D&D 5E D&D Next weekly art column!

[Dausuul]

If you're looking for a secret handshake, you can't beat the d20. Every D&D player, from the white book-toting, Gygax-quoting grognard to the 4E dragonborn warlord enthusiast, will recognize a d20 on sight and associate it with D&D. Conversely, non-gamers are unlikely to know what a d20 is, especially if you leave off the numbers so it looks like an abstract symbol.

 

[Kaodi]

If you're looking for a secret handshake, you can't beat the d20. Every D&D player, from the white book-toting, Gygax-quoting grognard to the 4E dragonborn warlord enthusiast, will recognize a d20 on sight and associate it with D&D. Conversely, non-gamers are unlikely to know what a d20 is, especially if you leave off the numbers so it looks like an abstract symbol.

I must strongly disagree. The d20 is no longer the hallmark of just D&D. It is also the logo of EN World, it appears on the products of 3rd Party Publishers. I do not even think D&D and its brethren are the only games to use it. No, a d20 is simply not exclusive enough anymore. It does not mean Dungeons & Dragons brand fantasy role-playing alone anymore.

 

[Gold Roger]

I like secret handshakes. If you are perceptive enough (no easy task by far) you'll be able to notice some small signs about anyone you're likely to connect with.

I like giving out my own little signs.

But you can't force or artificialy produce such a sign. It's language and language can be forced to develope in certain ways only by most extreme measures.

Also, I'd never give out a secret handshake about D&D. The player base is so diverse that there's many members I'm unlikely to connect with face to face.

 

[Dausuul]

I must strongly disagree. The d20 is no longer the hallmark of just D&D. It is also the logo of EN World, it appears on the products of 3rd Party Publishers. I do not even think D&D and its brethren are the only games to use it. No, a d20 is simply not exclusive enough anymore. It does not mean Dungeons & Dragons brand fantasy role-playing alone anymore.

True, but then what is the purpose of a secret handshake? Is it to identify brand loyalty to D&D, or is it to establish a connection between the Few, the Proud, the Geeky? I would argue the latter. If I see you wearing a shirt with a d20 on it, I don't know if you play D&D, Pathfinder, d20 Modern, Hackmaster, or what have you... but I know you play something, and that you and I share the secret language of gaming. That's more important than your particular preference of game and edition.

But you can't force or artificialy produce such a sign. It's language and language can be forced to develope in certain ways only by most extreme measures.

This is another argument for the d20; it's already used as a secret handshake to some extent. I've seen a number of T-shirts with d20s on them, that use the image in just this way--making an in-joke for the benefit of those in the know.

 

[Kaodi]

True, but then what is the purpose of a secret handshake? Is it to identify brand loyalty to D&D, or is it to establish a connection between the Few, the Proud, the Geeky? I would argue the latter.

Given the context in which this article was written, I would argue that the former is what is relevant here.

I think it would also be cool if EN World had dark grey t-shirts with just their blue and green d20. In that context it would be like a double agent secret handshake: signifying gamer to most gamers, and EN Worlder to that smaller, elite class, .

 

[YRUSirius]

Seeing the 1E cover in this thread again and all the L&L articles I had an idea.

What about some kind of stylized demon idol as the secret handshake for 5E? Good for the old guard too, eh?

-YRUSirius

 

[Libramarian]

What the...

The idea of wearing a little abstract symbol to make a secret connection with other D&D geeks is so strange to me that it's kinda surreal. Like I've been transported from Earth to some kind of marketing fantasy land.

This is like that weird Nissan Leaf ad that tried to convince Leaf drivers to use a secret finger gesture with each other.

No. Just no.

Just wear a t-shirt that says Dungeons & Dragons on it...it's not a dirty word...

 

[Hussar]

I like secret handshakes. If you are perceptive enough (no easy task by far) you'll be able to notice some small signs about anyone you're likely to connect with.

I like giving out my own little signs.

But you can't force or artificialy produce such a sign. It's language and language can be forced to develope in certain ways only by most extreme measures.

Also, I'd never give out a secret handshake about D&D. The player base is so diverse that there's many members I'm unlikely to connect with face to face.

Sure you can. Language can be developed in various directions quite easily actually. That's what a meme is after all. Granted, most memes are not deliberately created, but, many are.

And, the point of something like this is to have something that is tribal. Whether you take it to the extreme, go out in public in facepaint as a Jugalo, or you keep it very understated, with a small broach with a d20 logo on it, it still allows people to recognize you for your associations.

Sure, you might like a different edition of D&D that another person does, but, good grief, you're both gamers, you have a least a little common ground. That's all it takes.

 

[Jon Schindehette]

True, but then what is the purpose of a secret handshake? Is it to identify brand loyalty to D&D, or is it to establish a connection between the Few, the Proud, the Geeky? I would argue the latter. If I see you wearing a shirt with a d20 on it, I don't know if you play D&D, Pathfinder, d20 Modern, Hackmaster, or what have you... but I know you play something, and that you and I share the secret language of gaming. That's more important than your particular preference of game and edition.

I hear what you are saying, but I'll be honest, I'm interested in creating a secret handshake for the D&D player. Not a generic table-top RPG player. Just call me selfish and self centered

 

[GX.Sigma]

For what it's worth, I instantly recognized the end-it as a form of the 4e dragon symbol (but not as an end-it, whatever that is). That would work as a secret handshake.

In my opinion, the most iconic D&D image is the beholder. Maybe a stylized one of those?