That's super interesting. So the 2024 version only excludes "dealing damage", which is totally mechanical, i.e., HP. I feel like the 2014 version's wording of excluding any "obviously harmful act" is much better.

This is so true. The more GMing I do, the shorter my descriptions become. It's fine to make exceptions for really important things, but most scenes actually aren't that significant, and it's cool to leave space for your players' imaginations.

with one of them clutching a spatula

wonderdraft is amazing for world/region maps; and it's a one-time purchase rather than an ongoing subscription which is lovely

yeah there is a slightly funny contradiction in most ttrpg settings, whereby your fifth-level characters are more powerful than 99.9% of the rest of the world, and yet still seem to find appropriate challenges every day or two...

that's interesting, and definitely could be a problem at lower levels. at higher levels though, most (?) classes probably have something better to do with a bonus action, and some of the higher-end healing potions are so expensive!

I'm not sure that's any great loss, especially if it's balanced with a more comprehensive Challenge Rating section. The Adventuring Day XP table was useless if you aren't using XP, and does anyone run six to eight encounters per day outside of a gnarly dungeon anyway?

Interesting episode. I'd love to hear your thoughts on linear vs branching dungeons!