What is the essence of D&D

[Zardnaar]

So there are some pretty big differences between Moldvay and AD&D in terms of how you were instructed to run the game. Gygax advocate some fairly adversarial techniques, although not nearly as extreme as the worst horror stories would indicate, while Moldvay insisted on you functioning as a referee. Make mine Moldvay on this count.

People carry it to extremes online to prove points or push a narrative.

Fantasy Vuetname can absolutely be a thing in 1E and B/X. 2E as well probably.

It's not really reflected in published TSR modules although bad things can happen absolutely.

 

[Garthanos]

Heh - tell that to the players I had when I ran Keep on the Borderlands ten years ago. Each of 'em churned through at least 5 characters in that thing

Yeh to my experience it was all that was supported was fantasy vietnam.

 

[Lanefan]

So there are some pretty big differences between Moldvay and AD&D in terms of how you were instructed to run the game. Gygax advocate some fairly adversarial techniques, although not nearly as extreme as the worst horror stories would indicate, while Moldvay insisted on you functioning as a referee. Make mine Moldvay on this count.

Depending on the situation, functioning as a referee can sure appear to be adversarial.

Ideally I prefer the neutral-referee approach, but with the proviso that the DM is allowed to (and expected to) stick to her guns if-when things go wrong for the PCs and not feel obliged to let them off the hook.

 

[Garthanos]

People carry it to extremes online to prove points or push a narrative.

Oh right but we can discard that as just trying to undermine someone elses experiences... because of your agenda.

 

[Lanefan]

Yeh to my experience it was all that was supported was fantasy vietnam.

I wonder if some of our differences are based around perceived expendability of our own PCs.

Me, I roll up a PC in the expectation that it's gonna die; and then am pleasantly surprised if-when it doesn't.

I'm going to guess that you don't take kindly to losing your PCs.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yeh to my experience it was all that was supported was fantasy vietnam.

That's just you though, there's not one true way to play D&D.

I think that's a big mistake 4E made. They tried to present a unified way to play based off assumptions of forum posts and the RPGA but most people don't play D&D in organised play.

 

[Garthanos]

I have been running published adventures, there's a more if a risk sure because it's not kid gloves treatment like 5E but it's not fantasy Vietnam.

Sure it was and there is much boasting about the deaths and number of PC they make their playres go through.

 

[Zardnaar]

Sure it was and there is much boasting about the deaths and number of PC they make their playres go through.

Maybe in forums occasionally but forums are inherently for hard core players.

I'm not saying it doesn't exist just rare. Can you play that way sure.
Do most people play that way. No

 

[Garthanos]

I wonder if some of our differences are based around perceived expendability of our own PCs

Or my players PCs as the DM has to fight that system to have heroic game play

 

[Garthanos]

I'm not saying it doesn't exist just rare. Can you play that way sure.
Do most people play that way. No

I saw people intentionally pulling punches not inerupting mages at low levels. They were fighting the system