What D&D cliches are you sick of?

[Tonguez]

Adventurers themselves... this large body of people who have no place or role in the social structure... and nobody seems to care about it. Again, if we actually used anything but a society based on the late 20th century western world, merrit has no meaning over pedigree.

I've always viewed Adventurer parties as Mercenary companies (which were prevalent from about the 15th century)

but the cliche I've always hated is the 'spell for every occasion' mentality of DnD - need to open a door? no put away the lockpicks we have Knock! need to climb a wall? nope no need for a rope when we have Spiderclimb...

 

[Orius]

Going in the opposite direction, another thing (not necessarily chliché) I hate: Changes in our culture have to carry over into D&D. Played Baldur's Gate? Baldur's Gate 2? I really hated how all the new portraits in BG2 had more piercings in the face than that poor guy in an iron maiden.

Oh, I definitely agree there. Maybe it's because I tend to have an aesthetic dislike for piercings, but a lot of the iconic 3e art doesn't really do it for me. I'm talking about all the heavy piercings, tattooes (to some degree), and excessive buckles. Dumping old well-worn styles for something that's completely and radically different is a little jarring.

 

[Orius]

The claim of medieval, without actually using any medieval dynamics other than armor. Actual DnD looks more like the Roman era in everything but the existance of full plate mail - which is largely post medieval.

I'm of the opinion that the typical D&D society pretty much resembles a Renaissance fair or SCA event on crack.

 

[Henry]

My list of annoying clichés?

-Characters with names drawn from household cleaning products and trendy corporations (Calgon the Wizard, Nipro the rogue, Dilmar the Warrior)

-Use of the term "level" to refer to anything and everything! (I'm surprised the term Difficulty class wasn't referred to as "Difficulty Level.") Originally we had 9th level characters attacking 7th level monsters on the 6th dungeon level with 4th level spells; we now have 6th level characters using 2nd level spells on an Encounter Level 4 Encounter. Wait a minute, he's not just 6th character level , he's a 4th class level cleric/2nd class level bard! The room was not built on a level grade of slope, either.

-Adventurers who only exist to adventure. How many people only live a mercenary lifestyle in historical experience? A very rare few, comparatively. I'd like to see more characters with missions of vengance, goals of starting businesses, or just pay out a massive family debt, or something besides being an orphan and living for treasure seeking. It's a "grade-b" version of the old series Kung Fu.

-Spells with cutesy material components. Spells that need legume seeds to break wind? Copper pieces to read thoughts? In-can telephones to send messages by magic? Sympathetic magic was funny in 1st edition, but it's now a staple that wears thin to me.

 

[Mercule]

Yeah. That's why I prefer to have most of my sorcerers/wizards dress in commoner's clothes, or leathers. Sometimes monk's clothing, for the ones that want to dress really simply.

Likewise. My wizards/sorcerers tend to be visibly indistinguishible from a Rogue who eschews armor. I figure that once the fireworks begin, you'll be target enough. Why paint a target on yourself before the need arises.

 

[NewJeffCT]

My list of annoying clichés?

-Characters with names drawn from household cleaning products and trendy corporations (Calgon the Wizard, Nipro the rogue, Dilmar the Warrior)

-Adventurers who only exist to adventure. How many people only live a mercenary lifestyle in historical experience? A very rare few, comparatively. I'd like to see more characters with missions of vengance, goals of starting businesses, or just pay out a massive family debt, or something besides being an orphan and living for treasure seeking. It's a "grade-b" version of the old series Kung Fu.

QUOTE]

I did the naming after household things when I was a kid first learning D&D, but would never do that now. I didn't realize it was that common, but we did have a newcomer to the group several years ago (since 86'd) that was dying to play a kender paladin thief based on the Batman. When the DM nixed that idea (a real hard ass, no?), he played a straight human paladin with the last name Bwayne (as in B Wayne)

And, when the Byzantines were at war with the Turks/Ottomans, they often used mercenaries to fight for them (sometimes, the mercenaries were even Turks). And, you could technically say that the current US military is mercenary, as people have to volunteer to fight for the military for a salary and/or education. If nobody signed up, they'd either have to recruit harder, raise salaries, or re-institute the draft.

 

[Viehl]

And, you could technically say that the current US military is mercenary

<I>Overheard at the capture of Saddam Hussein:</I>

<B>Pfc. Fett:</B> What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me...

<B>Lt. Vader:</B> The Emp...um...President will compensate you if he dies. Put him in!

 

[Numion]

Likewise. My wizards/sorcerers tend to be visibly indistinguishible from a Rogue who eschews armor. I figure that once the fireworks begin, you'll be target enough. Why paint a target on yourself before the need arises.

Our group does it for the style and status. Outrageously large pointy hats, wizard robes with gold symbols on it, and one even had a large golden "D" on his back. He was named D something, obviously. There just isn't mojo in playing an incognito wizard for me.

A halfling sorcerer with a hat the size of himself instantly gets respect from me In a game with SWAT tactics this isn't suitable, of course.

 

[The Hanged Man]

I think most of the good cliches are covered.

It's not a cliche, but one annoyanceis hearing about somebody's Fighter4/Rogue3/Ranger3/Shadowdancer2/etc. If you really want to play Gurps, can't you just play it?

 

[Henry]

...And, when the Byzantines were at war with the Turks/Ottomans, they often used mercenaries to fight for them (sometimes, the mercenaries were even Turks). And, you could technically say that the current US military is mercenary, as people have to volunteer to fight for the military for a salary and/or education. If nobody signed up, they'd either have to recruit harder, raise salaries, or re-institute the draft.

Historically, there have been plenty of mercenaries; but rarely did they always fight only for the next paycheck. Most had a goal in mind - fight as long as they could, then find a place to settle down with their savings, etc. It didn't always happen that way, but rarely do human beings intentionally say, "I live for the next fight, and more treasure," because the ones that do, don't stay alive for a year or three at most (vis-a-vis the bulk of pirates of the 17th century.)

And the volunteer army is again not quite the definition I've trying to get at, because you have people entering for anything from patriotism to paid college. I've only known one person who made a career out of the National Guard, and he didn't stay in it but about 1 or two terms before calling it quits.

I'm talking mainly about those D&D Orphans, wandering the realms in search of treasure with no ultimate goal but the next slain monster. Those are the personality-bereft weirdo PC's I refer to.