Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Aethelstan" data-source="post: 2038369" data-attributes="member: 14304">Although D&amp;D was created some thirty years ago, many of the core concepts of the game, for instance alignment and “Vancian” magic, have endured virtually unchanged and remain central to D&amp;D in its current form.&nbsp; For the sake of discussion, pretend you could go back in time and become the “Godfather” of RPGs by publishing your own personal version of D&amp;D a year before Gary Gygax (my assumption is that slick and flexible d20 D&amp;D would trump Gygax’s OD&amp;D and become the dominant RPG).&nbsp; What would you change about D&amp;D?&nbsp; How would you make it “better.”&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I’m not thinking of things like “Rangers would have d12 hit dice” or “magic missile would require a ranged touch attack.”&nbsp; I’m more interested in the overarching themes, core concepts and basic assumptions than were built into D&amp;D from its inception.&nbsp; For example, does the alignment system provide the game with structure and moral bearings or is it rigid, simplistic, and stifling to role playing?&nbsp; Or..does D&amp;D’s premise that magic is both common and for sale appealing or does it drain magic of any sense of wonder or mystery?&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; What are the “sacred cows” of D&amp;D that you kept in your version of D&amp;D?&nbsp; What would you toss out and why?&nbsp; What new pillars would you make central to D&amp;D from day one?&nbsp; I’m looking forward to your thoughts and I’ll throw in my two cents later.p.s. Attention Gygaxopiles:&nbsp; this thread is not intended as a dig against Gary Gygax.&nbsp; He is the Tolkien of RPGs and I respect him as such.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Aethelstan, post: 2038369, member: 14304"] Although D&D was created some thirty years ago, many of the core concepts of the game, for instance alignment and “Vancian” magic, have endured virtually unchanged and remain central to D&D in its current form. For the sake of discussion, pretend you could go back in time and become the “Godfather” of RPGs by publishing your own personal version of D&D a year before Gary Gygax (my assumption is that slick and flexible d20 D&D would trump Gygax’s OD&D and become the dominant RPG). What would you change about D&D? How would you make it “better.” I’m not thinking of things like “Rangers would have d12 hit dice” or “magic missile would require a ranged touch attack.” I’m more interested in the overarching themes, core concepts and basic assumptions than were built into D&D from its inception. For example, does the alignment system provide the game with structure and moral bearings or is it rigid, simplistic, and stifling to role playing? Or..does D&D’s premise that magic is both common and for sale appealing or does it drain magic of any sense of wonder or mystery? What are the “sacred cows” of D&D that you kept in your version of D&D? What would you toss out and why? What new pillars would you make central to D&D from day one? I’m looking forward to your thoughts and I’ll throw in my two cents later. p.s. Attention Gygaxopiles: this thread is not intended as a dig against Gary Gygax. He is the Tolkien of RPGs and I respect him as such. [/QUOTE]

Verification