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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormonu" data-source="post: 5105220" data-attributes="member: 52734">If 4E had come out as the original edition, it probably would have been accepted as-is.  However, if the mechanics of 4E had tried to follow directly after, say 1E,  I think that would have been impossible.  Same thing probably for many of 3E's mechanics attempting to follow directly on 1E - such as 3E's 8th & 9th level spells for clerics.  Back in the day - and probably still today - 1E folks would have laughed themselves silly when presented with a system where you can buy or sell magic items (look around the internet for all the anti "magic shop" threads or articles in the books and magazines against the purchase/sell of magic items in 1E/2E).I also find it interesting that 2E had to introduce its skill system (the non-weapon proficiencies) as an OPTIONAL system; from reading old Dragon articles and such, there were a lot people fanatically opposed to be required to have a skill system in their game.  It's interesting that in the 1E DMG Gary actually argues against PCs having certain advanced skills - such as a crafting skill on par with a blacksmith - "because roving adventurers do not have the time or dedication to learn such skills."On a reverse note, look at some of the things that have been left out of the game - gamisms that could probably never return to the modern game.  Things such as gender-based ability score limits.  Level limits.  Minimum ability scores for classes.  Many of these things are constructs that folks were against from the beginning, but had to fight to get removed from the game.  Things that as time went on were seen as artificial barriers that it was time to remove from the game.As for Vampire, I don't think the game would have been possible before the Anne Rice novels that inspired the game.  Prior to that, every vampire was modeled on Dracula and there were no other well-known examples to draw from.  Werewolves likewise were drawn on the concept of Lon Chaney's wolfman until the advent of the Howling (and a lesser extent American Werewolf in London), which tremendously changed folk's view of werewolves.Mechanics-wise, I think the World of Darkness game system would have been accepted way back in the 70's (Pallidium was one of the earliest level/skill-based systems I know of, and it appeared in the early 80's, before 2E if I remember correctly).  Roleplaying would look very different if the skill-based WoD system had been the norm instead of the level-based D&D game.  However, WoD game's angsty atmosphere and adult themes, however, I think would have had serious problems in the media and with gamers if it came out much earlier than I did.  The angst might have worked in the 70's, but it would have been reviled in the 80's.  On the other hand, the adult themes would have been troublesome in the 70's but more acceptable in the 80's, I think.</blockquote>

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