Unpopular opinions go here

[CleverNickName]

Combat is the least interesting part of D&D.

Last night, we had a four-hour gaming session without a single combat scene. Not even a random encounter. It was easily one of the best gaming sessions we've ever had as a group, and we've been playing for more than a decade.

 

[Reynard]

Combat is the least interesting part of D&D.

Last night, we had a four-hour gaming session without a single combat scene. Not even a random encounter. It was easily one of the best gaming sessions we've ever had as a group, and we've been playing for more than a decade.

Combat can be tedious and uninteresting. But it can also be amazing and important and cathartic. As with all things D&D, it depends. But I reject the notion that "combat is the least interesting part of D&D" as some sort of axiomatic truth.

 

[CleverNickName]

I reject the notion that "combat is the least interesting part of D&D" as some sort of axiomatic truth.

It is, however, an unpopular opinion.

 

[overgeeked]

It is, however, an unpopular opinion.

100% true and unpopular.

Combat in the abstract sense of overcoming an enemy or enemies is awesome.

Combat in the specific instance of D&D’s tedious mechanics is duller than dirt.

 

[Reynard]

Combat in the specific instance of D&D’s tedious mechanics is duller than dirt.

And, of course,that itself is a controversial opinion because you are applying a very narrow set of standards (your own) to a very broadly applicable subject.

Which is cool. That's what the thread is for.

I'm of the (probably not controversial) opinion that sometimes D&D combat can be boring AF but it isn't actually a function of how "important" the combat is. There are a bunch of variables in play and that's only one.

 

[soviet]

100% true and unpopular.

Combat in the abstract sense of overcoming an enemy or enemies is awesome.

Combat in the specific instance of D&D’s tedious mechanics is duller than dirt.

I think my favourite description of it, at least at medium levels and higher, is 'two bars of soap shaving slivers off each other'.

 

[Autumnal]

Combat is the least interesting part of D&D.

Last night, we had a four-hour gaming session without a single combat scene. Not even a random encounter. It was easily one of the best gaming sessions we've ever had as a group, and we've been playing for more than a decade.

Single largest reason I keep ending up not playing D&D anymore despite frequent urges to try this or that. So much is built to focus on fights.

 

[CleverNickName]

I think my favourite description of it, at least at medium levels and higher, is 'two bars of soap shaving slivers off each other'.

"Five minutes of fun, packed into four hours."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Or as little. "Honor" as it relates to Eastern settings is usually just orientalism.

It definitely fits with knights and wild west heroes, depending on what version of "Western" we're going with.

 

[soviet]

Single largest reason I keep ending up not playing D&D anymore despite frequent urges to try this or that. So much is built to focus on fights.

It's definitely a strange beast, where combat has become very strongly defined and gridded out to the extent that it feels a bit like a boardgame, and at the same time non-combat resolution has just atrophied into nothingness, simply 'make a skill roll and let's do another fight'.