D&D General D&D 2024 does not deserve to succeed

[Paul Farquhar]

Is someone that is anti-social transformed into being social because they are forced to go to a party? Being forced to do something doesn't change who you are

“Hero” or “villain” is how other people (possibly including the author) see you, not who you are.

I mean these days 'antihero' is used as 'villain the author agrees with'

No, that’s an anti-villain.

An antihero is a hero the author does not agree with.

 

[Oofta]

“Hero” or “villain” is how other people (possibly including the author) see you, not who you are.

No, that’s an anti-villain.

An antihero is a hero the author does not agree with.

That's a take. One I disagree with, but a take.

No one in real life is purely hero or villain, life is simply too complicated for that. But I do believe there are people who strive to do the best they can to be compassionate, kind and giving, willing to risk and sacrifice for the benefit of others. Those people to me are heroes even if it means that they aren't flashy or noticed.

Then there are those that are cruel, self-centered and narcissistic, frequently feeling validated by or enjoying causing harm. Those people will never, in my book, be heroes even if they are forced to do things people would consider heroic.

The reasons why and motivation for actions are what make people heroic or anti-heroic in my opinion.

 

[Corinnguard]

That's a take. One I disagree with, but a take.

No one in real life is purely hero or villain, life is simply too complicated for that. But I do believe there are people who strive to do the best they can to be compassionate, kind and giving, willing to risk and sacrifice for the benefit of others. Those people to me are heroes even if it means that they aren't flashy or noticed.

Then there are those that are cruel, self-centered and narcissistic, frequently feeling validated by or enjoying causing harm. Those people will never, in my book, be heroes even if they are forced to do things people would consider heroic.

The reasons why and motivation for actions are what make people heroic or anti-heroic in my opinion.

We can probably say the same thing about the D&D alignment system. When role-playing a character, we aren't really tying our character to a specific alignment found within the PHB. Instead, we're taking a bit of who we are in real life-our personality, our moral beliefs- and putting them into our character. I say, a bit because the players put on a performance trying to be someone else (an Elf, a Dwarf, etc.).

Like real life, life within a setting is just too complicated for anybody to stick to a particular alignment.

 

[Hussar]

“Hero” or “villain” is how other people (possibly including the author) see you, not who you are.

No, that’s an anti-villain.

An antihero is a hero the author does not agree with.

That’s just how most people mis use the term.

An antihero is a character who embodies everything opposite to what you would expect from a hero. Wolverine or Batman are not anti heroes just because they’re a bit edgy. They are straight up heroes.

Elric, a drug addicted mass murderer is an anti hero.

Anti heroes are straight up bad people who will do the wrong thing for the wrong reasons.

They aren’t “misunderstood” or “edgy”. They are ANTI heroes. They are straight up horrible people.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That’s just how most people mis use the term.

An antihero is a character who embodies everything opposite to what you would expect from a hero. Wolverine or Batman are not anti heroes just because they’re a bit edgy. They are straight up heroes.

Elric, a drug addicted mass murderer is an anti hero.

Anti heroes are straight up bad people who will do the wrong thing for the wrong reasons.

They aren’t “misunderstood” or “edgy”. They are ANTI heroes. They are straight up horrible people.

Err, that’s what I said. I don’t know many authors who would disapprove of their character just because they were a bit edgy.

Ripley (Highsmith) is a good example of an antihero. The novel follows him, and encourages the reader to root for him, as he does terrible things.

But the suicide squad are also antiheroes. These characters really are murderous psychopaths, who are forced to do hero stuff against their will.

And a lot of comedies revolve around antiheroes, although not usually at the level of murderous.

As for anti-villains, Erik Killmonger is this in the Black Panther movie. Also Marvel, Magnito is sometimes this. Grand Admiral Thrawn is sometimes this, although in the novels were he is the central protagonist he is an antihero instead.

“Hero” and “villain” is determined by the character’s role in the story. They are “anti” if their personal morality clashes with what one would expect of someone in that role.

 

[Hussar]

/snip

Reading fail on my part. Sorry my bad.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Nope. Killmonger is straight up villain. Sorry. Just because he might have a point doesn't make him not the villain.

An anti-villain is still a villain. He has a point is what makes him anti. But it does not make him a hero or antihero.

But the term anti hero has a pretty specific meaning in literature that often gets abused. A sympathetic villain is not an anti-hero.

Correct. A sympathetic villain is an anti-villain. A term that also has a very specific meaning, and is in no way a synonym.

 

[tgnelson]

Guess now many brand-new players will run to the TTRPG hobby saying, "I can't wait to play D20!!"

None.

D&D will always be the gateway game to RPGs because of the brand name. You rooting for D&D's demise is rooting for the death of the industry. The more D&D succeeds, the more chances other RPGs have to succeed by the influx of players to the hobby.