D&D General Why Exploration Is the Worst Pillar

[CleverNickName]

Yes, I would go even further to say that since the vast majority of players aren't Oscar material, their "acting" ends up just being disruptive, distracting or straight up cringe. Just don't.

I think acting is a lot like dancing, singing, or any other performance art: people are usually better at it than they think they are. It takes a lot of practice to develop the confidence to overcome that notion, and most folks just...don't.

You don't need to be "Oscar material" to roleplay with your friends.

 

[Nefermandias]

I think acting is a lot like dancing, singing, or any other performance art: people are usually better at it than they think they are. It takes a lot of practice to develop the confidence to overcome that notion, and most folks just...don't.

You don't need to be "Oscar material" to roleplay with your friends.

Yes, I was talking about my table. I am very inclined to kick "actors" out as soon as they become disruptive.

 

[iserith]

The funny thing, is that people keep talking about how those streamers are awesome "role players" but I'm always under the impression that there's very little actual role playing going on in those shows. It just feels like scripted bs.

There's probably some of that, just so everyone's on the same page with the direction of the show. For some though, the game isn't very entertaining to watch, but very entertaining to play. So these shows tend to not be their thing. What's troubling is running across players who judge their own roleplaying abilities by comparing them to these actors' acting abilities (or worse, judge others). These aren't the same skills. I take the time to explain this to folks who are down on themselves or judgmental of others, if I think it will pay some sort of dividend for the game experience.

 

[CleverNickName]

Yes, I was talking about my table. I am very inclined to kick "actors" out as soon as they become disruptive.

Ah. Sorry about that; you said "the vast majority of players" and I misunderstood.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

So, I came in expecting an exploration thread, and I'm seeing a rollplay or roleplay thread (or, if you prefer, roleplay or acting thread).

Personally, I love exploration. I think it's the coolest and most undervalued of the three pillars of D&D. Everyone knows about combat- it's been done to death. And social tends to follow it closely (with the usual debate, "Abilities or Roleplaying?").

But exploration? That's often what lurks in the background, and hooks a lot of new players. What's beyond the next hill? The next door? What wonders are there to be found beneath the shifting sands, or within the deepest jungles, or hidden the highest craggy peaks?

That sense of wonder that you can get from exploration is something that you can't get from the combat or the social pillars, for the most part. Combat can often seem ... well, game-y. And the social aspect, while fun, can also seem same-y (how many voices does your DM know?).

But the thrill of the unknown? That's always had an appeal. IMO.

 

[Yora]

The only new game I've seen in ages that really seems to be designed as an exploration game was Forbidden Lands. And that still feels like a remake of what D&D used to be 40 years earlier.

Numenera was supposed to be about exploration, but at least from reading it, there just doesn't seem to be anything mechanically in the game that deals with it. Not hugely surprising, given that it's from one of the main designers of D&D 3rd edition.

 

[payn]

So, I came in expecting an exploration thread, and I'm seeing a rollplay or roleplay thread (or, if you prefer, roleplay or acting thread).

Personally, I love exploration. I think it's the coolest and most undervalued of the three pillars of D&D. Everyone knows about combat- it's been done to death. And social tends to follow it closely (with the usual debate, "Abilities or Roleplaying?").

But exploration? That's often what lurks in the background, and hooks a lot of new players. What's beyond the next hill? The next door? What wonders are there to be found beneath the shifting sands, or within the deepest jungles, or hidden the highest craggy peaks?

That sense of wonder that you can get from exploration is something that you can't get from the combat or the social pillars, for the most part. Combat can often seem ... well, game-y. And the social aspect, while fun, can also seem same-y (how many voices does your DM know?).

But the thrill of the unknown? That's always had an appeal. IMO.

Wouldn't that makes this an illusion thread?

 

[mrpopstar]

So, I came in expecting an exploration thread, and I'm seeing a rollplay or roleplay thread (or, if you prefer, roleplay or acting thread).

Personally, I love exploration. I think it's the coolest and most undervalued of the three pillars of D&D. Everyone knows about combat- it's been done to death. And social tends to follow it closely (with the usual debate, "Abilities or Roleplaying?").

But exploration? That's often what lurks in the background, and hooks a lot of new players. What's beyond the next hill? The next door? What wonders are there to be found beneath the shifting sands, or within the deepest jungles, or hidden the highest craggy peaks?

That sense of wonder that you can get from exploration is something that you can't get from the combat or the social pillars, for the most part. Combat can often seem ... well, game-y. And the social aspect, while fun, can also seem same-y (how many voices does your DM know?).

But the thrill of the unknown? That's always had an appeal. IMO.

All this!

 

[mrpopstar]

There's probably some of that, just so everyone's on the same page with the direction of the show. For some though, the game isn't very entertaining to watch, but very entertaining to play. So these shows tend to not be their thing. What's troubling is running across players who judge their own roleplaying abilities by comparing them to these actors' acting abilities (or worse, judge others). These aren't the same skills. I take the time to explain this to folks who are down on themselves or judgmental of others, if I think it will pay some sort of dividend for the game experience.

I have never, not once, ever, watched a livestream of other people playing a game.
I harp on my little cousin about her obsession with YouTube (she watches a lot of video game streamers).
I'm like, girl you're literally spending your life watching other people live their lives. Go live!

I do recognize that some people find it entertaining, and also recognize that some don't have a game of their own to access. Being able to play Dungeons & Dragons consistently—with people you enjoy playing with—is a real privilege.

 

[Fanaelialae]

The only new game I've seen in ages that really seems to be designed as an exploration game was Forbidden Lands. And that still feels like a remake of what D&D used to be 40 years earlier.

Numenera was supposed to be about exploration, but at least from reading it, there just doesn't seem to be anything mechanically in the game that deals with it. Not hugely surprising, given that it's from one of the main designers of D&D 3rd edition.

I don't think that a game needs to have mechanically robust exploration in order to be oriented towards exploration.

Look at something like Mork Borg. It's rules lite in general IIRC, but it has a lot of weirdness inherent in the setting that is, IMO, there to make it interesting to explore.

I'd say that Numenera (and Invisible Sun) approach exploration from a similar angle.

You can certainly have exploration oriented games that are rules heavy, but it's not the only way to approach it. IMO, rules only get you so far in exploration, since they won't do you much good if you don't come up with something interesting to find.