Why all the hatin'? Let's love.

[Quasqueton]

It seems to me that many people can't state their preference for one edition of D&D without in the same sentence stating their dislike of another edition. Or they can't compliment one edition without insulting another. It's almost like a player's preference is driven by negative emotion, "I like AD&D2 because I hate AD&D1 and D&D3."

Do you actually dislike [or hate] any edition of D&D? Can you like an edition without disliking another? Can you state your preferred edition without backhanding another?

And here is a big challenge: Can you state why you like *D&D* as a game/genre without referencing a particular edition of D&D?

Quasqueton

 

[diaglo]

can't be done.

i can say all the reasons why i love OD&D.

and within one or two posts... someone will say... but you can find that in X edition.

so it is easier for me to just say.


OD&D(1974) is the only true game. All the other editions are just poor imitations of the real thing.

edit: and to complete the cycle. my hat of d02 knows no limits.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I really like D&D 3E, and I agree with some of the things they fixed in 3.5 and disagree with other changes, so I like 3.5 too. I still like the earlier editions as well, as they were great fun in my earlier years, but the later editions are my favourite as they allow for a more varied game experience and realisation of more different sorts of fun characters than were available before without extensive houseruling. So I like them all, but I like the newer stuff better.

 

[cildarith]

Umm.

No.

 

[BOZ]

i don't hat any edition of D&D. i prefer the most recent one, but i won't grouse if someone wanted to run an older edition (as long as they make their expectations clear).

 

[EricNoah]

"Dislike/hate" is too strong and in the wrong direction. I get a visceral charge out of reading older materials; it tickles my brain in a place nothing else can reach. Any time I want that feeling I can read module B1 and get it again.

But that's not saying I would want to play older edition D&D. It's not due to hate or dislike, though. And it doesn't mean those who do are stupid or backward or unable to embrace change. People should play what (and how) they like.

Also, if the question is "are edition wars the height of RPG stupidity/futility/dumbosity" then my answer is yes.

 

[nothing to see here]

It seems to me that many people can't state their preference for one edition of D&D without in the same sentence stating their dislike of another edition. Or they can't compliment one edition without insulting another. It's almost like a player's preference is driven by negative emotion, "I like AD&D2 because I hate AD&D1 and D&D3."

Do you actually dislike [or hate] any edition of D&D? Can you like an edition without disliking another? Can you state your preferred edition without backhanding another?

And here is a big challenge: Can you state why you like *D&D* as a game/genre without referencing a particular edition of D&D?

Quasqueton

It's a phenomenon known by several names but primarily as 'in-group / out-group' identification...and it's far from unique to gamers. The human mind responses much more strongly to negative messages than positive ones...and we're also natrually inclined to use contrast as a fundamental ordering tool.

As long as there are people walking the earthy it will always be a more powerful message to say "here are three reasons I hate B" as opposed to "here are three reasons I love A"...as well as saying "A is better than B" will always be more powerful than saying "A is great".

And angry posts make for fun reading (sometimes)

 

[Hand of Evil]

As long as it is not second edtion I am fine with it.

But if everyone liked it there would be no market for other games, the market would stagnate.

Is d20 the best game system, maybe not, but it does a lot of things well and it allows a lot of things to be done well and while other edtions and games may be better systems or may let you do things differently they do not address the scope that d20 does, greatest common denominator.

 

[Desdichado]

1) Do you actually dislike [or hate] any edition of D&D? 2) Can you like an edition without disliking another? 3) Can you state your preferred edition without backhanding another?

1. Yes, absolutely. Anything prior to 2000 I very much dislike, to the point that I had long ago stopped playing D&D altogether and was wandering around in other systems. Contrary to most, that happened to me before 2e came out.
2. Theoretically yes. In my case, however, that's not true.
3. Sure. I like 3e because it's consistent, easily modified, generically applicable, well produced, coupled with the OGL and some absolutely rockin' third party products, and the vehicle used for other non-D&D d20 games (which I actually generally prefer to D&D anyway anymore.)

 

[EricNoah]

Another factor is that some folks can't differentiate between "I like X better than Y" and "X is better than Y".

Some folks also have the tendency to equate "I like X better than Y" to mean "Those who like Y are giant morons."

The thing is, even though I do like X better than Y, I can see why someone else might like Y better than X. Or even Z better than X and Y put together. It's no skin off my nose if someone likes what I don't, or doesn't like what I do.