D&D Makes The Straight Dope

[gfunk]

Apart from predictable characteristics like strength and intelligence, players also have to determine such baffling minutiae as their likelihood of contracting communicable diseases or becoming infested by parasites. Why these things are important I have no clue. I'm just telling you what the rule book says.

Do you remember this bit from the 1st edition DMG? Classic!

 

[Nifft]

I'll bet that ennui is his thing, and he sounds disaffected about everything.

-- N, tired of ennui

 

[evileeyore]

I found it quite amusing. And atleast this Cecil person include contact info for potential converts-err recruits, I mean 'players'.

Most bashers don't bother...

TTFN

EvilE

 

[Buttercup]

Eh, Cecil is ok. I've read Straight Dope on and off over the years, and sometimes it's fascinating, while other times it...isn't. Pretty much like anything else, actually. The part of the article quoted above that perplexed me is the following:

Here is a quote from Mr. Gygax on the subject: "The ultimate aim of the game is to gain sufficient esteem as a good player to retire your character--he becomes a kind of mythical, historical figure, someone for others to look up to and admire."

Really? I thought the aim was to have fun telling a collaborative story with your friends. Maybe I'm glad EGG isn't in charge of D&D anymore, because that aim holds absolutely no interest for me. YMMV and all that.

 

[Mark]

Despite Cecil's apparent affection for his own tone, I've been reading and enjoying The Straight Dope here in Chicago for a very long time. It has a lot of value, IMO, as a purveyor of off-beat questions even if the answers are not always appealing, satisfying, or amusing.

 

[Speaker]

Despite Cecil's apparent affection for his own tone, I've been reading and enjoying The Straight Dope here in Chicago for a very long time. It has a lot of value, IMO, as a purveyor of off-beat questions even if the answers are not always appealing, satisfying, or amusing.

What he said.

 

[Dirigible]

Do you remember this bit from the 1st edition DMG? Classic!

Y'know, anyone who started playing D&D in 2nd or 3rd ed would find some of the stuff he talks about pretty baffling.

 

[Wormwood]

Y'know, anyone who started playing D&D in 2nd or 3rd ed would find some of the stuff he talks about pretty baffling.

I still find the fact that anyone started playing D&D in 2nd or 3rd ed pretty baffling.

/feeling his age

 

[Darkness]

IMO it's a decent article. Funny at times but not extremely so.

The concept seems simple enough. It's the application that throws me.

There are two main problems: (1) there are one billion rules, and (2) the game requires nonstop mathematical finagling that would constipate Einstein.

Heh. I think he should take a look at a few of the mores rules light game systems; those would probably be more to his liking.

 

[johnsemlak]

IMO it's a decent article. Funny at times but not extremely so.

Heh. I think he should take a look at a few of the mores rules light game systems; those would probably be more to his liking.

Well, 1e AD&D, which I suppose is what he's looking at, is referred to as 'rules-lite' compared to 3e.


Interesting bit about Gary gygax's father being a violinist for the Chicago Symphany Orchestra