Manbearcat
Legend
In a thread asking “what does D&D5e do well(?)”, I responded with the below:
5e is “the best D&D” at the most common form of D&D:
* Adventure Path/metaplot/setting tourist play
* which enables GMs to use Force/Illusionism + heavy content curation + spotlight tailoring/management to (a) keep the pace up, (b) keep a compelling story “online”, and (c) enable players’ Power Fantasies.
* where players don’t have to aggressively drive the trajectory of play (which is extremely demanding) but can toggle cognitive load/passivity on/off while being tourists to their favorite settings, experiencing a compelling story + power fantasy, expressing some skillfulness of play, engage in performative theatrics/characterization at their discretion.
* being extremely hygienic for talented characterization/theatrics + high-production live-streaming.
* being inoffensive
That collection of attributes is a recipe for D&D going mainstream as a media cash cow.
Someone responded “so it’s the Bard of D&D(?)”
I agree, that is exactly what it is:
5e is a Bard.
So that got me thinking; “what are the other editions?”
Here is my go:
4e is a Fighter or Warlord.
3.x is a Generalist Wizard or Ursine Swarm Druid.
RC is an Elf.
2e is a Campaign Setting-Wielding Katana (you read that right).
B/X is a Levitating Dwarf with a 10 ft pole.
1e is a Levitating Thief with a 10 ft pole.
Whatcha got?
5e is “the best D&D” at the most common form of D&D:
* Adventure Path/metaplot/setting tourist play
* which enables GMs to use Force/Illusionism + heavy content curation + spotlight tailoring/management to (a) keep the pace up, (b) keep a compelling story “online”, and (c) enable players’ Power Fantasies.
* where players don’t have to aggressively drive the trajectory of play (which is extremely demanding) but can toggle cognitive load/passivity on/off while being tourists to their favorite settings, experiencing a compelling story + power fantasy, expressing some skillfulness of play, engage in performative theatrics/characterization at their discretion.
* being extremely hygienic for talented characterization/theatrics + high-production live-streaming.
* being inoffensive
That collection of attributes is a recipe for D&D going mainstream as a media cash cow.
Someone responded “so it’s the Bard of D&D(?)”
I agree, that is exactly what it is:
5e is a Bard.
So that got me thinking; “what are the other editions?”
Here is my go:
4e is a Fighter or Warlord.
3.x is a Generalist Wizard or Ursine Swarm Druid.
RC is an Elf.
2e is a Campaign Setting-Wielding Katana (you read that right).
B/X is a Levitating Dwarf with a 10 ft pole.
1e is a Levitating Thief with a 10 ft pole.
Whatcha got?
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