D&D General Did D&D Die with TSR?

[MGibster]

It's still D&D with elements I recognize being in the game from more than thirty years ago. Is it the same game today that it was when I started playing in 1987? No. But that's okay because I'm not the same person today and I doubt the same game would appeal to me. D&D lives on and it will continue to change so long as it lives. It's entirely possible it might change, or I might change, and I no longer want to play. But it'll still be D&D.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I think it's about time we let go of personal stakes in the name of a corporate IP and any illusion that we can de-canonize the choices of the ones who actually get to make decisions about it. Every edition has approximately 50 billion clones to choose from, just pick one and stop thinking we own 'D&D'.

 

[teitan]

So a more serious take... to me? 5e is a natural evolution of 2e. I originally thought that about 3e what with it integrating ideas from Skills & Powers and Combat & Tactics, Prestige Classes and the like and I still think 3.0 is a definitive edition of D&D and would still play 3.0 (not 3.5, too much bloat) but 5e is just as much, if not more, what 3e really should have been as an evolution of 2e but also of Basic, a wonderful melding of both games into one but also taking into account twenty years of evolution since both games were last published. It stealthily integrated some of the better bits of 4e. It also opened the doors to broader appeal being easy to explain and play, which has never been a strong suit of any version of D&D. The fundamentals of the game have changed, it changed from a resource management game to a heroic fantasy game early in its lifespan and slowly got better at that more narrative driven goal with 5e probably being the peak of D&D in that style of rules set and allowing for the most diversity in styles of play.

What 2e was trying to be with the clunky, cludgy system of hacked on subsystems, and really failing at in spite of the excellent resource materials in its fluff materials, 5e has succeeded at in being a narrative driven game that is more easily hackable to create what you want or need. The only real downfall of 5e in this regard is that it hasn't had that same level of support from it's publisher but then... I have zero complaints about the level of support because 2e through 4e were overwhelming in their release schedules.

 

[FireLance]

With apologies to Billy Joel...

What's the matter with the dice I'm rolling?​

Can't you tell that you always want to roll high?​

Maybe I should fight some old school monsters?​

We all attack in order to stay alive​

Where have you been gamin' dude lately, sonny?​

You can't be this nerdy till you spend a lot of money​

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new game​

Funny, but it's still D&D to me​

The funny part is that most of the people who play D&D are way too young to be all that familiar with Billy Joel songs.

Actually...

4E version:

An attempt to get everyone to relax a little, because in the end, this is just a game, guys. One, we all love, obviously, but still. So, to brighten, the mood, music!

"Still D&D To Me"
Filk set to Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock & Roll To Me" (original lyrics here)

What's the matter with the rules I'm using?
Can't you tell that it‘s time for 4E?
Are my books going be obsoleted?
Welcome back to 2003.
Where have you been hidin' out lately, honey?
You can't update ‘till you spend a lot of money.
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new game
Funny, but it's still D&D to me

What's the matter with my campaign setting?
Can't you tell that it's out of print?
Should I try and play some Living Greyhawk?
It‘s gonna end; can‘t you take the hint?
Nowadays you can't be too sentimental
Go all “Points of Light”, with no planes elemental
Eberron, Dark Sun, even revamped Faerun
It's still D&D to me

Oh, it doesn't matter what they say on the forums
'Cause it's always been the same old scene.
There's a new game in town
But you can't get the rules from a printed Dragon magazine...
Aimed at your average PC

How about playing a tiefling warlock
Or an eladrin warlord too?
If you wanna be a gnome bard, baby
Gotta wait for the PHB 2
Don't wait around for a new SRD,
You’ll get it all at Gleemax (for a small monthly fee)
Bad move? Who‘s to say? In the end, anyways
It's still D&D to me

What's the matter with the crowd I play with?
Don't you know that they're out of touch?
Shouldn't try to be a old-school grognard?
If you are then you think too much.
Don't you know about the new edition, honey?
All you need are dice and a whole lotta money.
Goodbye, 3E, say hello to 4E,
It's still D&D to me.
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new game
Funny, but it's still D&D to me

3E version:

It's Still D&D To Me
(with apologies to Billy Joel)

What's the matter with the sword I'm swinging?
Can't you tell that it's too mundane?
Maybe I should buy some leather armor.
How much gold don't you have, anyway?
Where have you been hidin' out lately, honey?
You can't fight monsters 'til you spend a lot of money.
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new game
Funny, but it's still D&D to me.

What's the matter with the horse I'm riding?
Can't you tell that it's out of style?
Should I try to raise a baby griffon?
Yes you can, but it'll take a while.
Nowadays you can't be too sentimental,
Your best bet's a half-dragon half-elemental.
Pokemount, riding dog, half-celestial dire frog,
It's still D&D to me.

Oh, it doesn't matter what they say in the papers,
'Cause it's always been the same old scene.
There's a new game in town but you can't get the sound
From a story in a magazine
Aimed at your average teen.

How about a suite of stat boosting items
And a keen holy flaming burst lance?
You could be a really great hero baby,
If you just give it half a chance.
Don't waste your money on a rod of negation,
You get more mileage from a ring of protection.
Heavy shield, animated, heavy fort, mithril plate,
It's still D&D to me.

What's the matter with the class I'm playing?
Don't you know that it got the shaft?
Should I try to play a cleric/wizard?
If you do then you must be daft.
Don't you know about the new options honey?
You get to stack your saves and your base attack bonii.
It's the next phase, new wave, balanced play, anyways,
It's still D&D to me.
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new game
Funny, but it's still D&D to me.

We ought to make it a tradition every time there's an edition change.

 

[Imaculata]

I've played 2e, 3e and 5e. They all feel like D&D to me. But over the years it has just grown into a better game that is easier to pick up and play.