D&D 5E The Debate of "Canon" in D&D 5E

[Paul Farquhar]

Canon for a game world matters more if it is a living world where time passes

A "living world" is a fundemtally terrible idea in an RPG because it completely nullifies player agency. It's impossible for their choices to have any effect on the world, and any official adventures have to be a hard railroad (see: Dragonlance).

 

[Zardnaar]

A "living world" is a fundemtally terrible idea in an RPG because it completely nullifies player agency. It's impossible for their choices to have any effect on the world, and any official adventures have to be a hard railroad (see: Dragonlance).

Not familiar with Golarion and Midgard?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Not familiar with Golarion and Midgard?

Yes. Any changes to Golarion are based on players following hard railroad adventure paths. It assumes they will not choose a different outcome, or fail to stop the bad guys.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yes. Any changes to Golarion are based on players following hard railroad adventure paths. It assumes they will not choose a different outcome, or fail to stop the bad guys.

Not that railriaded that's the old TSR Dragon Lance.

It just assumed you get the good ending. Obviously you can't please everyone.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Not that railriaded that's the old TSR Dragon Lance.

True, and that's why I cited Dragonlance first.

It just assumed you get the good ending.

Indeed. Which is fundamentally contrary to the idea that player choice matters. They can't fail, and they can't decide for themselves what constitutes a good ending.

 

[Zardnaar]

True, and that's why I cited Dragonlance first.


Indeed. Which is fundamentally contrary to the idea that player choice matters. They can't fail, and they can't decide for themselves what constitutes a good ending.

They can in the home game, but the difference is maybe they were the ones who changed things and not the TSR metaplot movers and shakers.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

They can in the home game,

Until the next part of the living setting contradicts it.

 

[Zardnaar]

Until the next part of the living setting contradicts it.

A decade later lol. And the changes aren't that bad.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

A decade later lol. And the changes aren't that bad.

It doesn't matter if the changes are good or bad. The point is, THE PLAYERS CAN'T INFLUNCE IT.

They may as well watch a movie or read a book for all the players' choices matter.

 

[Zardnaar]

It doesn't matter if the changes are good or bad. The point is, THE PLAYERS CAN'T INFLUNCE IT.

They may as well watch a movie or read a book for all the players' choices matter.

Some people like metaplot. I don't mind it as long as it's no to severe and is consistent.

I'm not opposed to frozen in time either.

I don't like big stupid wolds shaking events.