The Straight Dope on D&D c. 1980

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Yeah, he may have read it, but reading the 1E DMG and playing the game (or even just observing a game being played by others) are two very different animals. Once you start playing it the math fades away - you stop WATCHING the math and focus your attention on the DM's description and the actions of the PC's. Similarly, acronyms and game terminology acquire MEANING in actual play that words on a page cannot convey. They stop being a confusing distraction and become terms that are useful and also second nature.

That post really belongs in 1980. They look at the game and see only the surface which understandably looks bizzare to them. But the ocean is more than just the waves on the surface... he can't see the forest for the trees... etc.

Readers apparantly agree:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=561540

 

[Bullgrit]

It sounds more like someone confusing XP value calculation with hp. Sometimes it pays to actually learn about something before giving the "straight dope" on it.

Actually, that quote is taken directly from the AD&D1 DMG, page 85, second column, example 4 on how to calculate xp.

Bullgrit

 

[ExploderWizard]

Actually, that quote is taken directly from the AD&D1 DMG, page 85, second column, example 4 on how to calculate xp.

Bullgrit

Check the quote again. That last part should read " totalling 7758 xp"

Mixing up hp and xp wouldn't happen if the individual had any real experience with the game.

 

[darjr]

yea, there is a bit of snarky gobledegook in that article that clearly is made up for the sake of making a point. And it really does sound like something from someone who never gave playing the type of game any chance or even tried to play.

 

[Mark]

Readers apparantly agree:
Wow, that D&D article does NOT hold up. - Straight Dope Message Board

I just noticed how many of those responses are recent.

 

[Bullgrit]

That last part should read " totalling 7758 xp"

Oh, typo. Therefore the entire quote is invalid.[/sarcasm]

I agree that the whole article is ridiculous, but he seems to be trying to be funny. And the quote he used to support the funny is not inaccurate for the point, nor unique in D&D.

Bullgrit

 

[darjr]

I'm not saying that he has to play the game in order to make up his mind. But it does strike me as odd that he would be perplexed about the application of those rules without trying it.

To cover D&D as a journalist and not play the game is to fail at the job.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Seems to me he's being (kind of) funny, mocking both the game itself (with the swipe at the complex "h.p." calculation), as well as the controversy surrounding it (with the quip about police at the end).

Yeah, it would have been nice if it had been a more balanced explanation, but frankly, it's just "The Straight Dope"-- not exactly Pulitzer material. Meh, I'm not gonna lose sleep over it.

 

[Bullgrit]

Here is a quote from Mr. Gygax on the subject: "The ultimate aim of the game is to gain sufficient esteem as a good player to retire your character--he becomes a kind of mythical, historical figure, someone for others to look up to and admire."

Where did Gygax say this? Where is this quote from?

Bullgrit

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Where did Gygax say this? Where is this quote from?

Bullgrit

I googled around and can't find it. The few hits are The Straight Dope article, this thread, and a book (excerpted on google books) from 2003 called "Business Builders in Toys and Games" by Nathan Aaseng-- but I can't find Aasengs's source in that excerpt. I really hope his reference isn't The Straight Dope.

I'm really curious now. Anyone else know this quote?