D&D General Why grognards still matter

[UngainlyTitan]

Like them or not (I really do personally) they are a big part of many RPGs, so your sweeping claim that story is not a major part of RPGs is clearly subjective.

I think that I phrased my thoughts badly in my initial post. I was thinking that in crpg or tv or movies the player/reader/viewer is largely experiencing a story authored by another.
I generally do not consider setting material as a story, it has elements that can be used to construct stories. That the battle of Emridy Meadows took place 20 year before the adventurers arrived at Hommlett may or may not have a impact on the player characters in their interaction with the setting and the NPC's but the story is the one created at the table by the players and the DM and will be different at my table from the one at yours.
I want locations, NPC's, interesting conflicts and encounters from a game company not a novel of how a group of heroes took down the Temple of Elemental Evil.

 

[Xenolith234]

Are you a grognard if you first played AD&D 2e as a kid but when you went to the store you got D&D 3.0 not knowing it was different?

 

[Scribe]

Another thought about the "engine".

How many unique posters here, are.responsinle for the lions share of engagement.

And as a follow on.

Would they be the "casual hardcore".

 

[Parmandur]

My average to include con fees and con rooms is about $1,667 per year. this includes office supplies, swag dice for new people, etc.

I have bought every 5E book except Acquisitions Incorporated, and the most that has run me a year has been like $300. Dice I maxed out on years ago, and pens and paper are necessary to gave around with kids.

Very inexpensive hobby.

 

[Lanefan]

Erm they've spent 20 years dialing casters down.

They've dialled the spells down, sure, but made them oh so much easier to cast while at the same time taking the inherent risks out of the spells that had such (teleport, polymorph other, etc.).

 

[Mercurius]

How many unique posters here, are.responsinle for the lions share of engagement.

3. You me and some other guy with a lot of handles.

 

[GreyLord]

I have bought every 5E book except Acquisitions Incorporated, and the most that has run me a year has been like $300. Dice I maxed out on years ago, and pens and paper are necessary to gave around with kids.

Very inexpensive hobby.

I can beat that. I get a ton of my stuff for free, so...that's a nice perk I've had in the past.

D&D is super cheap for me, C&C is even more expensive.

One thing though, and it wouldn't work for everyone, is if someone wants to use a book at the table, they can't use a book I don't own and haven't browsed, much less read.

Highly motivates people to buy me books of things I don't have (though I normally advise them to buy their own copy and let me browse it first to see if I would even allow it at the table or not).

Of course, honestly, I think it's a good rule. If the DM doesn't have access to the rule at the table, then they shouldn't expect the DM to have to adhere or use that rule.

 

[GreyLord]

I have bought every 5E book except Acquisitions Incorporated, and the most that has run me a year has been like $300. Dice I maxed out on years ago, and pens and paper are necessary to gave around with kids.

Very inexpensive hobby.

I can beat that. I get a ton of my stuff for free, so...that's a nice perk I've had in the past.

D&D is super cheap for me, C&C is even more expensive.

One thing though, and it wouldn't work for everyone, if someone wants to use a book at the table, they can't use a book I don't own and haven't browsed, much less read.

Highly motivates people to buy me books of things I don't have (though I normally advise them to buy their own copy and let me browse it first to see if I would even allow it at the table or not).

Of course, honestly, I think it's a good rule. If the DM doesn't have access to the rule at the table, then they shouldn't expect the DM to have to adhere or use that rule.

 

[Smackpixi]

I have bought every 5E book except Acquisitions Incorporated, and the most that has run me a year has been like $300. Dice I maxed out on years ago, and pens and paper are necessary to gave around with kids.

Very inexpensive hobby.

That AI book is super underrated. I’m sure you have a principled reason for avoiding it, but there’s lots to be had there. The adventure is linear, but good, hits a lot of highlights to show off FR and classic DnD stuff. The linearity/railroad aspect is offset with the downtime stuff of running the franchise, not for everyone, working for the man, I assume most players will want to subvert, but it provides a framework for inhabiting the world, and not just doing adventures. All the foregrounding of, and providing space for, downtime stuff opens up the idea of a campaign to be much more about living in the world. The flavor is cheesy for some, but if you reskin for your players tastes, it introduces a lot of ideas absent in any of the other adventurers.

 

[Parmandur]

That AI book is super underrated. I’m sure you have a principled reason for avoiding it, but there’s lots to be had there. The adventure is linear, but good, hits a lot of highlights to show off FR and classic DnD stuff. The linearity/railroad aspect is offset with the downtime stuff of running the franchise, not for everyone, working for the man, I assume most players will want to subvert, but it provides a framework for inhabiting the world, and not just doing adventures. All the foregrounding of, and providing space for, downtime stuff opens up the idea of a campaign to be much more about living in the world. The flavor is cheesy for some, but if you reskin for your players tastes, it introduces a lot of ideas absent in any of the other adventurers.

I have read it, at some point Beyond gave it to me for free. Just didn't spark joy for me, nothing super principled.