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What is the essence of D&D
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<blockquote data-quote="SpoilSpot" data-source="post: 7792486" data-attributes="member: 55685"><p>I think that a lot of things can be changed in D&D without loosing the D&D feeling (why D&D, AD&D and 3E, which are very different games, still felt D&D to most people), and some things cannot. </p><p>I seem to remember the designers of 5E made some observations along those lines - some things couldn't be changed without the result no longer feeling like proper D&D (like new spell levels every 2 levels).</p><p></p><p>So, to me, those things must be the <em>essence</em> of D&D.</p><p></p><p>I think that some of the core things are: Classes (with fighter, cleric, wizard, rogue at the core), class levels, spell levels (different from class levels), spell lists, Vancian magic (to some degree, even if not for everybody), HP, AC and rolling D20's to hit.</p><p></p><p>I didn't mention races. I don't think they affect mechanics enough that a "human only" world would not feel like D&D. </p><p></p><p>Other games have classe (like WFRP), but not level progression. They feel different from D&D.</p><p>Other games have magic, but free form magic won't feel like D&D. </p><p>Sorcerers, bards and warlocks have non-Vancian magic, but a system with nothing but that would fell ... less like D&D. Probably not as essential as class levels, but still part of the core feeling.</p><p>Most other fantasy games have the same weapons and armors, but few have only AC as defense. You can complicate things more, but it quickly stops feeling like D&D then.</p><p></p><p>Many other fantasy RPGs are about killing monsters with longswords and magic, and looting their lairs. That's pretty much the definition of fantasy RPG, not essentially D&D. Some monsters might be iconic, but I don't think omitting them would make things feel less like D&D. You can go far with orcs, goblins, undeads and demons (Yey, Tolkien!) and the occasional dragon (Yey, Beowulf!). I think it is the mechanics, not the setting, that makes D&D feel like D&D, and makes other games not feel the same.</p><p></p><p>Everything obviously just IMO, YMMV, etc.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SpoilSpot, post: 7792486, member: 55685"] I think that a lot of things can be changed in D&D without loosing the D&D feeling (why D&D, AD&D and 3E, which are very different games, still felt D&D to most people), and some things cannot. I seem to remember the designers of 5E made some observations along those lines - some things couldn't be changed without the result no longer feeling like proper D&D (like new spell levels every 2 levels). So, to me, those things must be the [I]essence[/I] of D&D. I think that some of the core things are: Classes (with fighter, cleric, wizard, rogue at the core), class levels, spell levels (different from class levels), spell lists, Vancian magic (to some degree, even if not for everybody), HP, AC and rolling D20's to hit. I didn't mention races. I don't think they affect mechanics enough that a "human only" world would not feel like D&D. Other games have classe (like WFRP), but not level progression. They feel different from D&D. Other games have magic, but free form magic won't feel like D&D. Sorcerers, bards and warlocks have non-Vancian magic, but a system with nothing but that would fell ... less like D&D. Probably not as essential as class levels, but still part of the core feeling. Most other fantasy games have the same weapons and armors, but few have only AC as defense. You can complicate things more, but it quickly stops feeling like D&D then. Many other fantasy RPGs are about killing monsters with longswords and magic, and looting their lairs. That's pretty much the definition of fantasy RPG, not essentially D&D. Some monsters might be iconic, but I don't think omitting them would make things feel less like D&D. You can go far with orcs, goblins, undeads and demons (Yey, Tolkien!) and the occasional dragon (Yey, Beowulf!). I think it is the mechanics, not the setting, that makes D&D feel like D&D, and makes other games not feel the same. Everything obviously just IMO, YMMV, etc. [/QUOTE]
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