D&D 5E Only three pillars?

[Maxperson]

I agree with Lanefan. You cannot play without it, like the referee's prep. It's part of the game. How much it's considered "playing the game" is largely a matter of opinion...but completely irrelevant to just about everything.

Try playing live poker without cards. You can't do that, either, yet opening the pack of cards is not playing poker.

Just because something is essential to the game, does not make that thing playing the game.

 

[overgeeked]

Try playing live poker without cards. You can't do that, either, yet opening the pack of cards is not playing poker.

Just because something is essential to the game, does not make that thing playing the game.

Okay. Great. Now what? What relevance does this have to anything?

 

[Maxperson]

Okay. Great. Now what? What relevance does this have to anything?

Prep is not playing is the point. Buying dice, the DM making the dungeon, etc., is not playing D&D. Play happens when everyone comes together to actually....................play.

 

[Maxperson]

You open a new pack of cards before each hand?

No, but that's not relevant to the point. The point is that preparing to play is not play.

It also depends how a group handles levelling up. Here, it's all done at the table while other things (usually treasury division) are going on side-along, and is integrated into the rest of the at-table activity.

Yes, I already said that. In some games leveling up has a play component. The entire thing is not play, but if you involve training or beating up monks, then play is involved.

 

[Tonguez]

No, but that's not relevant to the point. The point is that preparing to play is not play.

Yes, I already said that. In some games leveling up has a play component. The entire thing is not play, but if you involve training or beating up monks, then play is involved.

Personally Id put character creation and levellimg up in the same Pillar as Worldbuilding. Especially with things like backgrounds, ideals, bonds and relationships. They should have impact in play and be reflected in the longterm development of the ‘story’

 

[Maxperson]

Personally Id put character creation and levellimg up in the same Pillar as Worldbuilding. Especially with things like backgrounds, ideals, bonds and relationships. They should have impact in play and be reflected in the longterm development of the ‘story’

World building both is and is not part of a pillar. If I'm making a city for my campaign outside of game play, I'm preparing. Preparing is by definition NOT the thing that is being prepared for, that's why it's preparing. However, if the world building is improvised during a game session, then it would fall under exploration

Choosing backgrounds, bonds, flaws, etc. are preparation for play. Using them during the game will fall into the three pillars of play. Having impact on play is not the same as play. Prep has great impact, but is not itself play.

 

[Reynard]

Prep is not playing is the point. Buying dice, the DM making the dungeon, etc., is not playing D&D. Play happens when everyone comes together to actually....................play.

It's not "playing" for the players, but it is certainly playing for the GM.

 

[Maxperson]

It's not "playing" for the players, but it is certainly playing for the GM.

Then it's not prep. Prep is for something. Prep =/= play.