Can you play the game wrong/incorrectly?

[Nonlethal Force]

Can you play D&D wrong?

With such a broad question, I can only assume the correct answer is yes. I answered yes for one reason: to answer 'no' means to be able to say that ever day at the gaming table is right. To say "yes" implies that there has been at least one method/ruling that has been wrong somewhere in history.

More specifically, I'll give you an example. If I roll up a character who takes Power Attack but rather than use the rules as given I add +8 to my damage for every -1 I take away from my attack then I am wrong ... especially if there is no such houserule to indicate such action is legal.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I bridge both camps. On the truly ideological level I agree with the "If people are having fun and the legitimate laws of the land are not being broken" (so as to eliminate RA's earlier possibility of real swords, etc) then I don't think it is 'wrong.' However, technically every houserule is a contortion of the rules as stated and by a RAW understanding of the word 'wrong' it certainly is.

Having said that, I like houserules and use them. I like the fact that the game can be modified to suit the needs of the players. But technically if you tell me to create a character on a 25 point buy and I do up one on a 32 point buy then I am wrong. It may be my style to cheat, but I am wrong. Unless the group has a houserule that says "cheating is a viable option so long as nobody catches onto the ruse."

I played with a group that had such a houserule once. At the beginning of each level players turned in a photocopy of their character sheet and that became the "baseline." If there was an inaccuracy printed on that photocopy that nobody caught before the next time they leveled then the innacuracy became legal. Each level's sheet was kept so that if an innacuracy was discovered there was evidence as to how long the innacuracy had been in effect.

On a side note, I have never played with a group of more honest players because they knew that somewhere along the line every other player was going to scrutinize their "baseline" with a fine tooth comb. So as to not be caught trying to cheat and thus be 'shamed' and labeled, everyone was straight up honest! And, by the way ... I've never played with another group that knew the rules of character generation and leveling so much!

 

[Ourph]

If you are ruining someone else's fun, you are playing the game wrong.

 

[WayneLigon]

Other: A qualified 'yes'. Obviously if you're all having fun, then you're doing things right no matter exactly how you're playing.

But...

I will submit that I suspect that many - perhaps most - D&D gamers are not having as much fun as they could be having. I have seen people play the game almost exactly like a board game. No character development, just plain dungeon-crawling, etc. Which is cool. It was very 'beer and pretzels' and they had a lot of fun.. for a time. Then they got bored with it and drifted away from the hobby, all the time thinking 'that's how everyone plays D&D'.

Beer and pretzels is a perfectly good way to play, but you can't live on a diet of beer and pretzels. But you can live on a diet of herb garnished steak, feild greens, roasted potatoes, peas, with some fresh fruit on the side. And it's better for you, too.

 

[Odhanan]

This is gonna open a can of worms.

In my opinion, yes, you can play D&D wrong. Twinking, powergaming and munchkinism (whatever you want to call it), is not the way to play.

There's no such thing as "powergamers" and "munchkins". A good read for you:
The Evolution of Munchkin, by Monte Cook.

There is a wrong way to play D&D, yes, but that's not based on "immersion" or "getting the most XP out of the game" (i.e. play styles and personal tastes) or whatever. That's whether everyone around the table has fun that's important. That's priority number one.

 

[sckeener]

If you are ruining someone else's fun, you are playing the game wrong.

biff...you can't please everyone and it is silly to try. Now if you are ruining the majority's fun, then yes, the game is wrong.

I ran one game where I had 3 couples. One couple wanted tons of detail. Another couple wanted no detail and the third couple didn't care.

I ended up typing up some of the known descriptions, so everyone could make their own call on whether they wanted detail or not. Curiousity got the better of the no details couple and after reading the details they launched a political war to ruin the fun for the majority.....

She succceeded. Game over.

 

[jgbrowning]

I find this a very useful distinction.

Very much so. However house rules can also mean you're playing the game wrong. For instance, if I houseruled everything to exactly match M&M, I don't think anyone would think I was playing D&D.

To me, it's a matter of to what degree do these rules diverge from the RAW and is that degree enough to qualify as wrong D&D? The latter of course, is an opinion spectrum while the former is quantifiable.

joe b.

 

[Umbran]

Very much so. However house rules can also mean you're playing the game wrong. For instance, if I houseruled everything to exactly match M&M, I don't think anyone would think I was playing D&D.

That point makes me consider - perhaps we need to differentiate between "You are playing D&D wrong" from "What you are playing is no longer recognizable as D&D".

To me, it's a matter of to what degree do these rules diverge from the RAW and is that degree enough to qualify as wrong D&D? The latter of course, is an opinion spectrum while the former is quantifiable.

Hr. I'm not sure hwat you mean here. To quantify, you must be able to apply a number. A difference in length is quantifiable. A difference in mass in quantifiable. A difference in rules? No.

Unless, of course, you can demonstrate how many SRU (Standard Rules Units) D&D without AoO is from Core, in which case I'll cede the point (and probably eat my hat, to boot)

 

[KB9JMQ]

If everyone is not having fun you might not be playing it the best way you can.

I didnt even know there was a role-playing aspect to the game until I had been playing for over 10 years. Some people would say that is wrong but my group and I have always had a good time.

 

[jgbrowning]

That point makes me consider - perhaps we need to differentiate between "You are playing D&D wrong" from "What you are playing is no longer recognizable as D&D".

I think they're the same thing.

Hr. I'm not sure hwat you mean here. To quantify, you must be able to apply a number. A difference in length is quantifiable. A difference in mass in quantifiable. A difference in rules? No.

Any rule used that is different than the rules in the RAW is 1 example of difference between "100% D&D" and the way most people play D&D. If every rule used is not in the RAW, I think we all agree we're not playing D&D anymore, but something else. How many rules not used as RAW have to exist before one thinks, "This isn't D&D it's something else?" That's what I was reffering to as opinion, while the number of non-RAW rules is quantifiable.

joe b.

 

[Ourph]

biff...you can't please everyone and it is silly to try.

Failing to please someone and ruining someone else's fun (i.e. - actively screwing up their ability to enjoy the game) are two different things. I've seen plenty of diverse play styles come together, make compromises and create a game where everyone can have fun. I've also seen individuals who seem to make it their purpose at the gaming table to step on other player's toes, create strife and generally make an a*****e of themselves. If you're doing the latter, you're playing the game (and, looking at the broader scope, probably living your life) wrong. IMO.