OD&D = social mobility, 4e does not

[thecasualoblivion]

"Time for more CHICKEN THE SEA!'
Want some mayo with that!

Dolphins are intelligent and friendly. Intelligent and friendly on rye bread with some mayonaisse.

 

[xechnao]

In a sentence, I think the OP is saying that OD&D's adventuring style was about trying to live with freedom while 4e's style is about wanting to follow a predetermined path.

 

[Umbran]

I double-dog-dare the OP to make his or her game sound super cool without comparing it to other editions.

 

[Oni]

OD&D = social mobility, 4e does not


If someone with a modern education went far into the past they could contend with any sorcerer on the basis of knowledge and theory. Social mobility used to be a big part of Americas' self image compared to what used to be called the old world. It appears to me that this trend has come full cycle. Now people dream of being married into royalty, getting lucrative jobs serving the oil rich, and being "discovered" by some existing authority.

A character made in 4e is best served by viewing how they can contribute to the group they belong too. That sense of belonging seems to be the guiding star unto itself. One can be part of a great team and do amazing things. Never mind that that team will only go on adventures that are provided for it. Defining it's own adventure or quest seems to be extinct.

Look at player expectations. If the tomb of an ancient sorcerer is opened they fully expect it to be more powerful than any one of them alone. Ancient knowledge is easily accepted as more valid and more powerful than our own. If that sorcerer befriends the party, rewards them for helping, and sets about subjugating the medieval population for a new monolith project the party has no problem with it. Particularly if the promise is that upon completion the sorcerer will be able to share the most powerful spell of their lost civilization with the party.

And if that spell came at the cost of thousands of lives in forced labor, the monolith dominated the country side, and turned out to be a minor first level spell? What then. But 4e DM's would never do that. They would introduce some super spell off the level charts at a new level of power. The idea that some geeky repressed person trapped under the status quo is the source of the most powerful spell is gone. Players will assume the person is secretly receiving instructions or that they dug it up somewhere.

In fact what is the best promotion that a 4e party can offer any NPC. That's right. Membership in the group. Nothing more. No longer are the phrases like "king maker", "discoverer of", and "inventor" heard. But I bet you they can talk for days on end about how things are fine they way they are, and one should learn to appreciate what they have, and even that these thoughts are dangerous and I should be stopped.


Tigh

I have to be honest, I find your conclusions about 4e to be nonsensical, but even such useless rhetoric against a game system is at least forgivable. However I find your implications about younger generations, and well, anyone that happens to like a game that you clearly don't to be utterly repugnant.

 

[xechnao]

younger generations

What younger generations? I didn't read anything about younger generations.

 

[Crothian]

Facts not in evidence it seems.

The nice thing about RPGs in general and I've found with every edition of D&D so far is I can still play it the way I want to play it. And much to my dismay, though I'm told it is a good thing, other people can play in their own way different from mine.

 

[Obryn]

I tried to translate the OP into Japanese and back to distill the essence of the essay, but I still don't get it. It didn't help.

It was about twice as funny, though.

-O

 

[thecasualoblivion]

I tried to translate the OP into Japanese and back to distill the essence of the essay, but I still don't get it. It didn't help.

It was about twice as funny, though.

-O

You should translate it into Japanese and then back into English and then repost it.

 

[Remathilis]

You should translate it into Japanese and then back into English and then repost it.

How about this?

OD& As for D when = social mobility, 4e

today someone of education enters past directly, as for them it is possible to dispute with all magic teachers on the basis of knowledge and theory. As for social mobility Americas' It was normal to be the large part; As for image of oneself although it is called the old world, it compared with those which are used. When there is a complete period which comes to this tendency, you can think in me. This time dream of the people of marriage, the rich person of oil functioning is done in the royalty, and " The work which is and makes a profit is obtained; discovered" With existing authority. To be best functioning it is done by the quality which you can do with 4e with them, or belongs and is possible to contributing to the group how sees. The one bodily sensation seems like the star of guidance to that itself. To do the part and splendid thing of the splendid team it is possible one. Going with just the venture where the team is offered to that never that as the air you do not have to designate. it' Definition; As for s venture is owned or as for search seems that becomes extinct. Look at the expectation of the player. If the grave of the ancient magic teacher opens, as for them when it is more powerful with whichever of those, expects sufficiently that independently.

Ancient knowledge is accepted us more powerful effective way than monopolized ones and easily. If that magic teacher helps the party, there is no that problem of the party in set concerning domesticating the medieval population for project of the monolith organization which gives remuneration to those for assisting, is new. Especially, promise then as for the magic teacher the party can share the most powerful spelling of the civilization which is gone in completion.

When and the spelling comes being cost of life of many forced labor, as for monolith organization the side of the country, the minor first you reversing the fact that it is spelling of level, only control. Then what.

But 4e DM' s never does not do that. Those bring extreme spelling at the level whose power is new from the horizontal diagram separated. Geeky which is caught under present condition the person who is oppressed goes as for the thought of being the origin most powerful spelling. The player the person receives the indication in secret, or supposes that you dig somewhere that.

The 4e party being able to offer NPC something where is the best promotion really. That' The right of s. Member of group. What is many. " Already there is no phrase the way; Maker" of king; " Of" of discoverer; And " inventor" It is heard. But I them am between thing of many day of edge and as for me whom these thoughts of them have well dangerously, it is depended especially, the method the fact that those one should stop, are recognized should be learned, how concerning betting the thing which it is possible to speak.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

You should translate it into Japanese and then back into English and then repost it.

Don't do that! You wind up with thing like the "chargen" program included in the 3.0 PHB turning into the nicknames for a crazy man.

Seriously, the Original Post:

1) Accidentally teh funny.
2) More pompous than Jack7.
3) What kind of stupid ass D&D game has characters meeting crappy old sorcerers to get a light spell?
4) Dwarves. Tuna Cans. Old-School Butt.