D&D General Let's list/complain about things we don't like

[Thomas Shey]

That's true. Nevertheless, I wish they would. I view coherence as a virtue in both game and setting design.

And I wish there wasn't one giant RPG company didn't dominate the industry, but one is about as likely as the other.

 

[chaochou]

Things I dont like about D&D, in no particular order:

Classes, levels, Armour class, vancian casting, safe easy magic, safe easy magic as the only reliable way to accomplish anything, immature power fantasy wish fulfilment, illusionism and railroading as an almost universal playstyle, bland anodyne fantasy bobbins, worthless resolution mechanics, tedious 'fetch this, kill that' adventures and fake easy confortable 'heroism'.

 

[el-remmen]

The main thing I don’t like about D&D is the same thing I love about it: the people who play it.

Oh and the people who don’t play it but somehow love to complain about it.

 

[Sulicius]

I dislike so much of spellcasting in D&D. I really, really dislike the arbitrary spell schools. I dislike how there are so many spells that just help people ignore parts of the game that could be interesting. Why have a rogue when you have find familiar? Why do you have the survival skill when you have goodberry or tiny hut? All of this reeks like someone saying "OH! What if we could solve this problem with magic?" and not thinking about what it does to the game overall. I don't mind not tracking rations ever, to be honest.

Also gnomes. Can't stand them.

 

[Alzrius]

And racism is rampant, not between different types of Humans but between Humans and some non-Humans and between various different species of non-Humans.

I have enough supplements that I've got several different (that is, mechanically different, albeit only slightly) versions of major races, and this is something I'm looking at implementing in my next campaign where orcs are concerned.

Specifically, there's going to be the gray-skinned "AD&D 2E"-looking orcs, and the green skinned "pig-faced" orcs, and the two are locked into a state of perpetual low-grade warfare, which is what keeps them from overrunning the frontier...and is why the forces of civilization are always nervous about some orc champion being able to unite the two.

 

[Remathilis]

Things I dont like about D&D, in no particular order:

Classes, levels, Armour class, vancian casting, safe easy magic, safe easy magic as the only reliable way to accomplish anything, immature power fantasy fulfilment, illusionism and railroading as an almost universal playstyle, bland anodyne fantasy bobbins, worthless resolution mechanics, tedious 'fetch this, kill that' adventures and fake easy confortable 'heroism'.

Other than that, how''d you enjoy the play Mrs. Lincoln?

 

[QuentinGeorge]

I've always reconciled that magic has done what technology did to the modern world. It has propelled civilization beyond medieval limits of thinking. Germ theory is nothing to people who have knowledge of other realms of reality and how to get to them. A small amount of druidic involvement keeps the crops from failing. Artisan Guilds enforce pricing on a national level. Etc.

Frankly, a more medieval world would be depressing. Rampant ignorance, corrupt elites terrorizing their populace, the price of goods rapidly fluctuating, witch hunts, superstition replacing science, the Church controlling all aspects of society, rampant racism and sexism. Who would want to live in a world like that?

I know you're joking, but inflation is one of the few things mostly not a huge issue in medieval times unless the monarch started to debase coinage. There wasn't a regular 2-5% "accepted" level or anything.

 

[Remathilis]

I know you're joking, but inflation is one of the few things mostly not a huge issue in medieval times unless the monarch started to debase coinage. There wasn't a regular 2-5% "accepted" level or anything.

True. It was supply and demand issues that caused prices to flux.

 

[KYRON45]

Germ theory? Inflation?!?!? I must be playing the wrong version of D&D.

 

[CellarHeroes]

The flat mechanisation of 'make a skill check' replacing detailed exploration of environments and conversations.

When I gripe about the game not being fun, this is usually what my complaint boils down to.

When I play with groups who have experience with older editions or other systems, this is generally not a problem. Those players seem to be used to contributing to the narrative and the immersion for everyone at the table.

When there is a group of players new to TTRPGs, it's like pulling teeth to get that extra bit of information out of them. Talk to the NPCs as your character, tell me how you're searching the room...just give me some reason to award Inspiration if you're really wanting to roll the dice.

There are also some minor character creation and advancement issues I have. These are only highlighted whenever I see references to character optimization. Once again, it just comes down to a playstyle I don't enjoy and have no understanding of.