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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TerraDave" data-source="post: 6298085" data-attributes="member: 22260">It was almost certainly "titilate other wargamers" who were often adults, with the teenage boys as a bonus. The game at that time did not condescend or pander, for example in its writing style. It did try to be evocative, and was clearly successful enough to, along with some tragedies that where inappropriately linked to the game, to make it the massive phenomenon it would become.  From a later point of view, 1E and OD&D could seem minimalistic and rough around the edges. For some of us that is part of its charm. I don't think it makes it more or less adult. For 2E, we do know that it was sanitized and through art and writting style aimed at a "young adult" audience and meant to be more mom friendly. We know that certain individuals in the company certainly did condescend and pander. Though the biggest problem with it was a risk averse write by committee style that could make it really dull. There where no demons or devils in the core 2E books. They start to come back with planescape, but with those other names, and there is still no Orcus, no Demogorgan, no Asmodeus, ect in early Planescape.So I don't think its really a fair comparison. Sure, decades after it launched, someone may have written a descent if obscure supplement on fiends for D&D. You hope there would be progress, but that doesn't somehow make 2E, or even most of 3E, more "adult".</blockquote>