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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JEB" data-source="post: 8249890" data-attributes="member: 10148">Just concluded the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/mt2tyv/what_elements_does_dd_need_to_keep_poll_results/" target="_blank">Reddit version</a> of the "what elements does D&D need to keep?" poll (posted <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/what-elements-does-d-d-need-to-keep-conclusions-and-questions.679065/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/what-elements-does-d-d-need-to-keep.879146/" target="_blank">on rpg.net</a>). 225 responses in all, a pretty solid response, and as close to a "public" opinion on the subject as I think I can get.Just as I <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-ds-feel-forums-vs-reddit.679249/" target="_blank">compared responses on the "feel" poll</a>, and for "keep" <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/what-elements-does-d-d-need-to-keep-enworld-vs-rpg-net.679260/" target="_blank">between ENWorld and rpg.net</a>,  I figured it would be interesting to compare the 164 "keep" responses between both forums with the 225 on Reddit.Two caveats:1. I asked folks who answered on the forums not to respond on Reddit, which may skew things a bit.2. A reminder that the poll only asked what folks want to keep (i.e. "I want this to stay"), so not voting for an item can be either "I don't care" or "I want it gone".Items in bold are in different tiers between the two sets of responses.<table style='width: 100%'><tr><td></td><td>Forums (ENWorld + rpg.net combined)</td><td>Reddit</td></tr><tr><td>Very important to keep (80% and up)</td><td>Distinct character classes [92.1%] Levels [90.9%] Ability scores (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha) [85.4%] Hit points [82.9%]</td><td>Using multiple types of dice [88.9%] Distinct character classes [88.4%] Ability scores (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha) [86.7%] Levels [85.8%] Hit points [84.4%] Armor Class [81.3%]</td></tr><tr><td>Important to keep (60% to 80%)</td><td>Using multiple types of dice [78.1%] Armor Class [76.2%] Distinct character races/lineages [72.0%] Saving throws [72.0%] Lists of specific spells [66.5%] Initiative [63.4%]</td><td>Distinct character races/lineages [79.6%] Saving throws [72.0%] Initiative [71.6%] Lists of specific spells [70.2%] Damage types [62.2%] Lists of specific magic items [60.4%]</td></tr><tr><td>Debatable (40% to 60%)</td><td>Lists of specific magic items [55.5%] Damage types [48.2%] Advantage/disadvantage [47.0%] Conditions [43.9%] Creature types [43.3%] Multiclassing [43.3%] Lists of specific equipment [43.3%] Experience points [42.7%] Proficiencies [42.7%] Feats [40.2%]</td><td>Conditions [56.9%] Creature types [56.0%] Multiclassing [55.6%] Lists of specific equipment [55.1%] Feats [54.7%] Proficiencies [51.1%] Experience points [50.7%] Advantage/disadvantage [48.9%] Hit dice [47.1%] Deities [45.8%] Surprise [42.2%]</td></tr><tr><td>Less important to keep (20% to 40%)</td><td>Hit dice [37.2%] Backgrounds [36.0%] Deities [31.7%] Alignment [31.1%] Surprise [29.3%] Great Wheel cosmology [20.7%]</td><td>Backgrounds [38.7%] Alignment [34.2%] Challenge ratings [30.2%] Great Wheel cosmology [20.4%]</td></tr><tr><td>Not important to keep (20% and below)</td><td>Challenge ratings [19.5%] World Axis cosmology [9.2%]</td><td>World Axis cosmology [8.4%]</td></tr></table>Observations:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">There's more overlap between forums and Reddit on "keep" than "feel" overall in the upper and lower tiers, a lot of the percentages are closer together. This might strengthen the argument that these numbers represent D&D fans' views more generally. Or at least the opinions of fans who chat online about D&D...</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In general, stuff in the debatable tier was leaning slightly against keeping on forums (mostly below 50%), and slightly leaning towards keeping (mostly above 50%) on Reddit.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Using multiple types of dice was popular in both sets of results, but even more so with the Reddit crowd, who rated it #1.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Levels were a bit less popular on Reddit (but still very high-ranking).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Distinct character races/lineages are almost in the "very important" tier on Reddit, noticeably more popular than on forums.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Damage types are significantly more popular on Reddit, which was a big surprise (mostly because I never figured on it being something folks would be passionate about).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Having lists of specific magic items also just barely squeaks over the border into "important" on Reddit.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hit dice, deities, and surprise are all much, much more popular on Reddit than on forums.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Advantage/disadvantage, one of 5E's signature mechanics, is slightly below 50% support on both sides. Backgrounds are also comparably low, in the high end of "less important".</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Despite alignment's value to memes, that didn't help its popularity on Reddit, only 3.1% more popular.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Challenge Ratings are much more popular on Reddit, but still very much in the less important side of things.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">No matter where you go, only about 20% of folks actively want to keep the Great Wheel. (Though they certainly outcompete the poor World Axis.)</li> </ul>Here's a final tally of all the votes (389 total) from all sources on the elements D&D should keep:Very important to keep (80% and up):Distinct character classes: 350 [89.97%]Levels: 342 [87.92%]Ability scores (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha): 335 [86.12%]Using multiple types of dice: 328 [84.32%]Hit points: 326 [83.80%]Important to keep (60% to 80%):Armor Class: 308 [79.18%]Distinct character races/lineages: 297 [76.35%]Saving throws: 280 [71.98%]Lists of specific spells: 267 [68.64%]Initiative: 265 [68.12%]Debatable (40% to 60%):Lists of specific magic items: 227 [58.35%]Damage types: 219 [56.30%]Conditions: 200 [51.41%]Creature types: 197 [50.64%]Multiclassing: 196 [50.39%]Lists of specific equipment: 195 [50.13%]Feats: 189 [48.59%]Advantage/disadvantage: 187 [48.07%]Proficiencies: 185 [47.56%]Experience points: 184 [47.30%]Hit dice: 167 [42.93%]Less important to keep (20% to 40%):Deities: 155 [39.85%]Backgrounds: 146 [37.53%]Surprise: 143 [36.76%]Alignment: 128 [32.90%]Challenge ratings: 100 [25.71%]Great Wheel cosmology: 80 [20.57%]Not important to keep (20% and below):World Axis cosmology: 34 [8.74%]</blockquote>

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