Okay, maybe this post is just all self-referential musing. But I wonder how many of you out there feel the same way. There's something I want to put out there for your consideration. This might not be a ground-breaking post in terms of its sentiment or subject matter, but bear with me.
I don't care what edition of the game you play. Hell, I don't care if the Medieval fantasy RPG you're playing is even called D&D or not. We're all still playing D&D, folks.
So, I posit this: what we're really celebrating this year is not the 40th anniversary of the brand name of D&D. We're celebrating the spirit of the game, and all of its uncountable varieties and offspring!
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| Thanks, Azeem! |
Morgan Freeman said it best, I think, in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves: "Allah loves wondrous variety!"
Just a note: this sentiment also includes 4th Edition. Speaking of which: congrats on the cancellation of your edition, 4E fans, because you are now a part of the "my favored edition is out of print" clan! Welcome, hail, and well met!
I'm bringing all this up because, well, I bought the new D&D starter set, and downloaded the free Basic rules. And while I think all that 5E stuff is nifty, I have to say that I'm so much more excited about games that don't carry the D&D name, but rather carry the D&D DNA.
Here's the versions of the game that I'm currently drooling over:
I already own Dungeonteller and the Warriors of the Red Planet beta. My copies of Dungeon World and 13th Age are on their way from the great Noble Knight Games.
Of course, I also already own Labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry, Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, Adventurer Conquerer King, Beyond the Wall, Dragon Age RPG, Crypts & Things, Five Ancient Kingdoms, and other permutations of the "world's oldest RPG" of which you no doubt have heard! And all these "clones" sit cheek-by-jowl on my bookshelves with D&D books from all eras of the game. And it's like looking at a glorious family reunion, with many generations gathered into one place.
I'm so happy that D&D has gone forth and multiplied, incubated in the fertile minds of so many fellow enthusiasts!
So, talk back to me, fellow roleplayers! Tell me how you are celebrating D&D's 40th this year, what version(s) of the game you're celebrating with, and any other reflections you care to share!
Long live Dungeons & Dragons, no matter what skin it wears!
Of course, I also already own Labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry, Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, Adventurer Conquerer King, Beyond the Wall, Dragon Age RPG, Crypts & Things, Five Ancient Kingdoms, and other permutations of the "world's oldest RPG" of which you no doubt have heard! And all these "clones" sit cheek-by-jowl on my bookshelves with D&D books from all eras of the game. And it's like looking at a glorious family reunion, with many generations gathered into one place.
I'm so happy that D&D has gone forth and multiplied, incubated in the fertile minds of so many fellow enthusiasts!
So, talk back to me, fellow roleplayers! Tell me how you are celebrating D&D's 40th this year, what version(s) of the game you're celebrating with, and any other reflections you care to share!
Long live Dungeons & Dragons, no matter what skin it wears!
I'm celebrating by reading 5e, and by starting a DCC campaign.
ReplyDeleteI'm celebrating by reading the Third Edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battles ("Oldhammer"), painting miniatures, and making notes for my upcoming campaign (not sure if it'll be DCC or D&D 5e yet).
ReplyDeleteRolling around like a pig in slop for D&D 5E, 13th Age, Savage Worlds and all things Basic Roleplaying, myself.
ReplyDeleteGood point: we are really celebrating Happy 40th RPGs.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my 4e campaign launched about the same time the Basic 5e rules became available. That is not dead which can eternally be played.
My ongoing game is Stonehell Dungeon using B/X. In January we celebrated D&D@40 by playing OD&D, and since then we've played some Old Norse shenanigans with the S&W Core Rules, and explored a bit of Jorune using X-Plorers. I want to try out LotFP, Stars Without Number, Magic World, etc., etc. So, yeah, wondrous variety.
ReplyDeleteI ARE SALEBRATE WITH OD&D 3LBB +GRAYHAW SUP I FORMATTED IN COMPILED VOLUME PLUS NEW PC PARTY OF DAND NEWBS. ONCE HOOKED, I WILL TRANE THEM TO BURN ALL HERETICKS AND THAIR BOOKS.
ReplyDeleteVIVA LA REVOLUCION!!
:p
-NUNYA