D&D General Generic: is it Good or Bad?

[CleverNickName]

The word "generic" has been getting thrown around a lot in these forums, but the context seems to be a mix of positive and negative...and sometimes, confusingly, both at the same time.

So how about you? When someone describes a feature of D&D as "generic"--a new product, an adventure, a class or campaign setting--is your reaction most often a positive one? Like maybe you read that word and think "oh nice, this thing is going to be versatile and easy to add into my current game." Or is your reaction most often a negative one? Like perhaps you read it and think "ugh, another uninspiring and bland idea that will probably water down my zesty, flavorful game."

No exceptions, no fence-sitting, no "sorta kinda maybe in some cases possibly ..." We all know that preference is relative and there are always exceptions to any given system, no need to campaign for a variety of poll options. Feel free to add nuance in the comments below. But as for the poll...

"Generic." Is it good or bad for you?

 

[Salthorae]

I'd like to sit the fence on it a bit, but I chose a bad thing.

When I read "generic", in my mind it is synonymous with "bland".

That said, I have no problem using anything in a game that I run if I want to use it, generic or not.

 

[Prakriti]

Generic good...

FIRE BAD!

 

[CleverNickName]

I'd like to sit the fence on it a bit, but I chose a bad thing.

When I read "generic", in my mind it is synonymous with "bland".

That said, I have no problem using anything in a game that I run if I want to use it, generic or not.

Excellent answer...I'm trying to get the general gist of the word, the feels it gives you when you first see it in reference to a D&D product or feature...not measure each and every instance of it. This is good stuff.

 

[Olrox17]

Interesting poll. I voted for BAD. Generic feels like the opposite of creative.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[CleverNickName]

For my part, I voted "good." I rarely use things out-of-the-box, I'm always adding my own lore and backgrounds and style, and it's hard to do that with something that is highly-specific and detailed. I prefer broad strokes and strong frameworks to build on. I struggle to incorporate stuff like thri-kreen and mind flayers, for example, because they would require me to overhaul large parts of my setting.

 

[Tony Vargas]

If a system is say, "for generic fantasy" or a mechanic is "generic" that likely means it's easily adaptable to a specific sub-genre, setting, or concept.

OTOH, in the context of TTRPG "generic fantasy RPG" can just mean "another D&D imitator, locked into D&D's self-referent sub-genre."

 

[Nagol]

Neither.

 

[TwoSix]

"Generic" comes with a fairly strong connotation of "bland" or "boring", so I voted bad. Even though rationally I probably get more utility out of generic supplements that I do out of exciting, highly specialized ones.