[forked thread] What constitutes an edition war?

[Aberzanzorax]

Since people can't seem to leave it alone in this thread:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/307167-d-d-edition-into-single-picture.html

What constitutes an edition war?

Is that thread an edition war?

Can variances in editions be discussed without it being an edition war?

What about a "my favorite thing in each edition"?

What about a "my least favorite thing in each edition"?

 

[Redbadge]

I personally like the discourse and design discussions that go on in the "edition wars," including finding out what my fellow gamers like and dislike about our shared hobby. However, I don't like insults against individuals at any level. I think editions wars should be possible without attacks on the participants, but with room to lavish praise and dish out criticism for the game.

My definition of an edition war is any discussion that includes mention of more than one edition and comparisons between those editions. The thread likely has a possibility to become a battleground, and each edition will have its possible strengths and weaknesses exposed to the core, with vast doses of personal tastes and opinions of course. What other possible purpose could threads like the one mentioned possibly have, except to wage this awesome battle on some level?

 

[ThirdWizard]

It must adversarial. It is perfectly possible to compare editions, even to give criticism of editions, without there being any kind of "war" going on. However, this is the Internet, so the ones who want to argue will argue and take over any conversation, derailing it into warring factions. The constructive conversations about editions happen mostly face to face or in a closed group with trusted individuals.

 

[Crothian]

What are and are not edition wars are really up to the opinion of the mods. Are edition wars still a big no no here? If you see something that you think is inappropriate then report the post.

 

[Redbadge]

What are and are not edition wars are really up to the opinion of the mods. Are edition wars still a big no no here? If you see something that you think is inappropriate then report the post.

What's wrong with Edition Wars, as long as no one gets hurt (not guaranteed, I know)? It sounds like a TLC program involving fighting robots, or maybe a 1980s science fiction franchise. A little light-heartedness goes a long ways, I think.

 

[Ulrick]

The Edition War is waged all around us on the Internet and in real life, often at our FLGSs and the game table. At its core, it's all about "gaming purity and the fear of the Other."

It started (as far as I know) when 2e came out and gets sparked again and again with each iteration of D&D and spin-offs. The war is fought by those who believe one Edition is clearly superior when compared to another Edition and they believe this notion must be spread to others. Criticisms to a favored Edition are taken personally (declarations of war), and retalitory strikes are made against the opposing ideology.

Casualties in this war include threads on various messageboard escalating into grudge matches that can be summed up as: "X Edition is clearly better, while Y edition has all kinds of problems that no sane person would want to cope with" which is often followed by "What are you talking about? Y Edition is cleary better! Only an insane person would pay X edition!"

Other casualties include: irate moderators of said messageboards, gaming groups getting broken apart because players are split on two or more editions, gaming stores losing money because a purist stands in front of products of a given edition and griping to anybody who'll listen, and lost friendships because of the occasional slap on the head.

Gaming purists are partly justified in their fears. When a new edition comes out, it represent change in the hobby. A conservative response is only natural such as "I don't want to spend money on X Edition, I like W Edition just fine--I have a lot of money invested in it." Hardly anybody wants to see their gaming dollars go to waste on a game nobody might play. This includes the gaming purists who embrace a new edition.

The Edition War boils down to people absolutely refusing to play a given edition and verbally attacking anybody playing that given edition. It can even get to the point of refusing to play at all, rather than give in to playing said edition.

Frankly, I'd rather play D&D than not play anything at all... even 4e

But the fires of the Edition War shall continue to burn as long as Editions of D&D are released. Because there will always exist gamers who view their favored edition as an ideology...

 

[Redbadge]

But the fires of the Edition War shall continue to burn as long as Editions of D&D are released. Because there will always exist gamers who view their favored edition as an ideology...

We light sacrificial fires to the spirit of 4e every day and twice on holidays. We shall never go back to primitive heretical days of yore... never. All hail the Wizards of the Coast.

Man, for some reason I feel really playful today. Sorry about that.

 

[Stoat]

If I say something you don't like about whatever edition you prefer to play, we are having a simple conversation about the strengths and weaknesses of that particular edition.

If you say something I don't like about whatever edition I prefer to play, it's an edition war.

 

[Crothian]

But the fires of the Edition War shall continue to burn as long as Editions of D&D are released. Because there will always exist gamers who view their favored edition as an ideology...

Don't kid yourself in thinking it is just D&D (not that you are I'm just using your post as a springboard to this point). Vampire, Paranoia, Shadowrun... it seems that almost any game that issues a new edition causes some kind a strife among the fans.

 

[Flatus Maximus]

You only really need one thing: some j-hole to come along and get all bent out of shape about what some anonymous person said about their preferred edition. It helps, but is not completely necessary, if another (or possibly the same) j-hole comes along and formally clarifies that the offending comment is, in fact, a declaration of war. All this should be done as definitively and authoritatively as possible.