Is D&D outdated ?

[Shadowlord]

When I first saw the new ed, I immediately thought it was the best. Now, two years later, more & more products made me wonder if D&D really is that good?

Even with the revised books coming out I doubt it will be up to what other RPGs offer. D20 Modern has already better generic rules. The combat rules are superior, and there are more non-combat options (a major skill emphasize for ex).

More so, D20M and other RPGs (Star Wars, Call of C, Wheel of Time...) often need only 1 rulebook containing everything of importance where D&D must spread it out in three or more books (you also need a setting after you bought 3 *rule*books). Rules for combat, skills, feats, classes, races, vehicles, hazards, gamesmastering, story & plotlines, setting... all in 1 book instead of 4+.

D&D d20 isn't that generic as it was supposed to be. As the 1st d20 product, it often remains at the end of the line where other games pick the best parts and improve others. In fact, D&D has too many rules that concentrate on combat, forgetting the other aspects of true RPGs (character development, world exploration, solving mysteries...).

It is indeed called *Dungeons* & Dragons, being more like a dungeon hacking game. Alternity games for ex (where the d20 skills & feats originally come from) had many more options for character development. You HAD to think a decent background for your PC and there were appropriate rules for it. It also had more emphasize on skill use, with still a very decent combat section. seems like D&D added the skills & feats but forgot to develop them decently. Indeed, many feats & skill uses offer combat benefits.

Don't get me wrong, I like combat (which D&D isn't even the best at) but you expect to see more than that in the "father of RPGs" and D&D seems to offer "less" options than other RPGs (d20) in "more" books.

 

[Eternalknight]

Welcome to the boards.

Remember this: All of those extra books that they put out for D&D aren't needed; in fact, none of the books are even necessary if you have an interent conection, as you can download all you need to play from the System Reference Document.

And I don't think it's really outdated; more people play it than anything else, so it must be doing something right

 

[Corinth]

(No offense intended to Eternalknight.)

Welcome to the reality of gaming: D&D is, was and always will be the Top Dog of the hobby.

 

[Eternalknight]

(No offense intended to Eternalknight.)

Welcome to the reality of gaming: D&D is, was and always will be the Top Dog of the hobby.

That is not offensive in the slightest....

 

[Moe Ronalds]

Well, one reason I think while the other RPGs would be "better" is because they came out after D&D, correct? Well, which do you think is easier, creating a masterpiece or improving upon the bits you don't like and copying the rest?

Also, about the squishage into one book, D&D has several things in it's three books that the others don't. More monsters, magic items, more spells, more info on deities etcetera...

 

[hellbender]

Well, DnD, as any other rpg, is what you make of it. Many elements go into any given campaign world, and the adventures springing from it hopefully have a wide variety of situations, not all of which one would hope, consist entirely of mindless violence. However, considering a quasi-medieval European-esque milieu, the world, if taken fairly literally, should contain a fair amount of combat and violence. Life, especially with only a handful of races and monsters, would be relatively cheap.

I have a large amount of 3E books, and run a game with a variety of scenarios. I ran a game just last Sunday that was very little 'dungeon' and had many encounters, both fair and foul. Not only did my players love it, they squawked and I had defectors from another group trying to join in by seeking me out on Monday. And I was really suprised as most of it was very impromptu.


h

 

[Knight Otu]

Also, about the squishage into one book, D&D has several things in it's three books that the others don't. More monsters, magic items, more spells, more info on deities etcetera...

Plus, you have to consider that those books might not need many of those things, even if they are a part of the setting.

 

[Sagan Darkside]

D&D d20 isn't that generic as it was supposed to be. As the 1st d20 product, it often remains at the end of the line where other games pick the best parts and improve others. In fact, D&D has too many rules that concentrate on combat, forgetting the other aspects of true RPGs (character development, world exploration, solving mysteries...).

That is because combat is the complicated part of rpg's.

Do you want the rules on how to solve a mystery? Search check - DC: 10 + HD of villian.

Character Development: Outside of leveling a character? Do you want rules stating the personality of your character? Ugh.

World Exploration? There is a whole list of swim, climb, and other skill checks that involve physical exploration. Outside of that- it falls onto the dm.

As for d20 D&D not being as "generic" (I would call them lame, not generic) as d20 Modern. Thank the heavens. I could not imagine anything more boring. I look at the base classes of d20 D&D and they seem very generic to me.

SD

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

One book? One book isn't superior.

I must have many books, must consume!!!

 

[johnsemlak]

Alternity games for ex (where the d20 skills & feats originally come from) had many more options for character development.

Ahem

I don't know Alternity, but the d20 skills certainly have roots in D&D going back a ways. It's not really that much different from the Non Weapon Proficiencies found in the 1e OA and the Dungeoneer's Survival Guide. The work better in d20.