DnD: What is it to you?

[maddman75]

Interesting that many people are treating D&D as synonymous with 'gaming'.

OP, did you intend this? Are you wanting to know impressions about D&D specifically, or gaming in general. Because I love gaming and spend a lot of time doing it. D&D to me is just one game I don't particularly care for. I love lots of other ones!

 

[Ariosto]

Interesting that many people are treating D&D as synonymous with 'gaming'.

Unless we admit a lot of overlap with what makes other games what they are, we run into the problem of differences between what defines D&D today and what distinguished it in the past. The oft imitated has itself become imitator, changing to be more like this or that rival.

Whatever includes all "editions" includes much else. Whatever is less inclusive risks "edition war".

D&D to me is just one game I don't particularly care for.

You did notice, on your way in, the sign proclaiming this "the world's premier fan community for Dungeons & Dragons", one hopes.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Interesting that many people are treating D&D as synonymous with 'gaming'.

For me, D&D is synonymous with gaming. I play other games, but when I think of gaming, I think of D&D first and foremost and it is a lens through which I view other games.

 

[Ariosto]

D&D to me is endless, and endlessly fascinating, underworlds, variously mysterious and evocative, amusing and frustrating, beguiling and terrifying; settings that draw upon the traditions of the heroic-fantasy genre, which beats up other genres and takes (and uses) their stuff; rules that come in when needed and otherwise stay out of the way; and characters who are what they do, adventurers whose biographies are written in play, with blood and iron, gold and magic.

Old D&D is all that with combats that in fast action -- rather than the detailed resolution of newer versions -- add drama to the sweep of events. It has (through a number of editions) common systems of resource management (of, e.g., hit points and spells and time) and saving throws versus such instantaneous dangers as poison and petrification. It has a game-object structure, manifested in treasure, that goes along with a long-term scope of social climbing to positions not only of new powers but of new responsibilities. All along, relationships with NPCs are critical and depend not only on the charisma rating but on conduct.

 

[rogueattorney]

[No message]

 

[maddman75]

Unless we admit a lot of overlap with what makes other games what they are, we run into the problem of differences between what defines D&D today and what distinguished it in the past. The oft imitated has itself become imitator, changing to be more like this or that rival.

Whatever includes all "editions" includes much else. Whatever is less inclusive risks "edition war".

I can be specific if you like. I don't like classes, levels, inflating hit points, or dungeons very much at all. I very much enjoy games that do not include those things.

You did notice, on your way in, the sign proclaiming this "the world's premier fan community for Dungeons & Dragons", one hopes.

You did notice, on the way in to this subform, the sign proclaiming "Discussion of non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, etc. Specific game discussion belongs in one the forums below."

Been here a long time, don't need anyone explaining the forums thanks.

For me, D&D is synonymous with gaming. I play other games, but when I think of gaming, I think of D&D first and foremost and it is a lens through which I view other games.

Its certainly one that I pay attention to and try out when new versions come out, as its the lingua franca of the gaming world, for good or ill.

 

[Mallus]

D&D is a loose collection of rules --suggestions, really-- for playing a game in which you pretend you're a character in a fantasy novel, except you do all kinds of shi stuff never found in actual fantasy novels. Under this definition, most fantasy role-playing games are D&D.

 

[Ariosto]

Been here a long time, don't need anyone explaining the forums thanks.

You are welcome. It is good to be reassured that you are in for no surprise as to the reception one may expect after going out of one's way to answer "DnD. What is it to you?" with the news that it's at every turn something one dislikes.

 

[maddman75]

You are welcome. It is good to be reassured that you are in for no surprise as to the reception one may expect after going out of one's way to answer "DnD. What is it to you?" with the news that it's at every turn something one dislikes.

One of the great things about this hobby is that there's a great variety of games with different flavors. D&D happens to be a flavor I don't care for much these days. I'd taken the OP to be asking about that specific game. If he's talking about gaming in general I personally have two very different answers.

Gaming in general is exercising imagination and a way to meet new friends and spend time with old ones.

 

[odinfellhammer]

Playing a Hero against a world of monsters and villains. Also, Getting together with friends and having a good time.