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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ahnehnois" data-source="post: 5770285" data-attributes="member: 17106">It doesn't *need* to be realistic. However, I'm a firm believer that you should start with reality and work your way away from it as need be. Why? Why do Sam and Frodo spend so much time looking for food? Why did Lovecraft use all those real-world science references? Why does Game of Thrones exist? Across all types of storytelling, the story is more emotionally powerful if it feels real. There are certainly limits as to how practical it is to incorporate realism, but again, reality should be the starting point.As to how the verisimilitude is out of whack, D&D characters don't bleed, don't cry, can fall off a cliff without being harmed, rarely tire, and yet the exact number of times per day that can do their most useful ability is tracked meticulously. That's how.Frankly, I don't think 4e made any progress on any of those fronts (nor did PF, which was the thread topic). Everyone's got their own experiences.D&D needs a rebranding that makes it acceptable to a wider variety of people. Like you say, the audience is out there.</blockquote>