D&D General D&D Editions: Anybody Else Feel Like They Don't Fit In?

[Thomas Shey]

I agree with all these things, but number 3 is difficult when one is discussing D&D-like games, as there is an enormous amount of cross-over in conversation topics. How specific should the thread be?

I don't even think that's just true about D&D games. As I've noted there are a fair number of conversations avowedly about D&D on this board that have much broader applications, at least once you get away from heavily mechanic-focused topics.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't even think that's just true about D&D games. As I've noted there are a fair number of conversations avowedly about D&D on this board that have much broader applications, at least once you get away from heavily mechanic-focused topics.

Which of course makes adhering to number 3 that much more difficult, which I suppose means you have to rely on numbers 1 and 2 more: try not to get offended by others opinions.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I agree with all these things, but number 3 is difficult when one is discussing D&D-like games, as there is an enormous amount of cross-over in conversation topics. How specific should the thread be?

Well, for instance, if the tag for the thread is "D&D (2024)" and you are only playing say "D&D 4e", you might find a better experience in "D&D 4e" tagged threads.

The "D&D 5e" tag might be appropriate for conversation about all things 5e adjacent but also worth noting there is, for example, a "Level Up (A5e)" tag that might promote better conversation about that version. Or, the "Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E)" forum might be that place for a better experience.

Of course there is a lot of cross-over in conversation topics but the OPs presumably pick their tags for a reason - they are looking to promote conversation in the context of the particular version of the game espoused by the tag (or no particular version when using "D&D General").

The "D&D General" tag, of course, is for all things D&D.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Which of course makes adhering to number 3 that much more difficult, which I suppose means you have to rely on numbers 1 and 2 more: try not to get offended by others opinions.

Though in some cases not treating Game X (usually D&D but its been known to happen with others in different places) like they're a special snowflake in terms of their virtues or flaws (which usually aren't unique to them) or the topic only applies to them would help, too. I mean, if people want to limit what they're talking about to D&D in a thread in the D&D subfora, okay, that's legit to a degree, but it still helps to understand some things are not only D&D issues.

(That said, there's also a tendency to universalize some things that really aren't universal, even if they're common. The obvious case is non-trad style games of one stripe or another, but it can apply to something as simple as whether a given game and genre cares enough about player character money to make it worth tracking).

 

[Thomas Shey]

Well, for instance, if the tag for the thread is "D&D (2024)" and you are only playing say "D&D 4e", you might find a better experience in "D&D 4e" tagged threads.

The "D&D 5e" tag might be appropriate for conversation about all things 5e adjacent but also worth noting there is, for example, a "Level Up (A5e)" tag that might promote better conversation about that version. Or, the "Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E)" forum might be that place for a better experience.

Of course there is a lot of cross-over in conversation topics but the OPs presumably pick their tags for a reason - they are looking to promote conversation in the context of the particular version of the game espoused by the tag (or no particular version when using "D&D General").

The "D&D General" tag, of course, is for all things D&D.

Tags, maybe so. I think you're an optimist if you think a lot of people on this forum always think about whether a topic really belongs in one of the D&D fora before they put it there. I've seen too many that both the topic and first post framing would have fit just as well in the general RPG forum.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well, for instance, if the tag for the thread is "D&D (2024)" and you are only playing say "D&D 4e", you might find a better experience in "D&D 4e" tagged threads.

The "D&D 5e" tag might be appropriate for conversation about all things 5e adjacent but also worth noting there is, for example, a "Level Up (A5e)" tag that might promote better conversation about that version. Or, the "Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E)" forum might be that place for a better experience.

Of course there is a lot of cross-over in conversation topics but the OPs presumably pick their tags for a reason - they are looking to promote conversation in the context of the particular version of the game espoused by the tag (or no particular version when using "D&D General").

The "D&D General" tag, of course, is for all things D&D.

Can we assume that anyone starting a thread in, say, the D&D (2024) about a topic that applies to many other RPGs, both similar and dissimilar to that very specific one, actively wants to curtail all reference to anything other than 5.5?

 

[Thomas Shey]

Can we assume that anyone starting a thread in, say, the D&D (2024) about a topic that applies to many other RPGs, both similar and dissimilar to that very specific one, actively wants to curtail all reference to anything other than 5.5?

That's the problem; it may well be true but assuming it (rather them just posting there reflexively because its what they play or even that its the first forum they saw) is a bit of a reach, I think.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Can we assume that anyone starting a thread in, say, the D&D (2024) about a topic that applies to many other RPGs, both similar and dissimilar to that very specific one, actively wants to curtail all reference to anything other than 5.5?

Of course not but I think it is a good starting point to assume that they want the question discussed in the context of 5.5e regardless if someone else thinks that question could apply to another game. On the other hand, if you actively play and enjoy 5.5e and also have an experience from some other game that might benefit others as a homebrew rule in 5.5e, there's no problem to discuss that there.

Let's flip this around, though. Do people who play 5.5e go into the Pathfinder forum or the 4e Forum, games they perhaps don't play and perhaps don't even enjoy, to discuss topics which maybe possibly could relate to some other game? I couldn't actually tell you as I certainly don't have the time to go into other fora to try to discover some interesting topic that may or may not have been mistagged nor do I wish to take part in a discussion that is presumably about a game I don't play and perhaps a game I even dislike. I feel the better experience is to be had in threads that are explicitly for the game I play and enjoy or, at times, go into D&D General tagged threads or the TTRPG forum for the broader perspective. I don't think that's a particularly controversial way to use this site.

 

[Lanefan]

PS - I still disagree that 5e doesn't have optional novice levels. There is no requirement in 5e (or any edition of D&D that I can think of) to start at level 1. Additionally, WotC repeatedly called them novice levels. Just because they don't fit your definition of novice levels, doesn't make them not novice levels.

What's missing from WotC 5e is any use of the character-design space between "commoner" and "1st-level character". It's into that gap where these optional novice levels would go; 5e as designed has room for maybe two or three such levels (in 4e it was more like four or five), so why not make use of that design space?

 

[Lanefan]

Well, for instance, if the tag for the thread is "D&D (2024)" and you are only playing say "D&D 4e", you might find a better experience in "D&D 4e" tagged threads.

I ignore the tags and instead look at the actual topic.

If a thread is tagged as "D&D (2024)" and the topic is houserule adjustments for some specific class, I'll walk on by.

But if the tag says "D&D 2024" and the topic is character wealth or player scheduling or something else edition-agnostic, I'll give it a look and maybe dive right in.