Sacred cows: Where's the beef?

[Jack Colby]

Gary Gygax and Greyhawk are D&D, and I don't even use Greyhawk in my games. It hasn't really been D&D in a while.

 

[Oni]

Ye olde generic races, Loot!, thieves/rogues, martial types, wizards (mad and otherwise), and head bashing clerics. Fireball!, magical swords, oozes slimes and jellies. Ruins, castles, taverns, and Dungeons!

 

[Ethalias]

As soon as I can't kill something and take its stuff, I'm gone *groan*

 

[Desdichado]

Really?

Yes.

"Mom! Have you seen my bat and glove? The guys and I are going out to play D&D. Aw, crap, it's raining, we can't play!"

That's not as clever as you think it is. But yeah. Even that could be D&D. Maybe.

 

[Oni]

Really?

"Mom! Have you seen my bat and glove? The guys and I are going out to play D&D. Aw, crap, it's raining, we can't play!"

If people started larping with baseball bats, I reckon dnd would get back on the news pretty quick.

 

[Remathilis]

In essence...

* Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
* Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings
* Fighters (Fighting Men), Wizards (Magic-Users, Mages), Clerics, Rogues (Thieves)
* Alignment
* Longswords and Plate-mail
* Magic Missile and Fireball
* Cure Light Wounds and Raise Dead
* Goblins, Kobolds, Orcs, Undead and Giants
* Color-Coded, Elemental-Based Dragons
* d4/d6/d8/d10/d12/d20
* Armor Class and Hit Points
* +1 weapons and armor (along with scores of magic doo-dads)
* Experience Points and Levels

I realize scores of other games uses many if not all of these, but D&D stops being D&D when they lose these elements.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

For me, D&D follow suits with most RPGs with just a couple things that differentiate it:

-Having fun around a table with friends
-Laughing and having a good time
-Players and a DM
-PC Classes
-D20
-Monsters
-A semi-generic fantasy world (it has its own path of fantasy, but has the ability to alter into whatever fantasy world one wishes)
-Multiple Races

 

[Lanefan]

In essence...

* Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
* Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings
* Fighters (Fighting Men), Wizards (Magic-Users, Mages), Clerics, Rogues (Thieves)
* Alignment
* Longswords and Plate-mail
* Magic Missile and Fireball
* Cure Light Wounds and Raise Dead
* Goblins, Kobolds, Orcs, Undead and Giants
* Color-Coded, Elemental-Based Dragons
* d4/d6/d8/d10/d12/d20
* Armor Class and Hit Points
* +1 weapons and armor (along with scores of magic doo-dads)
* Experience Points and Levels

I realize scores of other games uses many if not all of these, but D&D stops being D&D when they lose these elements.

Pretty good list. I concur.

Lanefan

 

[knightofround]

I guess for me its the mechanics that really define D&D. Leveling up, the d20, race, class, the six stats, magical equipment munchkinism.

All the fluffy stuff like Gygax-ian encounters and D&Ds more iconic figures (like beholders, mindflayers, drow, etc) doesn't really shout D&D to me. Thats stuff I can fold into any fantasy RPG.

 

[GSHamster]

1. Race, Class, level
2. Division of roles: Dungeon Master and players
3. Variety of Dice
4. Combat
5. Dragons