D&D 5E Combat as war, sport, or ??

[TwoSix]

I understand that position, but disagree. Level Up is just as much D&D as 3e, or Pathfinder, or Dungeon Crawl Classics. WotC's legal ownership of the name "D&D" is the ONLY thing they have over any 3pp, and it doesn't make them any better than any of them. If a thread just wants to talk about WotC, they should say up front that's all that matters.

If you have some kind of stats and roll a d20 to attack, it's just store-brand D&D to me.

 

[overgeeked]

And so combat stays at sport, where PCs can laugh about how many limbs they've gone through in the last 10 fights. But that is the D&D way.

In these kinds of games it’s incredibly rare for PCs to live long enough to get to where they have that kind of magic. There might be one NPC in a kingdom who has access to that magic. And the price is higher than most non-nobles can afford.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

If you have some kind of stats and roll a d20 to attack, it's just store-brand D&D to me.

so rifts and torg?

 

[TwoSix]

so rifts and torg?

Sure, why not?

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Sure, why not?

I mean if I don't like the 2024 changes I may call TORG my D&D for a while

 

[Fanaelialae]

Sure, why not?

Because it's like calling every guy Steve just because they share some basic physical similarities. John is Steve, Tim is Steve, Joe is Steve, etc. It would be confusing and nonsensical.

D&D is the stuff that says D&D on the cover. Other works may be D&D derived (True 20, Level Up) or D&D inspired (Conan 2d20, Monsterpunk) but they clearly aren't D&D anymore than John or Tim are named Steve.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Because it's like calling every guy Steve just because they share some basic physical similarities. John is Steve, Tim is Steve, Joe is Steve, etc. It would be confusing and nonsensical.

D&D is the stuff that says D&D on the cover. Other works may be D&D derived (True 20, Level Up) or D&D inspired (Conan 2d20, Monsterpunk) but they clearly aren't D&D anymore than John or Tim are named Steve.

where being specific about what you are playing (I'm playing house ruled 5e useing tasha's and MotM updates) but really we are all playing D&D.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Because it's like calling every guy Steve just because they share some basic physical similarities. John is Steve, Tim is Steve, Joe is Steve, etc. It would be confusing and nonsensical.

D&D is the stuff that says D&D on the cover. Other works may be D&D derived (True 20, Level Up) or D&D inspired (Conan 2d20, Monsterpunk) but they clearly aren't D&D anymore than John or Tim are named Steve.

I don't see D&D as being defined by a legal branding in any circumstance except where I am legally required to do so.

 

[TwoSix]

Because it's like calling every guy Steve just because they share some basic physical similarities. John is Steve, Tim is Steve, Joe is Steve, etc. It would be confusing and nonsensical.

D&D is the stuff that says D&D on the cover. Other works may be D&D derived (True 20, Level Up) or D&D inspired (Conan 2d20, Monsterpunk) but they clearly aren't D&D anymore than John or Tim are named Steve.

I was being somewhat hyperbolic in my original post, but yea, I disagree with you. Pathfinder is D&D. 13th Age is D&D. Level Up is D&D. OSE is (obviously) D&D. DCCRPG is D&D. And on and on.

 

[Malmuria]

That it doesn't have to be is true - as is the fact in that literally every single edition that has ever been published it is true.

All the editions, I think, have effects that make PCs less good at fighting: level drain, cursed items, exhaustion, conditions, status effects. In early editions they were less unified, while in 5e at least they are more an inconvenience than anything, but they exist.