with the stuff in the books for some reason?
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It's probably because he has read almost every book he can get his hands on and can remember them word for word. When i told everyone in the group i made a new race they could use for a backup character, he just rolled his eyes at me.
Spells: My spells. Races: My races Monsters: My monsters Magic items: My items
I am not complaining about him though. He is my best friend.
Spells: My spells. Races: My races Monsters: My monsters Magic items: My items
No, I understand. Even best friends can not appreciate our work at times, and we can not appreciate their lack of appreciation at times too and still be best friends.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting