Discontinuity: 3e and D&D

[DungeonmasterCal]

It's evolution, baby. I read/write this while watching National Geographic's "The Ultimate Survivor", a show about modern human's ascent from hominid apes through the various offshoots of Homo erectus to us. Anyway...I just thought that was in interesting little irony..

I believe, that at the core, 3.5 is still D&D. I fell into the obsession with Advanced D&D 1e. I never had the opportunity to play the earlier editions. But I've seen the rules sets, and I've seen the game evolve from one version to the next. Sure, it's a radically different game now mechanics wise than it was when Diaglo started, but honestly, the game is what you make it, rules sets notwithstanding. I much prefer the rules now to the rules then, simply for the versatility they offer. Sure, the bookkeeping is a little more cumbersome, but I think that's just a tradeoff for having more options.

Anyway... I hope this made some sense. The Vicodin I have to take for the pain I have during the post auto-accident/surgery recovery is kicking in, and ....oooohh...the colors......

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Indeed, since WotC owns the legal rights to the name, and is producing the d20 fantasy system.

And there's the insult - people like you can't help but toss in that snide little, "But it ain't really D&D."

 

[Akrasia]

And there's the insult - people like you can't help but toss in that snide little, "But it ain't really D&D."

Sorry, I didn't mean to insult. As I said in my original post, I don't think that there is any 'Platonic form' of D&D. It is pointless to say that any particular version is the 'real D&D'. It is not pointless to claim that these versions are different games.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Put me in group #3.

If I'm roleplaying a wizard, a fighter, and their trap-detecting sidkick investigating long-lost ruins, fighting strange creatures and taking their treasure, while rolling many strange sided dice, using fire-and-forget spells, with characters defined by their jobs ... then I'm playing D&D.

Even if I'm using the rules from Das Schwarze Auge, or MERP, or Synnibar, or ...

 

[Akrasia]

... Sure, it's a radically different game now mechanics wise than it was when Diaglo started, but honestly, the game is what you make it, rules sets notwithstanding. ...

A number of people have made this point. But as Rasyr pointed out, by this logic, one could claim that GURPS is 'D&D' too, if you run it the right way (with clerics, wizards, fireballs, etc.).

 

[Gentlegamer]

c.f Gentlegamer.

Eh?

 

[Gentlegamer]

And there's the insult - people like you can't help but toss in that snide little, "But it ain't really D&D."

What I find interesting is that to those who shunned AD&D back in the day it is very important that the current game "really" be D&D, as if it is a lesser game if it "isn't really D&D." Perhaps they are more attached to the name then they realize . . .

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

What I find interesting is that to those who shunned AD&D back in the day it is very important that the current game "really" be D&D, as if it is a lesser game if it "isn't really D&D." Perhaps they are more attached to the name then they realize . . .

Sorry, but, uh, where are you getting that I shunned AD&D "back in the day"?

 

[Quasqueton]

What does Akrasia know? He doesn't even play D&D, so he has no ground to stand on. Why is he even arguing?

Quasqueton

 

[dungeon blaster]

Hmm... I started with AD&D 2ed so I can't really say what tactical movement was like prior to that edition. However, you brought up an interesting point that supports my position. In earlier editions, many people did not follow the rules precisely (possibily because the rules were confusing, contradictory, or imprecise). While there are a large number of people who don't follow 3ed rules precisely, it seems that people are generally more reluctant to ignore or change rules, possibly because of its effect on myriad other rules. Taking away weapon speeds in 2ed makes little difference, but taking away tactical grid-based movement in 3ed results in HUGE changes to the way the game is normally played. Thus, even if 1ed used tactical movement, I would hardly think that it was as intregal to the system as tactical movement is to 3ed.

Do not think that I am against 3ed; for the most part it has improved and clarified the game.