(LONG)-Getting back to basics, role-playing?

[Garnfellow]

Here's an interesting historical perspective.

This past weekend I was working on a 3e conversion of an ancient OD&D adventure -- "The Halls of Tizun Thane" from White Dwarf 18 (April / May 1980 issue.)

A prominent full page ad at the front of the magazine asks in large, bold typeface "ARE YOU ROLL-PLAYING INSTEAD OF ROLE-PLAYING?"

It was an ad for Tunnels and Trolls, of course.

To me, this certainly suggests that this issue is definitely NOT limited to the third edition of D&D.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

If you want to recapture 1e or 2e, it's fairly easy to do that. Just go back to playing 1e or 2e.

They're out of print, of course, but it isn't hard to buy the rules cheaply on EBay. Alternatively, you can download OSRIC free.

 

[bento]

I have to go with - its equally 3.5 and the DM's fault.

How's about this:

* Except for the most complex battles, don't use minis or battlemats
* Find a variant rule set that doesn't reward XP for killing things (like True20)
* Make an effort to provide different kinds of encounters besides battles
* Ask your players for character hooks, and make those important plot points, changing the dynamic of you providing the story to them!


I've done every one of these things after having the same complaints as you and all my players tell me that our games are better now more than ever.

 

[RFisher]

Or when all the books you needed could fit in a small book bag?

No. I remember lugging nine hardback books (MM, PHB, DMG, D&DG, FF, MM2, UA, WSG, & DSG) to each session. It's now that I manage to get by with only a couple of 64-page, saddle-stiched booklets.

I can agree that a change of system itself isn't going to solve anything, but I can tell you what worked for me--in addition to discussions like this one:

Grab every RPG preview or free RPG you can find off the net & read them all. (If you're like me, you already have a shelf-full of games to re-read as well.) Do it short-attention-span style. Skip things. Jump around from section-to-section, game-to-game. While a system may not be the answer, considering lots of systems will get you thinking about what role-playing games are, what they can be, what the various style-choices are, &c. At least, it did for me.

I now think I have a much better handle on the style of gaming that works for me. I can apply that style in almost any system. (Although, some systems do make it easier than others.)