Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Mark CMG" data-source="post: 5470227" data-attributes="member: 10479">I've been noticing for some time that this recent era in the timeline of RPGs is the first period where those in the know will call something that is not branded as D&amp;D, D&amp;D.&nbsp; There was a time, and it may persist in some corners to this day, when those who only have a slight idea of what RPGs are will call anything RPGesque D&amp;D.&nbsp; It's a broadbrushing shorthand often used to either denigrate the hobby by linking RPGing with some bad event or activity.&nbsp; But in the past half decade rulesets from a nuber of quarters are routinely referred to as D&amp;D including but not limited to retro clones and PF.&nbsp; It is certainly possible that people at WotC are beginning to feel that the trademark is in jeopardy or, at the least, being diluted by the many rulesets now on the market or freely available that players are using in lieu of D&amp;D but still claiming it is D&amp;D and bringing others on board to the mindset.The idea of a D&amp;Dness has broader implications than has been discussed thus far.&nbsp; I'm not sure it is what Mike Mearls had in mind when he brought up the subject but can hardly be avoided as important to the issue.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Mark CMG, post: 5470227, member: 10479"] I've been noticing for some time that this recent era in the timeline of RPGs is the first period where those in the know will call something that is not branded as D&D, D&D. There was a time, and it may persist in some corners to this day, when those who only have a slight idea of what RPGs are will call anything RPGesque D&D. It's a broadbrushing shorthand often used to either denigrate the hobby by linking RPGing with some bad event or activity. But in the past half decade rulesets from a nuber of quarters are routinely referred to as D&D including but not limited to retro clones and PF. It is certainly possible that people at WotC are beginning to feel that the trademark is in jeopardy or, at the least, being diluted by the many rulesets now on the market or freely available that players are using in lieu of D&D but still claiming it is D&D and bringing others on board to the mindset. The idea of a D&Dness has broader implications than has been discussed thus far. I'm not sure it is what Mike Mearls had in mind when he brought up the subject but can hardly be avoided as important to the issue. [/QUOTE]

Verification