4e: The final word

[Fifth Element]

D&D is a series of individual games bearing the name over the past 3 decades. No one game in the series is wholly D&D. Therefore while 4th edition may carry the name of the newest game in the series, it is not all inclusive to defining D&D. Therefore 4th edition is not D&D but a part of a greater whole of the individual games over those decades that has bore the name of D&D.

4th edition is a D&D, but 4th edition is not all D&D, so saying 4th edition is D&D is false.

When someone says "4E is D&D", they don't mean "4E is the entirety of what is D&D", and to say they do is disingenuous. They mean "4E is legitimately included in the group of things collectively called D&D", which you agree above is correct. I know this is so because "4E is D&D" is generally only seen as a response to a claim that it is not D&D, in the sense that it is not a part of the group of things collectively called D&D.

So when you (specifically you) say "4E is not D&D", you get flack because people read it to mean "4E is not part of D&D". Because you only say 4E is not D&D. You don't say "3E is also not D&D, 1E is also not D&D, etc", which would be true according to your definition above.

But then we get the confusion because you say that OD&D is D&D, as is BD&D. So you mean it in a different sense there, meaning only games literally named only "D&D". But then that's not right either, since the game we call 4E is actually just called "D&D".

So in summary, you seem to mean different things with the same words at different times, and you use these words in different ways than everyone else. Which leads to your posts causing a great deal of confusion amongst those who read them.

 

[Ourph]

I don't care whether 4e is D&D or not D&D. I'll be calling it D&D, you feel free to call it what you want.

I don't care if you like 4e or not, unless you are playing in a game with me. In that case, I will gladly consider your opinion when we choose a game to play. Personally, I like 4e and I expect to be playing a lot of it in the coming years.

I like the way 4e handles hit points, healing, class balance and multiclassing. I'm a big fan of the at-will/encounter/daily power mechanics. I don't mind that the bard and the gnome weren't in the PHB and I'm perfectly happy to wait a while to get stats for metallic dragons and various flavors of giant in later MMs. I don't miss Vancian magic. Nothing about the 4e rules ruins verisimilitude or immersion for me and I'm finding it quite easy to run a sandbox-style game to my satisfaction using the 4e rules. I don't care if 4e borrows terminology from MMORPGs or other video games. There are a few things I don't like about 4e, but that's no different than every other game I've ever played. Things I don't like I'm free to fix and if they ever bother me to the point where I'm not enjoying myself anymore, there are hundreds of other games out there just waiting to be played.

If any of these things bother you. If "Quantum hit points" or non-Vancian magic or "magical" powers for martial characters make the game not D&D to you or just not enjoyable to you, I respect your opinion. I have no desire to dissuade you of your opinion. Again, unless we're gaming together (which likely isn't the case) your opinion about 4e has no real impact on me. Have whatever opinion you want. Even if I consider your opinion uninformed or biased or just plain silly, you are entitled to it and my opinion that your opinion is "wrong" is no more valid or important than any other opinion on gaming (and opinions on gaming are, by definition, unimportant).

Whatever you think about 4e, I sincerely hope you're playing a game you find fun, with good people who make you happy.

And that's my final word on 4e (at least as far as the edition wars go).

 

[Engilbrand]

Bravo! Sometimes it just takes a leader. You can be my Warlord.
I agree with almost everything he just said. My only contention is that I don't view silly and uniformed opinions as valid. BUT, I will go ahead and agree that it's time to stop warring.