PvP Nails the Edition Wars

[El Mahdi]

My God! That strip sounds exactly like about 50% of the threads. Uncanny, but very funny!

 

[El Mahdi]

This one's easy to predict: 4E fans think it's funny, 3E fans think its offensive.

Absolutely not true. I won't argue that there are a handful of people on both sides of the 3E/4E divide that act this way, and will be offended by this. But, speaking as someone that isn't switching to 3E (although I don't have a problem with people who switch to 4E, or even the system, a lot of which I have ganked for houserules), I found this strip very funny, and eerily familiar to a lot of threads here at ENWorld (and other boards).

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

This one's easy to predict: 4E fans think it's funny, 3E fans think its offensive.

It's neither. It's obvious and lame. PvP stopped being funny and clever a long time ago.

 

[blargney the second]

Fun! Looks like it's geek pride week at PvP.
-blarg

 

[Dragonhelm]

Heh. I think it's funny because, if you file off the editions, you could print this same joke about just about every gamer nerdrage issue for the past twenty years.

Agreed!

The idea that drawing from certain sources is somehow inferior is a long standing issue. The idea that if you step outside of certain themes or archetypes, it's not D&D anymore was leveled at every edition. The idea that if you draw from anime, videogames, certain fiction, drew all sorts of aggro from various posters.

Really, it's little different than using miniatures. How many times have we heard the argument that D&D has become a miniatures game and, therefore, isn't roleplaying? We heard it with 3e and perhaps even moreso with 4e. Miniatures, like power cards and the like, are tools. If they don't work for you, don't use them. Simple enough.

As for story elements, they can be drawn from anywhere. Perhaps D&D was based in Tolkien's legacy, and certainly one can run D&D that way. Yet fantasy fiction has progressed tremendously since that time, and D&D reflects that progression. Yes, certain elements of it seem more "Hollywood" or "anime." That's okay, though. D&D is reflecting our geek culture that way. If you think it's too much that way, then simply file off the serial numbers of some of the power names, or play an edition that fits your style better. The point is, use the story elements that you enjoy, then use the game that best fits those elements. If you're more of a Tolkien-esque AD&D'er, that's cool. If you like wuxia-style action and think C&C fits the bill, that's great. And so on and so forth.

I don't see this as a shot at 3e at all. This is a shot at every single nerdcore gamer who figures that his or her vision of "The Game" is the one true way and all other ways are destroying perfection.

Bingo. It's not much different from the old arguments about Star Trek original series fans vs. The Next generation fans. Some liked one, some liked the other, and some of us like both.

 

[Lackhand]

It's neither. It's obvious and lame. PvP stopped being funny and clever a long time ago.

Nothing personal, but you didn't exactly refute... nah, too easy. Never mind.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Eh, it's one of their weaker strips. I don't think it's intended to be insulting towards people who dislike 4e, but I could see how it might EASILY come off that way, with the "I like 4e, I am rational and calm." "I DISLIKE 4e AND I AM COMPLETELY CRAZY!"

 

[Reynard]

Really, it's little different than using miniatures. How many times have we heard the argument that D&D has become a miniatures game and, therefore, isn't roleplaying? We heard it with 3e and perhaps even moreso with 4e. Miniatures, like power cards and the like, are tools. If they don't work for you, don't use them. Simple enough..

The strip may not have been funny, but that sure is.

 

[Korgoth]

It's all like a gripping After Action Report from the Football War. Sooo don't have a dog in this fight.

3.5 vs 4.0? Why don't y'all play D&D instead.

 

[Spatula]

Eh, it's one of their weaker strips. I don't think it's intended to be insulting towards people who dislike 4e, but I could see how it might EASILY come off that way, with the "I like 4e, I am rational and calm." "I DISLIKE 4e AND I AM COMPLETELY CRAZY!"

Which character in the strip is expressing a dislike for 4e? Which character is not yelling and calling the other character names?