How D&D has changed the world

[NewJeffCT]

FOR A WHILE, it seemed, I was part of a generation with no discernable qualities, no great contribution to American culture. Too young to be boomers, too old to be "Gen X," this generation was a product of the burned out excess of the seventies married to the surface glow of the eighties. But here in 2004, I realize I belong to the luckiest generation, and not only that, I am part of the luckiest sub-culture within. Maybe we didn't give the world the Beatles or John Updike, but we gave the world Dungeons and Dragons.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the beloved, much maligned, often misunderstood role playing game developed in 1974 by Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax. Without CGI graphics, surround sound, or flat screens, they invented an immense and complex gaming system that requires only pencils, graph paper, and some oddly configured dice. Arneson and Gygax paved the way, but let's face it, my friends and I changed the world.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/11/15/dungeons_and_dragons_we_love_you/

[Skinner]

1. That makes me nostalgic for D&D.

I only played for about a year -- fourth grade, 1980/1981 -- but it really was an amazing game. In hindsight, the thought that we could have so much fun playing something that existed almost entirely in our heads is remarkable. By fifth grade, we learned that D&D most certainly was not a cool thing to do, and it went away forever. But for one year it was huge. Thanks for posting that op/ed.

[NewJeffCT]

2. We'll I've heard several D&D references on the Daily Show

So, I know at least one of their writers is either a former D&D player or a current one.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Some of us even get to write D20 material

and are involved in developing a new science fiction game

;-)

[NewJeffCT]

4. cool - good luck to you

I've always been too timid to submit anything to a d20 company. I also don't have much time to write anymore, other than the occasional adventure idea I run by an RPG board or two. So, I always admire people that have the ability, patience, perserverance and talent to write.

I did meet one local guy who was a finalist in the Wizards of the Coast setting search contest and he ended up getting his setting published by a d20 company (he asked me to review his book online at an RPG shop, but I was so consumed with the election that I've had the book for like a year now... eke just realized that!)

[Chovexani]

5. I've been playing since 1991

Started at the ripe age of 10. Stopped in high school when my old group moved away/graduated/went to college. But now I've started DMing again with a couple of other geeks and I'm loving it. I'm a 2nd Ed. dinosaur and I never thought I'd be saying that! (When I first started you had the 1E dinosaurs...hehe)

Gary Gygax may be an egotistical blowhard, but thank the gods for him, or I'd never have found any friends...

[NewJeffCT]

6. I've always tried to move forward in gaming

There are a lot of similar gaming stories to yours. I was an avid gamer for a good 10-12 years until I graduated college in 1989. However, as the gaming group also got older & graduated, they moved across the country to places like Texas, Florida & NYC. I temporarily moved on to other things for several years in the mid 90s.

Also, while I loved 1E when it was around (I started gaming in the late 70s when I was 11 or 12...forget exactly when) I moved on to 2E when it came out. And, I enjoyed 2E except for their bending over to make it more palatable to the religious right - ie, demons & devils were renamed, assassins were dropped, etc.

But, when 3E came out, I knew the trend was towards a more flexible & adaptable system, so I've adopted that since it came out. Unfortunately, I moved across CT and don't really have time to actively game anymore and I can't really justify an hour drive to my old DM's house and then an hour drive back at 2am with a 21 month old baby in the house.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Now I know gaming should have NOTHING to do

with politics, but as a GAME DESIGNER I see the evoloution of DnD as a canary in the mine

Let me explain.

First Edition had a certain level of complexity that was almost geeky in nature. (I guess why some people liked it)

Second Edition had that same sense of geekiness,

Third edition (It has many good things to it btw) is a very flexible and SIMPLE system... and sadly I cannot, as a designer, sell a more complex game today. Why? Most folks don't have the time but we also have the problem that many people TRULY cannot read older games.... I mean it

I did the following exercise, I gave kids a copy of Second and Third edition and told them, make a character. Guess what they made the thrid edition (using a character maker), but could not get their heads around Second Edition

That really puts a crimp now that we are designing the game system, and engine, beause it has really made it hard. How do I keep it simple enough that the main market will be able to use it (yes sorry 15 year olds are the market) but complex enough that older players will like it?

This is a complex balancing act...

Not a rant, just a look into game design and where we are today as a society...

[NewJeffCT]

9. 1E is kind of a train wreck looking back

In 1E, the rules aren't always logical or consistent and are not very well organized. However, when I was first learning the game in the late 70s, I had all the time in the world... it's not something that is easily picked up unless you had a long time to sit down & absorb it.

Nowadays, I need something simple, as I have a 21 month old daughter, have a wife, work 40-50 hours a week, spend another 20 hours a week commuting, etc, etc, I just don't have the time. I pick up some d20 books now and again, but I try to stick with rules-light books that can give me ideas rather than "crunchy" books where I have to memorize 30 new prestige classes, 100 new spells, 16 new monsters, etc.

So, I can understand where you are coming from.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Well it is not D20

because we believe D20 has crested and people are looking for someting new

The engine will be kept simple enough, not as deadly as in first testing (it was very "realistic" almost down to one shot one kill)

But simple, rules light or as light as you can keep it in a main book, but fluff intensive...

[NewJeffCT]

13. sounds interesting

well, unless I can win powerball & retire, rules-light & loaded with fluff is more my speed at this stage of my gaming life.

good luck & let me know when you're publishing the new book.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Oh we will, woudl direct you to the website

but brother in law has not done much wiht it...

::rolls eyes::

If you know what I mean

Well back to the fluff, fun to develop an ethical system for a new Alien species.

[0rganism]

8. the weak political metaphor at the end ruins the article, dammit!

Without the last sentence, it was decent. Come on: "in congress, Bush has +3 to-hit"? Weak, and generally unrelated to the rest of the article.

[Streetdoc270]

10. well at least he did not say

a +2 Vorpal sword of Liberal Slaying!

[0rganism]

12. Might have been preferable, actually...

At least your un-suggestion would have invoked hyperbole and appealed to my sense of the ridiculous.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

15. Unapologetic 36 YO D&Der...................

I have played D&D since 1981-2. A good friend's older brother took some time and DM'ed for a couple of newbies (Village of Hommlet - thank you), and 22 years later I am still hooked. I have played all of the editions (except 3.5) and almost all of the character classes, and after all this time I am still up and enthusiastic for a game.

I think Skinner summed it up best by saying: "In hindsight, the thought that we could have so much fun playing something that existed almost entirely in our heads is remarkable." There was no TV, movies or videogames involved, just our imagination and a few stolen glances at the Monster Manual.

30 years of D&D. Its pretty incredible.