D&D General [rant]The conservatism of D&D fans is exhausting.

[Thomas Shey]

Exactly. For many, many, many of us, D&D has been a different game. Dramatically different rules, dramatically different experiences, and new games are trying to compete with that multi-generational history of creativity and maleability.

In which case, you might as well be comparing D&D, Runequest, Fantasy Hero and Dungeon World for all the cross-utility you're liable to find.

D&D players today play different amalgams of all previous versions coupled with different combos of house rules. It is what it is. That annoys a lot of people who dislike D&D and want to develop something different but it feels like they're aiming at a moving target, which they are. That's why it's so tough to compete with D&D.

If you're under the impression only D&D GMs make house rules, or that only it has had several editions, let me disabuse you.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Don't we already have Game of Theseus? I've always operated under that assumption.

Then any discussion of rules is largely futile because people aren't even assuming the same rules.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I thought we weren't allowed to characterize any part of a game as "lazy design"? Seems a little uncharitable.

Its not intended to be charitable.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Then any discussion of rules is largely futile because people aren't even assuming the same rules.

Not exactly the same in all cases, but usually close enough for cogent discussion.

 

[kermit4karate]

In which case, you might as well be comparing D&D, Runequest, Fantasy Hero and Dungeon World for all the cross-utility you're liable to find.



If you're under the impression only D&D GMs make house rules, or that only it has had several editions, let me disabuse you.

In which case, you might as well be comparing D&D, Runequest, Fantasy Hero and Dungeon World for all the cross-utility you're liable to find.



If you're under the impression only D&D GMs make house rules, or that only it has had several editions, let me disabuse you.

I just wouldn't draw too many conclusions about the mechanics of a particular game based on the official rules for most TTRPGs. Why compare them? Even with the exact same set of rules no two D&D games will be the same. A different GM and different players will influence the experience a lot more than the rulebook.

 

[kermit4karate]

Then any discussion of rules is largely futile because people aren't even assuming the same rules.

Can't disagree there.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Not exactly the same in all cases, but usually close enough for cogent discussion.

Not when people are literally talking about houseruling the topic at hand. Then it might as well be, at least, rules from a different D20 game.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I just wouldn't draw too many conclusions about the mechanics of a particular game based on the official rules for most TTRPGs. Why compare them? Even with the exact same set of rules no two D&D games will be the same. A different GM and different players will influence the experience a lot more than the rulebook.

And I simply disagree. If that was true, then the experience would be similar with the same group in different games, and that couldn't be farther from my experience.

 

[kermit4karate]

And I simply disagree. If that was true, then the experience would be similar with the same group in different games, and that couldn't be farther from my experience.

Why would the experience be similar with different games but the same group? I didn't say every game was similar. I said that the GM and players influence the experience more than the rules do.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Not when people are literally talking about houseruling the topic at hand. Then it might as well be, at least, rules from a different D20 game.

If someone talks to me about a problem they're having with the rules, the first thing I'll suggest (if they're sure it's a problem) is to houserule it.