D&D General D&D may be a DELTA, not a TTRPG!

[MichaelSomething]

D&D is too many things to just be a TTRPG, or Table Top Role Playing Game. It could be other things. For example, I believe D&D can also be described as a DELTA. What does that stand for? Let me explain! It stands for

Dungeon Master's
Experience
Lead
Through
Adjudication

This is an improvement in many ways over using the term TTRPG. for example, it starts off with Dungeon Master. The dungeon master is the most vital component of D&D, so putting that first should help signal the importance of that role. It also uses the term experience over game. A game implies things like rules, play, and winning or losing. I believe D&D is much to board to be just a game. By using the term experience, it signals that D&D can be used for all sorts of stuff! You could spend all session shopping, play villains as they spiral towards self destruction, or just have the characters sit around and do nothing. Lastly, there's adjudication, which is basically making judgement calls. The DM deciding things is the core lever that moves the game forward, so its importance should be signaled.

If the term DELTA bests describes your brand of D&D, feel free to start using it! Still prefer TTRPG?? Okay. If you agree or disagree, why not post and tell me why??

 

[Autumnal]

I tend to be slow-moving on new terms, but it’s very unclear that the new term brings enough utility to compensate for the inevitable trouble and work of persuading people to adopt an unfamiliar term. After all, RPG does, and applies to a whole bunch of games a marrower definition doesn’t, thereby requiring more new terms to get into circulation.

 

[MarkB]

I can't imagine telling people the full term "Dungeonmaster's experience lead through adjudication" and receiving any response beyond "huh?" It doesn't convey any real meaning without significant further explanation. It also doesn't sound like something I'd want to participate in.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

What does that stand for? Let me explain!

aaaaand the term's failed.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That's like calling a discussion forum a LSAPA:

Let's
Start
A
Pointless
Argument

 

[Morrus]

As the first TTRPG, doesn't D&D define what a TTRPG is?

 

[bsss]

I personally think the term reads very much like a corporate mantra than anything that sounds like a game to enjoy, but there's also one part that jumped out at me.

for example, it starts off with Dungeon Master. The dungeon master is the most vital component of D&D, so putting that first should help signal the importance of that role.

Is it the most vital? I love DMing, but is my role the most vital, when there are rules in some editions to replace some core parts of the DM's role with a procedure? Or when products like oracles exist to play without a DM? I think the players get first billing 100% of the time.

 

[Reynard]

Is it the most vital? I love DMing, but is my role the most vital, when there are rules in some editions to replace some core parts of the DM's role with a procedure? Or when products like oracles exist to play without a DM? I think the players get first billing 100% of the time.

Yeah. I love GMing, but I think the matra "No GM, No Game" becomes more outdated every year.

 

[Remathilis]

Maria Hill: What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?
Grant Ward: Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.
Maria Hill: And what does that mean to you?
Grant Ward: It means someone really wanted our initials to spell out "S.H.I.E.L.D."

 

[Reynard]

Maria Hill: What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?
Grant Ward: Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.
Maria Hill: And what does that mean to you?
Grant Ward: It means someone really wanted our initials to spell out "S.H.I.E.L.D."

But at least "SHIELD" reflects what the org does. DELTA as a word does not say anything about what a TTRPG is.