What makes Dungeons & Dragons "Dungeons & Dragons?"

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I would argue that it would need the Fighter/Cleric/Thief/Wizard. Without those I think you'd alienate a lot.

The original game didn't have the Thief (by any name), and some OSR games follow that lead. Even though it's not my preferred edition, I'd have to say that OD&D surely must qualify as Dungeons & Dragons, no?

 

[UngainlyTitan]

My suggestions:

1) Armor Class
2) Hit Points
3) Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma (not necessarily in that order)
4) Level-based characters
5) Class-based characters
6) Funny races available (but not mandatory)
7) Rigidly defined supernatural powers (magic, psionics, etc.)
8) A fantasy milieu
9) Random chance determined by at least the representation of funny dice

I would say this list but in a different order, in that I would put the initial list AC, HP, Levels, Classes and consider the rest optional except 9 which has to be there.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This is getting into Potter Stewart territory, but I think there are a lot of things that aren't individually required, but are needed in some numbers to sustain the D&D feel.

I don't think that's Potter Stewart territory. "You must have X choices of the Y entries on this list to still feel like D&D to (almost) everyone" is a pretty reasonable meta-criterion, IMO. The question then becomes what's on the list and how much of it has to show up to qualify.

 

[Klaus]

My suggestions:

1) Armor Class
2) Hit Points
3) Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma (not necessarily in that order)
4) Level-based characters
5) Class-based characters
6) Funny races available (but not mandatory)
7) Rigidly defined supernatural powers (magic, psionics, etc.)
8) A fantasy milieu
9) Random chance determined by at least the representation of funny dice

This pretty much covers it for me, as well.

 

[Mercutio01]

• Fantasy
• Uses all the regular polyhedrals (d4 through d20) with d20 as the primary die for determining To-Hit
• Vancian Magic
• Level advancement / experience points
• Races
• A mostly even split between combat and roleplaying
• An armor class mechanic of some kind
• Dungeons
• Dragons
• STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA

[sblock]Things I could do without and still call it D&D.

• Classes - I could deal with (and would actually prefer) a classless system with some sort of "preset" for abilities/skills/feats/proficiencies/whatever-you-want-to-call-it to guide creating a "class."
• Alignment
• Hit Points
• Ability Scores - Keep the modifier and drop the score

[/sblock]

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Mercutio, would you consider True20/Blue Rose to be Dungeons & Dragons? It gets rid of a lot of the stuff you say you could live without.

 

[Mercutio01]

Mercutio, would you consider True20/Blue Rose to be Dungeons & Dragons? It gets rid of a lot of the stuff you say you could live without.

Nope.

See -- "Uses all the regular polyhedrals (d4 through d20) with d20 as the primary die for determining To-Hit"
See -- "Vancian Magic"
See -- "experience points"

Those are not options for me. I mean, I like the true20 engine (I'm a fan of M&M which is pretty close), but it's not D&D.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

Wow, 7 whole posts before someone singled out 4e as 'not D&D' - predictable, but still disappointing.

Mr. Dustyboots' list is pretty good, but I can deal without #6, depending on the campaign, and #7 I can see being optional as well (though I prefer it).

I would be tempted to add 'iconic brand identity' - but it might still work without it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Uses all the regular polyhedrals (d4 through d20) with d20 as the primary die for determining To-Hit

Gotta add that one.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I would be tempted to add 'iconic brand identity' - but it might still work without it.

Certainly there are a lot of people who'd be happy to argue that Pathfinder is D&D, brand or no brand. Conversely, there are certainly videogames that have borne the name that I think pretty much everyone would happily disavow.