"This is a game that is fun. It helps you imagine."

[Rune]

These were the first two sentences in Frank Mentzer's preface to the Dungeons & Dragons Players Manual, written in 1983.

In what ways have you found these statements to be true? Discuss.

 

[Dragoslav]

False on both accounts.



Actually, I'm just kidding. I've found the lore provided in the books to be stupendously helpful in the "helps you imagine" aspect. Reading through the flavorful descriptions of, say, an archetypal Warlord or the cultural background of the tieflings or shifters evokes an almost constant stream of "a-ha!" moments imagining different characters with stories to live out. Take any combination of race + class + background (e.g. shifter + psion + nomad), and you're guaranteed to find some sort of inspiration.

The very first time I opened a D&D rulebook was the 4e PHB, and I opened it up and instantly found the page for the Warlord class with a gorgeous illustration of an inspiring commander. Fascinated, I flipped through the following pages, reading descriptions of brave leaders dashing about the field of battle and rallying their allies, and the Powers listed on the successive pages--with their combination of flavor text and easily comprehensible mechanical effects--helped illustrate this concept even farther.

While I'm on the subject, I'll mention that I quite enjoy the Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies of 4e, too. When you only have a nebulous idea rolling about in your head, they provide a great source of inspiration when it comes to figuring out what a character is striving to become.

 

[FireLance]

I guess the fact that I've been playing the game for almost thirty years now means that I'm getting something out of it.

And it definitely helps you imagine. Why, sometimes I've imagined as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

I imagine it's possible for mortal beings to reach such heights of power that they can challenge and defeat ancient dragons, arch-devils, demon lords, primodials and gods.

I imagine it's possible for magic to exist, and to manifest itself in many way, including ways that run counter to popular tropes. It can be used at will, it can be recovered after a short rest, and it can infuse mere words with such power that you can literally have a deadly insult.

I imagine it's possible for some mortals to be specially blessed by destiny, luck, the gods, or what have you, so that they never encounter a challenge too difficult for them to handle, their enemies regularly make tactical mistakes, and they are almost always able to obtain what they need when they need it.

I imagine it's possible for different worlds to have different physical laws which allow martial characters to develop exploits which cannot be duplicated in the real world; exploits that make them the equal of magic-users and which are also subject to different limitations.

I imagine it's possible for heroes to have greater reserves of endurance than normal men, and can, without magical assistance, force their heart and nerve and sinew to serve them long after they are gone. And so, even after being brought to death's door by serious wounds, they can still press on when there is nothing in them except the will which says to them, "Press on!"

I imagine it's possible for heroes to be more resilient and recover more quickly then normal men. And while a night's rest might not be enough for them to heal their physical wounds, it is enough for them to replenish their reserves of endurance and willpower.

 

[pemerton]

I'm not sure the game mechanics help me imagine more. They do help me imagine more precisely, though. They also help me coordinate my imagination with the imaginations of my friends.