Is D&D "about" combat?

[DragonLancer]

D&D has elements of combat, exploration, problemsolving and so on, but combat is a major part of it. Dungeons have rooms full of orcs, zombies, beholders or unspeakable gribblies and they are all there for combat purposes.

Individual groups can play the game as they desire but the underlying focus of D&D is characters fighting monsters.

 

[Jhaelen]

I didn't interpret the question to be "is combat part of D&D?"

If that's the question, I agree with you. I still don't think that D&D is "about" combat, which is how the question is phrased.

Well my line of thinking was more like: Would D&D without combat still be D&D for me?

Even though I've certainly played whole sessions of D&D without a single combat, I'd still answer that with a no.

If I was asked to play in a D&D campaign to find out later that the DM felt that combat should not play any part in her campaign, I'd not be happy.

If the same thing happened, e.g. in an Ars Magica campaign, things would be different and I'd be fine with it.

 

[JamesonCourage]

Well my line of thinking was more like: Would D&D without combat still be D&D for me?

Even though I've certainly played whole sessions of D&D without a single combat, I'd still answer that with a no.

If I was asked to play in a D&D campaign to find out later that the DM felt that combat should not play any part in her campaign, I'd not be happy.

If the same thing happened, e.g. in an Ars Magica campaign, things would be different and I'd be fine with it.

Okay, that makes sense to me. I do see where you're coming from, but people that feel similarly to you saying "D&D is about combat" isn't the same to me as people saying "D&D needs combat to be D&D".

I think people saying "D&D is about role playing" isn't the same to me as people saying "D&D needs role playing to be D&D". I don't know what your thoughts are on that, and I'm not trying to speak for you.

As always, play what you like

 

[Hassassin]

I answered no because my D&D is not about combat. In fact, my D&D is more often about avoiding combat.

Adventure, survival or character growth often describe better what my game is about.

So D&D without combat is still D&D, although I'm not sure if D&D without the *potential* for combat would be...

 

[HalfOrc HalfBiscuit]

First, let me say I haven't read all the answers on this thread - I gave up about page 6. So if someone else has made this point already, I apologise.

D&D is not about combat ... or adventure.

I have never engaged in combat while playing D&D - nothing worse than a few harsh words and some petulant dice chucking ... usually followed by an embarassed apology.

Nor have I ever had an adventure while playing D&D ... although one or two journeys across London at 1.00 am after playing D&D could possibly fall into the "adventure" category.

D&D is about playing let's pretend ... using your imagination if you prefer. More specifically it's about pretending to have adventures in a fantasy setting ... which often involve (pretend) combats.

 

[Stoat]

So D&D without combat is still D&D, although I'm not sure if D&D without the *potential* for combat would be...

This is why I answered yes.

 

[Jimlock]

NO.

D&D is all about imaginary girlfriends.

The point of the game is to manage to sleep wit all those hot villain chicks the DM throws at you.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've just read through the whole thread and I'm a bit disappointed to see the degree to which Dannager (and to a lesser extent Hussar) appear to be attempting to 'win arguments' with other people.

Please dial it back a little or you'll get booted from the thread.

Thanks

 

[Aberzanzorax]

If a lay person asked me to describe what D&D was, I'd tell them something along the lines of "It's a fantasy game of pretend but you have rules that help shape what you can and can't do, and how well you can do it."

I would not tell them "It's a fantasy combat game." I doubt anyone who plays would describe it soley as that, then walk away, assuming the person now knew what D&D is. They wouldn't be wrong, but they'd be incomplete to do so.

 

[MichaelSomething]

D&D is like a sandwich/hoagie/grinder/etc. where people will all use the same basic ingredients to build mostly similar foods.

Combat is like the meat. Many sandwiches are simply an excuse to cram as much meat as you can between two slices of bread (which would be the roleplaying) and some mustard. Many sandwiches are focused on the meat but there's also supporting stuff like tomato/lettuce/etc. that are exploration and other such things. They provide contrast and support to the meat.

Strangely enough, I have seen hoagies with only lettuce, tomato, cheese, and bread. I see it and wonder, "why was this made?" It was for vegetarians who don't like meat. Of course if you're a vegetarian, why would you get a hoagie in the first place? It possible to make a good meat free hoagie, using avocados, grilled vegetables, or tofu of course. However, not every place does that and most chain-hoagie places simply won't.