D&D General Do you care about lore?

[Reynard]

This came up in one of the Ravenloft threads and I am just curious: do you care about official aka "canon" lore for D&D, either the implied setting or a specific campaign world? Does it bother you if that lore is changed with editions? Should a new version of a setting be "required" to not contradict a previous version?

For my part, I don't care much at all. Chances are I am going to change some stuff anyway if I am using a published setting and if I am homebrewing chances are the stuff in the Monster Manual or whatever isn't relevant in the first place. I don't read novel lines or pour over setting books, so I probably wouldn't notice most changes anyway.

 

[loverdrive]

I don't care about detailed info, and generally prefer things to be painted with broad strokes with a lot of blank spaces in-between.

The only thing in D&D lore I really care about is the Great Wheel.

 

[iserith]

If I am using a published setting, I try to cleave as closely as possible to the established lore in the books as that is, in my view, one of the main reasons to play in a published setting - to explore that world's lore.

If I'm doing my own thing, the lore gets created as we play with just a bit on the front end from me (as little as possible). Over time it becomes more fully-realized with the group's contributions.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Indisputable Premise 1: In 1e, Bards had a Legend Lore percentage.
Indisputable Premise 2: In 5e, Bards have a College of Lore.

Indubitable Conclusion: Lore is just another sneaky Bard tactic.

Therefore, lore, like bards, must be exterminated with extreme prejudice.

 

[Umbran]

This came up in one of the Ravenloft threads and I am just curious: do you care about official aka "canon" lore for D&D, either the implied setting or a specific campaign world? Does it bother you if that lore is changed with editions? Should a new version of a setting be "required" to not contradict a previous version?

I care about lore only insofar as it is relevant to something I am playing or running. I do not give a whit if lore changes between editions, unless I am playing in a campaign that spans editions.

 

[overgeeked]

This came up in one of the Ravenloft threads and I am just curious: do you care about official aka "canon" lore for D&D, either the implied setting or a specific campaign world? Does it bother you if that lore is changed with editions?

Depends on the lore, the canon, the setting, and the campaign world. If I enjoy it, I'm upset when it changes; if I don't enjoy it and it's changed to something I enjoy, I'm glad for the change; if I don't enjoy it and it's changed to something else I don't enjoy, I'm slightly upset as it could have been made into something I enjoy. And this only applies to settings I like. Al-Qadim, Dark Sun, Mystara, Ravenloft, and Spelljammer. Beyond those, I don't really care.

Should a new version of a setting be "required" to not contradict a previous version?

That's a ridiculous notion. At that point WotC should just make evergreen setting supplements for the various campaign worlds and only produce a tiny booklet of the updated edition's rules changes as they pertain to that campaign. Now that I type that out. I kinda want them to do that. But none of the settings should be locked in like that. They're not written in stone. Once they stop evolving over time they die.

 

[Retreater]

Nah, I can't keep up with all the minutiae anyway. As long as I have a good feel for the campaign setting's theme, I'm good.

 

[Voadam]

I like lore. It can add a lot of cool aspects to the game.

I find contradictions and retcons in lore generally annoying.

 

[ART!]

I guess I have no connection or interest in canon D&D lore, myself. I'll Google a few things as it pertains to a character I'm making for a specific adventure/campaign, like "what FR gods would my peace-loving cleric follow?" or "where in the Ten-Towns area would my aged shaman make a living?".

 

[Arilyn]

I use lore for inspiration, but it very rarely survives intact. The lore in my current Liminal game, for example is different. I threw out the nests of political vampires pulling strings, because I'm just sooo tired of that trope. My vampires are rare, solitary beings instead.

I used Forgotten Realms a lot back in the day, but it's significantly different. I find other people's ideas are awesome for inspiration, but it has to become ours at the table.