What do the rules have to look like for it to be D&D to you?

[The Human Target]

I'm not sure the rules matter. It could look like:

Khezed Ironhammer
Expert [+4] Soldier
Good [+2]* Dwarf
Good [+2] Stonecrafter
Good [+2] Merchant
Poor [-2] Stubborn
Special Move: The Bigger they are, the harder they fall: Good [+2]
Hero Points: 5 Learning Points: 1

and depending on how you ran things, it could still feel like D&D. Shoot, I've used the D&D rules to run campaigns that I think most people would be hard-pressed to say 'that's D&D'. In other words, it's just a name.

This is smart.

D&D would be far better off if everyone was open-minded about the game, instead of the general "OMG magic mizzlez don't do a d4 its the end of the world!" attitude we see so much of right now.

 

[tsadkiel]

I'm not sure the rules matter. It could look like:

Khezed Ironhammer
Expert [+4] Soldier
Good [+2]* Dwarf
Good [+2] Stonecrafter
Good [+2] Merchant
Poor [-2] Stubborn
Special Move: The Bigger they are, the harder they fall: Good [+2]
Hero Points: 5 Learning Points: 1

and depending on how you ran things, it could still feel like D&D. Shoot, I've used the D&D rules to run campaigns that I think most people would be hard-pressed to say 'that's D&D'. In other words, it's just a name.

"Dwarf" is his magic star quality? That's very clever.

 

[howandwhy99]

This is smart.

D&D would be far better off if everyone was open-minded about the game, instead of the general "OMG magic mizzlez don't do a d4 its the end of the world!" attitude we see so much of right now.

I think it's because most people don't believe "system doesn't matter". It does.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

(dead serious)

Friends
Dice by the hundreds
Completely incorrect player-created dungeon maps
Pepsi (especially if spilled once)
Pizza
Paper and pencil (preferably stained and worked over and over)

And ...

A nice Saturday afternoon

Edena_of_Neith

 

[Darklone]

(dead serious)

Friends
Dice by the hundreds
Completely incorrect player-created dungeon maps
Pepsi (especially if spilled once)
Pizza
Paper and pencil (preferably stained and worked over and over)

And ...

A nice Saturday afternoon

Edena_of_Neith

And a game that everyone can start to play within one hour after arrival.

 

[the Jester]

To me, dnd must have:

Classes & levels
Races
Hps
ACs
Some form of ability scores wherein the average score is a 10
Finally, dnd must use the d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20.

 

[WayneLigon]

"Dwarf" is his magic star quality? That's very clever.

Yep. I would use that to account for the stonecunning ability, let him find chinks in armor no-one else could, he could 'smell gold' or something like that; any of a number of quasi-magical things that a dwarf could reasonably do.

 

[La Bete]

(dead serious)

Friends
Dice by the hundreds
Completely incorrect player-created dungeon maps
Pepsi (especially if spilled once)
Pizza
Paper and pencil (preferably stained and worked over and over)

And ...

A nice Saturday afternoon

Edena_of_Neith

I agree with Edena - I shall now go and scrub my brain with soap

I'd add the d20.

 

[Ragnar69]

As long as it uses dice and it's combat heavy it's D&D to me.

 

[Freak of Nurture]

The monk as known in 1e/3e really never appeared in 2nd edition. The monk kit in the Complete Priest's Handbook was geared towards clerics. It didn't fit the 1e feel at all.

The monk class in The Scarlet Brotherhood accessory (1999) was 90% the same as the 1e monk. But not many saw it since it wasn't a general book for all settings and came late in 2e.