What's the object of the game?

[candidus_cogitens]

A lot of players are quite serious about making sure every experience point is earned and that encounters are balanced. But on the other hand, there is so much left to DM discretion that it's all rather arbitrary isn't it? Especially if you take into consideration that the DM can easily withhold or make available magical items that help to determine the degree of power that the PCs have.

My point is that since D&D is not a competition between players and it's not exactly a competition between the DM and the players, then what exactly is the object of the game? Some would say that it is character advancement, but my personal inclination is to say that it is the story.

In a way, you could do without the entire CR/XP/leveling system and just decide what level you want to play at and then advance to a higher level when the players and DM come to a consensus that it's time to level up.

That's not to say that there isn't some importance to the rules. Rules and rolling help create the excitement that comes with unpredictability. It's what makes roleplaying different from just playing "pretend."

Or am I missing something about the challenge of character advancement.

 

[diaglo]

to have fun.

for me it is the journey and not the destination that is important.

others would say the object is to survive. and in part i agree.

 

[JoeGKushner]

That only point of D&D is to have fun.

That's it.

If you're playing and not having fun, your doing something wrong. Could be a clash of styles, of focus or simply boredom, but it all boils down to, "Did I enjoy this game?"

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I thought the entire point of the game was to kill the monsters, get the biggest numbers, have a character 1000 times stronger than the other players and WIN.

Edit: I forgot - Also, to meet hot chicks. So cold, so lonely.

 

[Crothian]

Have fun, tell a story....ya both those work quite well

 

[buzz]

diaglo and Joe beat me to it.

If your group's fun is enhanced by letter-perfect adherence to the rules, then that is the object of the game. If you group's fun is enhanced by playing fast-and-loose and putting story above everything, then that is the object of the game. And so on, and so on...

What you need to ask yourself is: What's the object of MY game?

 

[Quasqueton]

"To explore strange, new worlds. To seek out new life, new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before."

Actually, I really like this goal.

Quasqueton

 

[diaglo]

"To explore strange, new worlds. To seek out new life, new civilizations. To boldly go where..."

No Man has gone before.

they were Fighting Men...not fighters in OD&D.

 

[JimAde]

I am notorious for going several game sessions without giving out XP, then just dumping a large, equal amount on everybody. Nobody in my group minds this approach and they all level up and advance together. I know this would drive some people crazy, but "different strokes..."

 

[Quasqueton]

No Man has gone before.

they were Fighting Men...not fighters in OD&D.

Oops. That's right. Females as PCs didn't come in till AD&D1. There was only one female in OD&D, and she was sacraficed, nude, on an altar.

Quasqueton