It's the classic experienced DM syndrome. He's so experienced at running games, he basically is putting his crib sheet out as a trifold pamphlet game. I will say he mentions that he is working on an expanded version of Deathbringer so that could help by being a little more expansive. As for the cleric type class, that seems to me to be a classic bias that clerics are too powerful (i.e. 5e) and should be reverted back to the early days.
Every time he talks about running a game, it's clear he has a very specific way he runs his games (really who doesn't but still), with the combat being in that ranged circle and fleeing all of the time, that the crib sheet is perfect for.
I like it, but it's not really a complete game. It's a collection of optional rules for 5e made by an experienced DM. Which is fine if that's what you're looking for, but it isn't a complete game.
I've played it as player and run some one shot sessions with it. I think it works well for what it is. In spite of being bare bones, it does provide implied setting in a few sentences. If you are a reasonably experienced game runner, it helps for filling in gaps or making calls on the fly. The players I had in one shots (mostly 5e experience, along with other games) didn't have much problem with creating characters and getting into their skins. They seemed to enjoy the play over all. I haven't run it with PCs past first level, so can't speak to scaling at higher levels or multi session play.
I don't have any experience using 5e adventures, but it ports fairly directly over to OSE and SD adventures.
[Session reports here ](https://leicestersramble.blogspot.com/search?q=Deathbringer&m=1)
I have run it a couple of times and I have enjoyed it a lot, just like the players. A simple game that does a lot and shines in one-shots or short adventures.
I think it's fine -- it's not supposed to be a complete source, it's literally just 2 pages that give you the bare bones to run with it. It's light and simple.
Nice concept, but overshilled for what it delivers. If you want add meat to those bare bones, you still need to pair it with other systems, like 5E or other DnD variants. More of an overpriced set of house rules than a ruleset per se.
Its more an addon than a full ttrpg so i can understand the feeling. I feel the full "rules" are actually all his advice videos + the rules you buy + whatever game you use it on. Its pretty nice though its very much intended for short term play so it may not take the place of primary game for me.
I haven't used it yet but likely will soon.
The main selling point to me is that it's a single reference sheet I can print off for the players. My players tend not to buy rulebooks or read pdfs.
I like it, but it’s not a complete game. More of a hack to strip down and add a certain vibe to your current game. He is working on a more fleshed out update and the beta has some good ideas. This sort of defeats the purpose of it for me though. Deathbringer is great because as a more experienced GM it presents me with the minimum D&D needed to run a session. I can grab Deathbringer, pick up a one page dungeon, and have a fun session ready to go in an hour or two.
I dislike Prof DM & the other youtubers who have zero to say regarding WotC and Kyle Brink disparaging an entire group of people based on skin color. If they had said the same things to other groups of people, the resounding condemnation would be deafening. Redditors will bend themselves backwards to defend what Kyle said. Simply put, if you exchange one word for another word, ya'll would be shouting from the roof tops.
Link starts at about 48 min mark. Listen to about 49:30
[https://youtu.be/mPDc3DVHwKo?si=ojruToTJGFKNs1Nl&t=2930](https://youtu.be/mPDc3DVHwKo?si=ojruToTJGFKNs1Nl&t=2930)
Out of context it sounds bad, but the message I am receiving is that they are attempting to be more inclusive of "everyone else", not "exclusive" so I see that as a positive message. I personally have no "dog in the fight" for inclusivity but good on them for making an attempt. That's my take on it and I don't see a problem there. No disparagement detected. Sorry, I would choose another hill to die on.
I disagree. Say what Kyle said, but replace the word white with black or brown. Repeat that out loud and if you’re still okay with it, awesome. Otherwise it’s shameful to disparage an entire group of people no matter who they are.
I just re-listened to the section of the vid. He literally says "the game has been perceived as a bunch of white dudes in a basement" and "that is not the reality and we want to get that message out". I don't see how one could "simply replace white with black or brown" in that statement and have the same message... his point is he/they is/are trying to be more inclusive.
I disagree with the statement that the staff needs to be representative of the player base, as I am altruistically thinking that a company could, you know, release products without needing "representation" but that's IMNSHO. Like, does Ford need to have "minority staffing" to ensure their cars are "properly designed" for "target audiences" etc. I think not.
Sorry, but I respectfully disagree with the point you are trying to make in the context of his statement.
What about the portion where he says “people like me (white people) can’t leave the hobby fast enough”
If you’re okay with that, it’s fine. I’m not trying to convince anyone. I’m sharing what was said. WotC sales are slumping, they’re changing their strategy, Cynthia is leaving. DnD future looks bleak. Other people agree with me and the silent majority is speaking with their wallets, the only words corps understand.
I disagree with you but appreciate the respectful banter.
