What is adventuring?

[Ruin Explorer]

Wow! So "Levelling Up" has 0 votes!

Now, I know its a 'pick one' vote... but really...?

Not one person thinks that levelling up and gaining appreciably more power is a main feature of "adventuring"?

It has literally nothing to do with adventuring as a concept, so yeah, that makes complete sense. There are bunch of RPGs where you don't even gain levels and they often do adventuring better than ones where you do.

That'd be like something thinking "running over pedestrians" was the main feature of driving a car or something, just because there are some games where that's arguably the case.

 

[cranberry]

• Explore unknown or new, combat needed

 

[Breaking Star Games]

Was there a concept of Experience Points before D&D in something like wargames? A cursory google seems to point to D&D as the origin. And funny that it's not EP because of Electrum - finally that useless currency has a purpose. Making the abbreviation experience look so much cooler (and like a silly face).

But of course, Adventuring insanely predates D&D. In fact, the oldest surviving stories that still exist like the Epic of Gilgamesh is about a long, perilous journey - I'd classify as an adventure. And throughout many of the heroes start out insanely powerful and don't necessarily need to grow in power.

 

[RenleyRenfield]

It has literally nothing to do with adventuring as a concept, so yeah, that makes complete sense. There are bunch of RPGs where you don't even gain levels and they often do adventuring better than ones where you do.

That'd be like something thinking "running over pedestrians" was the main feature of driving a car or something, just because there are some games where that's arguably the case.

Hey now! Don't you rag on my Death Race 2000 the RPG!

 

[CleverNickName]

He's actually surprisingly easy to deal with if you pay attention to just one of the details in his (ever-present) art, and talk to other people...

(cocks rifle) Understood.

 

[RealAlHazred]

I haven't selected an option, because the true answer isn't on there.

"What is adventuring?"
"Whatever generates the maximum profit for shareholders."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

None of the choices really match my definition. The reason I snarked about all of the Etsy "adventure" stuff is that there's no peril involved in visiting a national park, assuming you're not an idiot. And that's what I think adventure requires -- some degree of peril, and not just stretching your personal boundaries.

 

[Argyle King]

But also.....
Can you go on adventures in games like Vampire the Masquerade modern times?

Not my cup of tea, but yes

Can a rpg feel like an series of adventures if you never level up?

Yes; some of my favorite rpgs don't have levels at all.

Can you ever say you went on an adventure in an rpg if you never had a combat?

Yes.

I think that a good adventure includes multiple pillars of play. However, conflict needn't always be physical.

 

[RealAlHazred]

The reason I snarked about all of the Etsy "adventure" stuff is that there's no peril involved in visiting a national park, assuming you're not an idiot. And that's what I think adventure requires -- some degree of peril, and not just stretching your personal boundaries.

"An average of 358 [National Park] deaths a year were reported in this six-year period, or 7 deaths a week."

 

[Theory of Games]

... the gators at Disney are an unexpected obstacle