D&D General What makes a TTRPG a "D&D Variant" to you?

[CleverNickName]

Well then what's going on, if everything is a version of D&D?

From my perspective, most TTRPGs are adaptations of D&D. In my opinion, as far as I'm concerned, according to me, etc.

That's what's going on. I'm not issuing edicts from on high, I'm not attacking anyone, I'm merely stating my opinion. As requested by the OP. To that point, "It can't be D&D because I actually like it" is equally valid.

 

[Morrus]

I'm merely stating my opinion. As requested by the OP.

And people have different opinions. That's how conversations work.

It's not a 'once I declare my opinion, no other opinions will be tolerated' kinda forum. People can and will disagree with you. It's a feature, not a bug.

 

[Campbell]

There's no consistent playstyle amongst official D&D versions, so for me it's about tropes. If we're talking party-based fantasy with groups of adventurers in a generic D&D-Esque fantasy world it's a D&D-like. But just like a Soulsborne or Metroidvania game some are closer to the source than others.

 

[Morrus]

Wil Wheaton had an interesting definition, too. "If I can play The Keep on the Borderlands with it, it's D&D."

And if I can drive it, it's a Ford. If I play it on a board, it's chess. If I can live in it, it's a cave. I strongly disagree with Wil's take. There's not only one thing, and everything is a version of that thing.

 

[Reynard]

There's no consistent playstyle amongst official D&D versions, so for me it's about tropes. If we're talking party-based fantasy with groups of adventurers in a generic D&D-Esque fantasy world it's a D&D-like. But just like a Soulsborne or Metroidvania game some are closer to the source than others.

So Earthdawn is a D&D variant?

 

[CleverNickName]

And people have different opinions. That's how conversations work.

It's not a 'once I declare my opinion, no other opinions will be tolerated' kinda forum. People can and will disagree with you. It's a feature, not a bug.

I think the part that bothered me was the "just fooling themselves" dismissal. It felt a bit like my words were being twisted.

But I'm better now.

 

[cbwjm]

Classes and levels, d20 + X, the core sort if stuff. I consider essence20 a dnd variant, it was build along the same lines as 5e but altered to have skills that add to the d20 instead of attribute. Basically, if I can see dnd in there somewhere , I consider it a variant.

Setting doesn't matter, d20 modern and star wars saga were dnd variants, just set in a modern/futuristic world.

 

[Campbell]

So Earthdawn is a D&D variant?

It's D&D inspired fantasy. I consider it a D&D-like. Not as close as like Pathfinder, but still in the same like category.

 

[Reynard]

It's D&D inspired fantasy. I consider it a D&D-like. Not as close as like Pathfinder, but still in the same like category.

I think that category is so broad as to be effectively meaningless.

 

[Campbell]

I think that category is so broad as to be effectively meaningless.

I would disagree. I think D&D style fantasy tropes are fairly darn specific and only appear not to be to people who are very inundated to them.