The purpose of D&D's evolution?

[Quasqueton]

Why did Gygax evolve OD&D into AD&D?

Why did Holmes evolve OD&D into BD&D?

Why did Moldvay evolve original BD&D into B/XD&D?

Why did TSR evolve AD&D1 into AD&D2?

What was the purpose of OD&D evolving at all beyond the original brown books?

Quasqueton

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

So that D&D can eventually attain sapience and imprison its human players and use them as an energy source.

Aren't you glad you asked?

 

[philreed]

Such an odd question. Let me try it this way:

Why did cars evolve?

Why did planes evolve?

Why did computers evolve?


Answer: Human nature.

 

[No Name]

Why did fish evolve into monkeys?

Because change is necessary and it keeps life interesting, and sometimes you just get tired of swimming and want to go climb a tree.

 

[TerraDave]

Why did Gygax evolve OD&D into AD&D?

Why did Holmes evolve OD&D into BD&D?

Why did Moldvay evolve original BD&D into B/XD&D?

Why did TSR evolve AD&D1 into AD&D2?

What was the purpose of OD&D evolving at all beyond the original brown books?

Quasqueton

Short Answer: to sell more stuff

Long Answer: to sell more stuff, supplements with options are released, hopefully adding something worth buying. Eventually, the proliferation of options and changes in the game "justify" a new edition that consolidates the best of the past suplements and maybe adds some new twists (in theory). This cycle has been repeated many times (more then 3) in D&D's history.

An aside: Things don't always change, or change for the better. And change can take different forms. FX: Chess has evolved in the sense that strategies have evolved through time, you can play be yourself with a computer, you can play online...but a lot of people still play a pretty old edition of it

 

[Psion]

Why did Gygax evolve OD&D into AD&D?

To get rid of Dave Arneson.

Why did TSR evolve AD&D1 into AD&D2?

To get rid of Gary.

 

[Quasqueton]

Why did cars evolve?

To be more reliable. To be more efficient. To go faster. To be more comfortable.

The first car was good for its time, but improvements in mechanics, and needs/wants of the driver "drove" evolution.

Quasqueton

 

[fredramsey]

Easy.

To give Diaglo something to bitch about.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Basically, it evolved in attempts to match the wants and desires of those who played it.

 

[Zappo]

Basically, it evolved in attempts to match the wants and desires of those who played it.

Bullseye.