Is this necessary to run a campaign in the slightest? It costs

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>>48811276
just get the pdf if you want it
just don't use it if you don't want it

No. We didn't buy it. It just contains a bunch of random gen tables that Mearls ripped off from various D&D blogs. I'm pretty sure a lawsuit is pending but I don't know if it went anywhere.

>>48811276
Go to 5eg
DL the pdf for free
Thanks us later

>>48811276
I use it for magic items,loot tables,stats for siege weapons and firearms,carousing and I like reading up on some of the alternative rules.

I love the npc trait tables for making npcs on the fly. The backround tables for magic items are my favourite part of the book, makes even a +1 sword have a place in the story with very little effort and can lead to plot hooks like wondering why demons make slippers of spider climb for religious ceremonies.

It also includes tables for creating balanced encounters, its easy enough to pit a cr 4 monster against a level 4 party, but knowing how many cr2's, 1's and 1/2's they should be able to safely handle is handy

It's actually better to play without it. Same goes for every other 5e book.

>>48811458
I have the DM's screen and it has pretty much all the NPC info on it.

>>48811506
>Not playing without the PHB or Monster Manual

You aren't even playing a game at that point.

>>48811570
No game is better than a bad game :^)

>>48811555
And very little else sadly. I'm one of those old fashioned DM's who creates their npcs before the damn game and its such a pain having a DM screen full of useless crap.

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>>48811581
If 5e is a bad game that's you're opinion and I really can't change that. But actually playing a game is better than just sitting around a table writing fanfiction and rolling a d20 to figure out if what you wanted to happen, happened.

>>48811276
No.
Great thread, OP.

>>48811276
No. Literally all you need are free basic rules and imagination. Everything extra is fluff and additional content you can really substitute with whatever homebrew you come up with if you're experienced. Not that D&D has any personality to being with.

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>>48811689
Thanks.
Here, have this.

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Technically, no.
However, there are plenty of solid resources in there. The 'rules' like magic items, traps, environmental rules, and such are pretty essential, unless you're just going to make all of that up. However, the parts that just talk about running a game are quite good, and some of it is system agnostic.
You don't need it, but it's in /5eg/'s mega anyways, and it's quite useful.
And you might as well contribute to the game if you play and enjoy it.

>>48811611
I would rather just shoot some shit with my friends than make them play a time-consuming, frustratingly designed game with poorly implemented rules.

Anyway, OP, what >>48811724 said, but if you *really* like 5e, take a look at the pdf and decide for yourself.

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>>48811276

As someone who DM'd for years without the DMG then moved to using one for my current campaigns, it does help smooth out gameplay and allowed me to hone in and improve my dungeon crafting and encounter building.

I mean, all the sessions I ran without it were still a ton of fun and great experiences, the DMG is more or less a tool to help you bring new elements to your adventures. Very similar to the arguement of a thought out and pre-rolled adventure, to one a completely improvised one. Both are great but contain their own drawbacks.

It's a great resource if you use it, but it's not necessary to running a fun session of D&D, but it can really help you build a balanced and well constructed adventure module.

I've also gotten to the point that when I run a session, I feel confident not having to fub a single roll because I have faith that my module along with the law of averages should even things out (although its generally a good idea to stack the odds a wee bit in the favor of your players).

As many anons have pointed out, dl the PDF and see for yourself if the DMG will be a boon to you and your adventures.

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>>48813290
>a good idea to stack the odds a wee bit in the favor of your players

I usually make all my encounters a slight bit out of my player's favor. It really makes them play combat more strategically.

Of course, I don't do this to the extreme, as killing players in some ungodly combat scenario is generally looked down upon.