D&D General How has D&D changed over the decades?

[Baron Opal II]

In this context, I don't think there is much of a difference.

Suppose that the player, in advance, creates a background with a sister who works for the mayor.

That's fine, and I don't think anyone is arguing against that.

What seems to me to be a source of friction is the player coming to that decision when the party needs to talk to the mayor.

 

[pemerton]

That's fine, and I don't think anyone is arguing against that.

What seems to me to be a source of friction is the player coming to that decision when the party needs to talk to the mayor.

But as I posted, and @Hussar has reiterated, if the player stipulates in advance that their sister works for the mayor, then when is that going to come into play? Only if the GM chooses to make the sister part of the puzzlebox of the setting. At which point why would the player bother? Whatever their PC's background, the GM will set up some puzzle or other.

 

[Vaalingrade]

It's so weird how the assumption is that every aspect of a PC is there to get one over on the DM.

"Why did you say you have green eyes? What's the angle? TELL MEEEEEE!"

 

[Cadence]

It's so weird how the assumption is that every aspect of a PC is there to get one over on the DM.

"Why did you say you have green eyes? What's the angle? TELL MEEEEEE!"

I mean, everything a DM does is to get one over on the PCs. Fair is fair!

(But seriously, not every PC is trying to get one over on the DM, just the ones whose player is a DM or future DM).

 

[Baron Opal II]

But as I posted, and @Hussar has reiterated, if the player stipulates in advance that their sister works for the mayor, then when is that going to come into play? Only if the GM chooses to make the sister part of the puzzlebox of the setting. At which point why would the player bother? Whatever their PC's background, the GM will set up some puzzle or other.

It's going to come into play when they need a favor or any other interaction with the mayor. What do you mean "Only if the GM chooses to make the sister part of the puzzlebox of the setting."? She's there. If she's just the maid it's not like there is a tremendous influence. But, sure, she can ask for a favor, write their name in the appointment book, or clandestinly leave a door unlocked.

If there is never any interaction with the mayor... then I guess the angle is "wasted"? You can be sure that Sarah will be there for the harvest dinner, and Vaalingrade will be content.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I mean, everything a DM does is to get one over on the PCs. Fair is fair!

(But seriously, not every PC is trying to get one over on the DM, just the ones whose player is a DM or future DM).

I know it's clearly controversial, but... I don't hate my friends.

 

[jasper]

That might be one of the biggest ways that D&D has changed over the decades: the styles of play have changed. How many different ways to play D&D are popular these days?

1. Beer & Pretzels Play: A game that nobody takes too seriously, it's just another game on the shelf that you and your friends play sometimes, or something to do on a Friday night with your friends. Super-casual, half the time nobody remembers the over-arching story (if there even IS such a thing.) "What are we doing tonight?" "Who cares, my rogue heads to the nearest tavern..."

2. Kick In The Door: The roots of our hobby. The game is played as a series of battles, with only enough story and dialogue to string them together. Lots of emphasis on stats and math, players have their character "builds" mapped out to 20 levels but can't remember whether their characters' parents are alive or dead. (Just kidding, they're always dead.) Kick in the door, kill the orc, take its stuff, rest, move to the next door.

3. The Interactive Novel: The characters are the stars, and the campaign setting is theirs to walk over. Every gaming session is another chapter of a long story about great evils that are overcome, ordinary people who become heroes, and terrible villains who rise to power. The story might be heavily-scripted and inflexible (railroad), or it might be malleable and fluid (sandbox), but it is always the most important thing at the table. The story is king.

4. Dress Rehearsal: The focus is on deep roleplaying. Combat (if any) is hand-waved, rushed, or muted so as to not steal the spotlight or pull focus. The players dress in character, speak in character, and behave in-character on the way to the fridge to get another flagon of mead. Because you serve mead at your gaming session. Because it's setting-appropriate. Everyone expects to be playing these same characters for many months, or even years. Lots of overlap with cosplay and LARPing.

5. Internet Influencer: The game is carefully orchestrated to resemble a radio/television program. You have elaborate setting pieces and character stories, monsters of your own invention, and everything is filmed in 4K HD on a Twitch stream or YouTube channel. The game is more about having a large fan base and marketable product, gaining followers, and generating buzz. It's easy for us to look down on this style of play, but it is the single-largest reason why the hobby has grown (and continues to grow) by leaps and bounds. Much respect.

6. The One-Shot: Nobody is heavily invested in their characters, the adventure, or the story. Chances are, nobody at the table will ever play these characters (or campaign setting, or rules, or game) ever again. Anything goes, consequences are rarely weighed, and even the most wild suggestions are entertained with a shrug and "why not?" from the GM. Very similar to "Beer & Pretzels," but FAR more gonzo.

I'm sure there are others.

Drop 4 and 5 and you are back in the early 80s. Don't even have change definitions.

 

[jasper]

Thought of a couple more.

7. The Meat Grinder: The whole adventure is a deadly obstacle course, and the object of the game is to survive it. Don't leave home without your ten-foot pole, your bag of ball bearings, and your ladder, and don't even think about sticking your head into any Green Devil frescoes. Every door is a boobytrap, every treasure chest is a mimic, and the floor is an illusion over a spike-filled pit. Your mission is to be the last character standing at the end of the night. Seems like this was a popular playstyle in the 80s, but has fallen out of favor.

8. Historical Reenactment: The campaign is based on real-world history. The DM uses a real-world map. Your character has a historic name that fits the period, the region, and their status. You use real-world technology based on an agreed-upon date, and everything is rigorously reviewed by everyone at the table for accuracy. The Exodus. The Wars of the Roses. The Crusades. Discovery of the New World. There are no dragons, elves, or magic...but that's okay: there are fifty-six different polearms, gunpowder, and the Bubonic Plague. Lots of overlap with the SCA. Gaining in popularity with the advent of the Internet.

8. Lady CAT Ringo of Rotting Ham is that you? I have seen or heard from since Fools War 1988.

 

[jasper]

1E. Players We Ain't Biting Any of those hooks. 5E Players we find those plot hooks lacking.
1E DM. Here is plot hook and one or two others. 5E DM Here are plot hooks you people agreed to in session 0.
1E. DM "You don't want play the hooks. Here is the Uno deck." 5E. DM " You don't want play the hooks we agreed to." Goes to internet to complain and find out what to do.

 

[overgeeked]

1E. Players We Ain't Biting Any of those hooks. 5E Players we find those plot hooks lacking.
1E DM. Here is plot hook and one or two others. 5E DM Here are plot hooks you people agreed to in session 0.
1E. DM "You don't want play the hooks. Here is the Uno deck." 5E. DM " You don't want play the hooks we agreed to." Goes to internet to complain and find out what to do.

1E DM. Do you want to play? Here’s what I have prepped.

5E Players. We do what we want and you have to do what we tell you.