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The unique nature of TTRPGs, D&D and traps
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<blockquote data-quote="overgeeked" data-source="post: 8458751" data-attributes="member: 86653"><p>I think that's where the conflation comes in, honestly. People complain all the time about how D&D can't do this or that, produces an experience they don't enjoy, etc...but still just keep playing D&D. Why? If the person is someone who came into the hobby (rather than being the kid of a gamer), they're already in the trying new things territory...so being scared of trying new things isn't really a problem for them...yet they will complain about D&D but still play it regardless. It's really rather confusing.</p><p></p><p>You know there are other games out there that don't have strong social rules, right? You know you're also free to drop the strong social rules in those other games, right? Point being that RPGs are a DIY hobby that you can literally alter any aspect of any game to perfectly suit your desired playstyle...or you can cobble together your own game from the spare parts of any other game out there.</p><p></p><p>But it's not flexible and it only really does one thing sort-of well. That's the point. Modern D&D only focuses on combat, which it doesn't do that well. The rest it does rather badly. If you're after a combat-focused do nothing else game, then D&D is your best bet. But it's not a good game. Nor is it even designed that well. The thing it does the best, combat, it doesn't really even do that well.</p><p></p><p>What do you want an RPG game system to do? </p><p></p><p>I ask because I'm honestly interested, but also to reiterate that you can DIY a game, from minor house rules on up to Frankenstein's Monster level of hacking and creating your own game to precisely match what you want from gaming. There's no need to settle for "sufficient". No need to settle for a game that does a few things "okay". </p><p></p><p>I think that's where some of the tension is in conversations like this. First there's "D&D is neither the best nor the only RPG" but then there's also "there's not only a universe of already designed games and amongst those there's got to be at least one that perfectly matches how you want to play...and if there isn't...you can make one." It's like settling for McDonald's instead of learning that other fast food places exist...to say nothing of actual restaurants...to say nothing of fine dining...to say nothing of learning to cook for yourself.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="overgeeked, post: 8458751, member: 86653"] I think that's where the conflation comes in, honestly. People complain all the time about how D&D can't do this or that, produces an experience they don't enjoy, etc...but still just keep playing D&D. Why? If the person is someone who came into the hobby (rather than being the kid of a gamer), they're already in the trying new things territory...so being scared of trying new things isn't really a problem for them...yet they will complain about D&D but still play it regardless. It's really rather confusing. You know there are other games out there that don't have strong social rules, right? You know you're also free to drop the strong social rules in those other games, right? Point being that RPGs are a DIY hobby that you can literally alter any aspect of any game to perfectly suit your desired playstyle...or you can cobble together your own game from the spare parts of any other game out there. But it's not flexible and it only really does one thing sort-of well. That's the point. Modern D&D only focuses on combat, which it doesn't do that well. The rest it does rather badly. If you're after a combat-focused do nothing else game, then D&D is your best bet. But it's not a good game. Nor is it even designed that well. The thing it does the best, combat, it doesn't really even do that well. What do you want an RPG game system to do? I ask because I'm honestly interested, but also to reiterate that you can DIY a game, from minor house rules on up to Frankenstein's Monster level of hacking and creating your own game to precisely match what you want from gaming. There's no need to settle for "sufficient". No need to settle for a game that does a few things "okay". I think that's where some of the tension is in conversations like this. First there's "D&D is neither the best nor the only RPG" but then there's also "there's not only a universe of already designed games and amongst those there's got to be at least one that perfectly matches how you want to play...and if there isn't...you can make one." It's like settling for McDonald's instead of learning that other fast food places exist...to say nothing of actual restaurants...to say nothing of fine dining...to say nothing of learning to cook for yourself. [/QUOTE]
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