What defines D&D ?

[Jonathan Drain]

I have to agree with the idea that D&D is whatever you've learned it as.

Consider this hypothetical situation. You grew up playing D&D as a monster-bashing game, but never used the trap rules. Now a new edition comes out and it removes traps. Is it still D&D?

If you never played with traps, then it's still D&D. If you did, they've just cut a significant proportion of the gameplay and created something that's not the game as you know it. You can either accept that this is a new and different form of the game, or decide it's not for you and stick with the old edition.

 

[Bump2daWiza]

-Vancian Magic
-Classes (with fighter, wizards, thief, and cleric being the most vital)
-Races (with Human, elf dwarf, halfling, half-elf and gnome being the most vital)
-Levels (having attacks that improve as you increasein level)
-Fantasy Monsters, settings, and flavor

 

[Keefe the Thief]

For me, D&D has always been defined by belief. If - by game mechanics, background, marketing, branding or whatever - a sizable portion of the people who define themselves as "D&D players" believe that a game system is D&D then it IS D&D.

So, if you get enough people to believe that Rolemaster IS D&D, then, well, it is. There are enough RPGs out there that are damn similar already. All that is lacking is the belief of those who play D&D.

Or to put it simple: Soyl... ah, D&D is made of people.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

...if you get enough people to believe that Rolemaster IS D&D, then, well, it is.

I bet Plato would love having a beer and a chat with you.

In the spirit of this concept, I propose we all start a "sewer rat is pumpkin pie" movement, just for the hell of it.

 

[Lackhand]

I bet Plato would love having a beer and a chat with you.

In the spirit of this concept, I propose we all start a "sewer rat is pumpkin pie" movement, just for the hell of it.

They do taste similar... have a similar consistency... and wind up in the same environments...


or is that violating the no religion rule?

 

[noretoc]

But in the end, is it really important to define what D&D is? Isn't it more important figuring out what you want _like_? (and maybe why so? Nostalgia? Playability game system? "Realistic" feeling? Focus on combat & action? Rolling high or low?)

Since that is the purpose of this thread, I would would say yes, to the OP it is important.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Since that is the purpose of this thread, I would would say yes, to the OP it is important.

Sure. But I still urge the OP and anyone else to think beyond that. Might lead off-topic, but you don't have to dwell on it in this thread.