D&D General Combat as War vs. Sport and a Missing Third Mode

[GobHag]

This is an expansion of the definition then.

Because at no point was mechanical escalation and deflation during and between combats emphasized by anyone but me and another person.

IMO that isn't an important part, like how CaW is about the deadliness of combat and diegetically using the things in the world to reach one's goals while CaS is about 'pornography' and deliberate mechanical balancing

 

[Minigiant]

IMO that isn't an important part, like how CaW is about the deadliness of combat and diegetically using the things in the world to reach one's goals while CaS is about 'pornography' and deliberate mechanical balancing

To me it is.

Part of PW is how 2 forces, regardless of their power or balance, build up their fight beforehand and future fights within match to ensure excitement for the spots.

The fiery magic the kobolds and elemental cultists have in first few encounters build up to the fire breath of the red dragon at the dungeons bottom. It could be slugfest or a quick smash. But the fight is advertised and televised.

 

[Steady Vane]

I think the terminology is helpful because although systems might slant to one version out of the three, you can generally lean into the various modes to vary up combat between sessions.

Like, a grueling dungeon crawl, versus a one-fight-a-day spectacle about unwinding, versus a mechanical heavy battle with a foreshadowed gimmick against a boss or whatever.

One OSR pitfall is often assuming every combat must be the same, and 4e-type systems can fall into that trap as well.

Imo all are useful if you can accommodate them.