D&D needs to grow up

[Derren]

D&D will not grow up as its target group doesn't want it to. The people WotC is aiming at want to play fantasy super heroes who go in, kill clearly evil things with cool powerz and get rewarded with even cooler stuff. They are not interested in moral choices, believable consequences, shades of grey, etc.

Of course that doesn't apply to every D&D gamer, but for marketing purposes, is a generalization of what the target group wants.

 

[Leatherhead]

Ugh. Post eaten. Let's try this again.

I'm all for D&D not being dark and gritty, and think the proper place for that is in a side setting, not the main game. But for the people that DO want dark and gritty, they're up a certain poor smelling creek, and they have no paddle; the GSL flat out prohibits any kind of sexual situation or gore.

I am against DnD "growing up," and this is more or less the reason why. There is more to maturity than boobies and buckets of blood.

 

[Ginnel]

I tend to agree with the vast majority who have posted in this thread D&D with its illustrations and portrayal is fine, is there room for a setting which is darker in nature with more adult topics sure there is.

But I believe you could use whatever system you want its the DM's portrayal of the game world which makes it, key things like describing the dead bodies, half starved children on the street and sumptuous houses of pleasure, I don't need a World of Darkness style book to tell me how to portray the darker side of things, what I do need and infact want is for D&D to appeal to as many people as possible to get them into this uniquely amazing hobby.

 

[pemerton]

I believe you could use whatever system you want its the DM's portrayal of the game world which makes it, key things like describing the dead bodies, half starved children on the street and sumptuous houses of pleasure

In my experience, grim and gritty is facilitated by an approach to play (mechanics, plot control) that allows the players to set the stakes, rather than just have the GM dictate to them what is at stake and what it's significance (narrative, thematic) is.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

DnD, like any RPG, is as mature or grim'n'gritty or fantasy super heroes as any particular group wishes to make it. That's why RPGs are good!

As the published core material goes though I agree with the folks who say keeping it light and kid-friendly is a good thing. It makes it more marketable and will hopefully get more new people in. Let's face it, this hobby could do with more new blood.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

I am against DnD "growing up," and this is more or less the reason why. There is more to maturity than boobies and buckets of blood.

Please re-read what I said. I didn't say boobies and blood was mature. I said that people who want a side-setting to appeal to their idea of dark and gritty can't get it.