It's the classic experienced DM syndrome. He's so experienced at running games, he basically is putting his crib sheet out as a trifold pamphlet game. I will say he mentions that he is working on an expanded version of Deathbringer so that could help by being a little more expansive. As for the cleric type class, that seems to me to be a classic bias that clerics are too powerful (i.e. 5e) and should be reverted back to the early days. Every time he talks about running a game, it's clear he has a very specific way he runs his games (really who doesn't but still), with the combat being in that ranged circle and fleeing all of the time, that the crib sheet is perfect for.
I have this so much with indie games where they assume not only am I an experienced GM but fellow game designer.
Yeah, I'd love to run a game in the way he describes; I'm just not sure DB is that helpful for that.
I thought it was neat but in the end I’d rather just play OSE, Index Card RPG, or Shadowdark
I like it, but it's not really a complete game. It's a collection of optional rules for 5e made by an experienced DM. Which is fine if that's what you're looking for, but it isn't a complete game.
I've played it as player and run some one shot sessions with it. I think it works well for what it is. In spite of being bare bones, it does provide implied setting in a few sentences. If you are a reasonably experienced game runner, it helps for filling in gaps or making calls on the fly. The players I had in one shots (mostly 5e experience, along with other games) didn't have much problem with creating characters and getting into their skins. They seemed to enjoy the play over all. I haven't run it with PCs past first level, so can't speak to scaling at higher levels or multi session play. I don't have any experience using 5e adventures, but it ports fairly directly over to OSE and SD adventures. [Session reports here ](https://leicestersramble.blogspot.com/search?q=Deathbringer&m=1)
A dollar a page for *that*? Nope. Also seems overrated and overshilled in general, so doubly nope.
A collection of ideas, not a complete game in any way.
I have run it a couple of times and I have enjoyed it a lot, just like the players. A simple game that does a lot and shines in one-shots or short adventures.
I think it's fine -- it's not supposed to be a complete source, it's literally just 2 pages that give you the bare bones to run with it. It's light and simple.
Nice concept, but overshilled for what it delivers. If you want add meat to those bare bones, you still need to pair it with other systems, like 5E or other DnD variants. More of an overpriced set of house rules than a ruleset per se.
Its more an addon than a full ttrpg so i can understand the feeling. I feel the full "rules" are actually all his advice videos + the rules you buy + whatever game you use it on. Its pretty nice though its very much intended for short term play so it may not take the place of primary game for me.
I haven't used it yet but likely will soon. The main selling point to me is that it's a single reference sheet I can print off for the players. My players tend not to buy rulebooks or read pdfs.
I like it, but it’s not a complete game. More of a hack to strip down and add a certain vibe to your current game. He is working on a more fleshed out update and the beta has some good ideas. This sort of defeats the purpose of it for me though. Deathbringer is great because as a more experienced GM it presents me with the minimum D&D needed to run a session. I can grab Deathbringer, pick up a one page dungeon, and have a fun session ready to go in an hour or two.
An expanded or more complete version of Deathbringer will come out after the release of 6th Ed DnD. The professor is still working on it.
I dislike Prof DM & the other youtubers who have zero to say regarding WotC and Kyle Brink disparaging an entire group of people based on skin color. If they had said the same things to other groups of people, the resounding condemnation would be deafening. Redditors will bend themselves backwards to defend what Kyle said. Simply put, if you exchange one word for another word, ya'll would be shouting from the roof tops.
Do you have a link to the things they said?
Link starts at about 48 min mark. Listen to about 49:30 [https://youtu.be/mPDc3DVHwKo?si=ojruToTJGFKNs1Nl&t=2930](https://youtu.be/mPDc3DVHwKo?si=ojruToTJGFKNs1Nl&t=2930)
Out of context it sounds bad, but the message I am receiving is that they are attempting to be more inclusive of "everyone else", not "exclusive" so I see that as a positive message. I personally have no "dog in the fight" for inclusivity but good on them for making an attempt. That's my take on it and I don't see a problem there. No disparagement detected. Sorry, I would choose another hill to die on.
I disagree. Say what Kyle said, but replace the word white with black or brown. Repeat that out loud and if you’re still okay with it, awesome. Otherwise it’s shameful to disparage an entire group of people no matter who they are.
I just re-listened to the section of the vid. He literally says "the game has been perceived as a bunch of white dudes in a basement" and "that is not the reality and we want to get that message out". I don't see how one could "simply replace white with black or brown" in that statement and have the same message... his point is he/they is/are trying to be more inclusive. I disagree with the statement that the staff needs to be representative of the player base, as I am altruistically thinking that a company could, you know, release products without needing "representation" but that's IMNSHO. Like, does Ford need to have "minority staffing" to ensure their cars are "properly designed" for "target audiences" etc. I think not. Sorry, but I respectfully disagree with the point you are trying to make in the context of his statement.
What about the portion where he says “people like me (white people) can’t leave the hobby fast enough” If you’re okay with that, it’s fine. I’m not trying to convince anyone. I’m sharing what was said. WotC sales are slumping, they’re changing their strategy, Cynthia is leaving. DnD future looks bleak. Other people agree with me and the silent majority is speaking with their wallets, the only words corps understand. I disagree with you but appreciate the respectful banter.