What's right with D&D?

[Nyaricus]

I'm sorry if my points weren't clear...

[snip bunch of good stuff]

Oh, don't mind diaglo - he's just a harmless, toothless grognard who can't spell "Diablo" right. Although watch out for his Cult of ODD

cheers,
--N

P.S. I think what makes D&D good is that, with it's new 3.x d20 adaptation, we now have a ruleset which is incrediably adaptable and all-encompassing. D&D's d20 system has been stretched and scrunched and bent, flipped and twisted all over the place. We have D&D, SWd20, True20, M&M, IH, CoCd20 and many more games based off of the game engine 30+ (!) years of D&D designers have come to create and D&D players have come to use. That's something special there man. Pretty cool stuff IMO.

cheers,
--N

 

[diaglo]

I do think that the D20 OGL has enabled published support of numerous licensed adaptations and D20 games in other genres, from Judge Dredd to Babylon 5 to Mutants & Masterminds. As an offshoot of the D&D rules set, it has come to dominate the market, even taking share from more generic (less-fantasy-oriented) systems such as GURPS, Hero, and D6. While D&D3.5 will eventually be replaced by D&D4e, I hope that other publishers will continue supporting compatible products through an open license.

Boot Hill, Gamma World, Metamorphosis Alpha, Star Frontiers, Top Secret...

TSR tried this too.

i think you are right that d02 has made the other adaptations viable.

 

[Henry]

It's the second most fun thing consenting adults can do together.

Can I quote you on that?

 

[Tonguez]

Ease and simplicity

 

[painandgreed]

It's fairly easy to learn and simple to play. While being first probably has something to do with the systems popularity and longevity, I think they actually got some things right the first time around. As far as RPGs go, it's a fairly good balance between complexity and playability. Other systems have been created that are either more complex or simpler, but they remain nitch games that appeal to a lesser amount of people. The way they do things is easy to understand and use. For all it's criticism, the Vancian spell system is easy for new players to understand and use. The stats, HPs, AC, and the d20 mechanic are all pretty easy to explain and step a new player through character creation as well as for older players to remember and follow through memorization.

 

[Greg K]

What is right?
10. Dragonomicon, Fiendish Codex, Libris Mortis, Lords of Madness
9. Monsters have ability scores
8. Three saving throw categories
7. Different type of AC bonuses
6. One experience progression table
5. The skill system
4. The unified progression and bonuses for abilitiy scores
3. The d20 resolution mechanic
2. Unearthed Arcana
1. The d20 and OGL licenses.

.

 

[Greg K]

3) Dungeons are fun. A good story or engaging plot is also fun, but nothing quite matches up with exploring some old ruins or a warren of caves.

I'll take the good story or engaging plot over "exploring some old ruins or a warren of caves" any day of the week.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I'm yet to find a fantasy game that has 'a feel' as good as DnD. Tried lots of others, but I keep coming back. Got so many iconic things there that define fantasy for me.

Also like how you get different game types out of the D20 system. Anything from 'nearly a tabletop wargame' to a story RPG. Or fuse both together. Or whatever!

 

[Evilhalfling]

I like D&D because I feel the most at home designing adventures there, I have been playing it long enough that I don't have to sweat the small stuff and can get on with the design, of plot, combat and other types of challenges.

The system is popular enough that everyone has thier own set of books, when we have tried something else we have to crowd around one book, trying to learn and use the new concepts

I like the range of support the system has, even though the core + PBHII & XPH is the basic rule set, there are lots of books to draw on just a few new ideas to make each adventure/villian unique.

and im not a fan of the d10 dice pool system.

 

[shilsen]

It's the second most fun thing consenting adults can do together.

I don't know about that. I've given up sex for D&D, but never the reverse

For me, D&D is the individual most enjoyable creative outlet that I've ever encountered.