D&D General Un-Fun D&D: A Thought Experiment

[Kannik]

Oop, thought of one more:

It's All About the Scenery: The main thrust of the campaign is to show off the worldbuilding and the NPCs. The adventurers will travel far and wide, as that allows more of the world to be displayed and more NPCs to be introduced. PC motives, interests, and issues are incorporated as further ways to generate and highlight the world, and their trials are very straightforward to deal with so that they can be led to the next tableau.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

Oop, thought of one more:

It's All About the Scenery: The main thrust of the campaign is to show off the worldbuilding and the NPCs. The adventurers will travel far and wide, as that allows more of the world to be displayed and more NPCs to be introduced. PC motives, interests, and issues are incorporated as further ways to generate and highlight the world, and their trials are very straightforward to deal with so that they can be led to the next tableau.

Uh-oh...

 

[Scott Christian]

A great group can make a game you'd normally dislike genuinely enjoyable.

We agree. That is exactly what I said. I tied it in with not underestimating the power of chemistry.

I never used the word guaranteed. I never said it will always happen. I just stated things you may not find fun can become fun when you are with the right group.

Which brings me to my original claim - the list is too abstract to actually write, because a list like this largely depends on who you were with when you grew to dislike the... Tom rolling on a critical table. I didn't even bother to bring age into the debate because I didn't want to muck up the premise. But age also changes what people like.

 

[Scott Christian]

People reacting to peer pressure and adapting to surroundings is not necessary a good thing. It can be good but it can also lead to people having no distinct personality anymore.

That is not what peer pressure is. It is the context of being with people you enjoy, and them exposing you to something you didn't think you would like. Think how people can open your mind to new ideas and experiences.

 

[Tigris]

That is not what peer pressure is. It is the context of being with people you enjoy, and them exposing you to something you didn't think you would like. Think how people can open your mind to new ideas and experiences.

Yes it is exactly the same as peer pressure. Same thing which makes people do things just because they are popular like watching the super bowl etc.

Typical group behaviour.

Often people only do these things as long as others around them do it. So its not like you opened your mind, you just follow like a sheep.

 

[Remathilis]

That is not what peer pressure is. It is the context of being with people you enjoy, and them exposing you to something you didn't think you would like. Think how people can open your mind to new ideas and experiences.

Sorry, but this other thread thinks your wrong.

 

[Scott Christian]

Sorry, but this other thread thinks your wrong.

I didn't read through the entire thread. But is that what everyone is saying? I replied to the thread with this:

In D&D, let them do anything official. The game, especially 5e and 5.5, revolve around the mash-up between the classics and absurd.

 

[Umbran]

People reacting to peer pressure and adapting to surroundings is not necessary a good thing. It can be good but it can also lead to people having no distinct personality anymore.

Folks, We are not here to diagnose when someone asking to play a game that might not be your cup of tea has wandered into emotional abuse. We are not, generally speaking, qualified to do so. So how about... not, hm? Thanks.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Yes it is exactly the same as peer pressure. Same thing which makes people do things just because they are popular like watching the super bowl etc.

Typical group behaviour.

Often people only do these things as long as others around them do it. So its not like you opened your mind, you just follow like a sheep.

That's a pretty jaundiced view, don't you think?

By that logic, you can only ever legitimately discover things if you just randomly stumble into them yourself. If you do something with a group, you're just sheeple? I don't think that follows.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm VERY much of the opinion that people radically underestimate the impact of peer pressure and social manipulation to control others' behavior within the context of D&D games. I just think this takes that argument too far, making it so nobody ever truly expands their horizons because of someone getting them to do a thing they would not have done without prompting. I've had plenty of lived experience where someone pushed me to do a thing I didn't think I'd like, and I ended up loving it. I've also had plenty of lived experience where someone (sometimes the exact same person) pushed me to do a thing I didn't think I'd like, and it ended up exactly as bad as I expected.

Point being, we should be concerned about how peer pressure works in the context of TTRPG groups. I very much agree that too many GMs neglect, ignore, or downplay the exploitation of peer pressure. I just don't accept this over-extension of that argument.

 

[RhaezDaevan]

A heavy focus on the feelings of characters instead of the tasks at hand. Takes aways from experiencing both the world and the action.

Too much time in safe places. Slice of life stuff churns my stomach. Others have already mentioned the shopping trips. No beach episodes please.

Inconsistent tone. Mixing wacky wth dark hurts my brain. Mood whiplash should be avoided. Starting small and upping the stakes is fine though.

Players shaping the world outside their characters. The DM can ask for player input if they want, but the players should use their characters to affect the world.

Too much crunch. Long lists of skills, feats, spells or powers seemed cool when I was younger, but are a nuisance now. Options are still nice, but a tighter list of options is ideal.