What is the essence of D&D

[TheCosmicKid]

@TheCosmicKid

If you have something of substance to share, I invite you, again, to do so.

My questions are substantial. I'm requesting you follow your chain of logic and notice the gap between how you're arguing and what you're trying to prove. You have now avoided addressing this problem three times. If you want to leave this conversation here, that's fine, but it won't have ended because my case was lacking in substance.

 

[Garthanos]

I think you have me confused with someone else.

It was a generic not you specifically. The unfollow function is not very functional LOL

 

[Garthanos]

The lesson learned is very simple: adventuring is bloody dangerous!

Oh I only elaborated some icky ones I admit but there were others too like all that danger and death isnt permanent unless you want it to be because.... magic fixes every booboo == see magic supremacy it all can connect back in one way or another doesn't it? AND no I didnt even like the resurrection magic being so nigh mundane nor that it has gotten more so since. But fortunately deaths in my D&D now feel like they were "earned" and that ritual isn't even needed they are not so easily just a fluke plastic tumble.

1e started me itching basically and defined many things that seemed awesome or potentially awesome and others which even annoyed me -> I have now integrated and actually like a lot -- but largely that iteration left me seriously un-scratched.

 

[Tony Vargas]

My questions are substantial. I'm requesting you follow your chain of logic and notice the gap between how you're arguing and what you're trying to prove.

I already answered your extremely hypothetical, loaded questions as best I could without your actually committing to any sort is substantive position. If you wanted to advance your position, you woul have to take the infinitesimal risk of actually articulating it.

As to the point I made about the Essence of D&D likely being the Primacy of Magic, I've supported extensively with reference to the actual content if the various incarnations of the game itself.

I do rest the supposition, in part on the acknowledgement of 4e as being Not-D&D, and of clones like PF1 as being D&D.

You seem to conflate this supposition with some other position you find intollerable.

I had previously invited you to offer some contribution of substance to the discussion. I realize, now, that you have no such contributions to make, and that your defensiveness was provoked by my unfairly pressuring you to do so. That was wrong of me.
You have my apologies.
I'll try not to unduly antagonize you like that again going forward.

 

[Hussar]

Core books, 2E had the high level campaigns.

1E depended on the class it was all over the place. No adventure released was beyond level 12-14.

Isle of the Ape would like to have a word.

 

[Zardnaar]

Isle of the Ape would like to have a word.

Missed one but there's not a lot?

Dungeon magazine had some but I was meaning released modules.

 

[Arnwolf666]

Vancian magic. Not neceesarily fantasy roleplaying. But for me the essence of D&D is the Vancian magic system.

 

[Hussar]

Bloodstone series comes to mind. But, yes, there weren't many. It's always been the perennial issue - is there no high level play because high level isn't supported or is it not supported because no one plays those levels.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Bloodstone series comes to mind. But, yes, there weren't many. It's always been the perennial issue - is there no high level play because high level isn't supported or is it not supported because no one plays those levels.

It has always been supported in the sense that there are rules provided for it. They just havent often worked well.

I suppose problematic at high level is also a commonality among all authentically-D&D versions, but shouldn't the game's Essence be at least evident at all levels?
....Ok, "has a mid-level sweet spot" could qualify....?

 

[Zardnaar]

Bloodstone series comes to mind. But, yes, there weren't many. It's always been the perennial issue - is there no high level play because high level isn't supported or is it not supported because no one plays those levels.

More no one plays it. High level stuff has been made but doesn't sell well by most accounts.

5E has fast leveling, 90% of people still don't play.

I play sometimes but it's rare.