Of Roads, and Rome, and the Soul of D&D

[Dannyalcatraz]

95% of gamers

Are you sure?. Got a source for that number?

I have only seen a single FRPG campaign set in a published setting as written* in 34 years. IME, the DM nearly always brings something new to the table.






* oddly enough, it was in a 3.5 game.

 

[Mercurius]

Oh come on, of course I don't have a source for that number. And you are (again) misrepresenting/misunderstanding what I said - I did not say that 95% of D&D gamers play in a published setting, but that they play in a "D&D world" - whether homebrew or not. This does not preclude DMs bringing something new to the table.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Oh come on, of course I don't have a source for that number.

Then don't throw it out there- say something like "IME, most gamers..."

And you are (again) misrepresenting/misunderstanding what I said - I did not say that 95% of D&D gamers play in a published setting, but that they play in a "D&D world" - whether homebrew or not. This does not preclude DMs bringing something new to the table.

I'm afraid I misunderstood then. What is a "D&D world?"

 

[ProfessorCirno]

As I have stated before, D&D is medieval knights in ren-era armor worshipping greek gods who follow a pastiche of modern morality fighting against brain eating space aliens from the future (and sentient acid-jello).

Edit: Is this the soul though? No. Because there is no one singular soul.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

As I have stated before, D&D is medieval knights in ren-era armor worshipping greek gods who follow a pastiche of modern morality fighting against brain eating space aliens from the future (and sentient acid-jello).

Edit: Is this the soul though? No. Because there is no one singular soul.

While that definition eliminates most of D&D's published settings- what of Giant Space Hamsters, Warforged and Thri-Kreen?- you may have something.

How many other FRPGs root their game in the real world like D&D does? Many of the things you see in the game- races, classes, supernatural beings, spells- have strong roots & nomenclature from RW myth & legend.

And other FRPGs?

 

[Mercurius]

Danny, I'm not going to do the waltz with you again. I explained what I mean by "D&D world" numerous times - it is the gestalt of various D&D themes and tropes - D&Dized fantasy. The "D&D pantry," if you will.

And please spare me lessons in communication--I can phrase things however I want. Saying "95%" is a manner of speech, it is not a statement of fact--this isn't a court of law where I have to back everything up with proof or documentation - this is a casual discussion forum. Replace "95%" with "the vast majority" if you want.

 

[Nagol]

Other FRPGs run a gamut from Tolkeinesque (MERP, Rolemaster), Arthurian (Pendragon), European grounded (Ars Magica, Fantasy Wargaming, Chivalry and Sorcery, Flashing Blades) to more gonzo (Tunnels and Trolls, The Fantasy Trip, Empire of the Petal Throne, Harn, Warhammer), and author universes (Elric, Thieves World, Dying Earth) .

D&D is basically middle of the road though it has a lot of campaign supplements with different treatments. GURPS probably has more and more varied though.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

While that definition eliminates most of D&D's published settings- what of Giant Space Hamsters, Warforged and Thri-Kreen?- you may have something.

How many other FRPGs root their game in the real world like D&D does? Many of the things you see in the game- races, classes, supernatural beings, spells- have strong roots & nomenclature from RW myth & legend.

And other FRPGs?

I think you're missing my point.

D&D is absurd. It's always been absurd. We have sentient acid-jello as one of our biggest mascots. And the other one is a giant floating gasball...with eyes!!! A good portion of monsters came from Gary just grabbing random kids toys and going "Ok, this one...uh...turns things to rust with it's antenna!"

I'm not saying D&D is rooted in the real world, because it frankly isn't. D&D is rooted in grabbing ahold of weird stuff in your imagination and saying "Ok, now hit it with a sword." Giant hampsters, Thri-kreen, warforged, thirty types of elves (and forty dwarves), the whole gamut.

If D&D had a singular "soul" it would be a rather silly one.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm not saying D&D is rooted in the real world, because it frankly isn't.

Sure it is. It grabs mythologies & legends from cultures all over the world. It includes stuff from prominent works of fiction as well. Now, I'd does take all of that and put it in a blender with whacky juice, but the RW influence is there. And when you play D&D, here is an element of familiarity when you sit down at the table with your Thor-worshipping barbarian next to a player with an elf Druid devoted to The Green Man, a Halfling rogue with a lamp-dwelling djinn and woodsman who hates Minotaurs.

And I'm not so sure that other FRPGs are as close to those RW inspirations as D&D is.

 

[pawsplay]

For instance, in D&D it is assumed that all or most of the monsters in the various Monster Manuals exist in the campaign world,

No. Just, no. I mean, just look at Krynn... no orcs!