tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384696295028916937.post7454593018028445671..comments2023-07-27T14:49:37.837-07:00Comments on Back in the Labyrinth: The "evolution" of Dungeons & DragonsSean Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16429301144221551751noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384696295028916937.post-81836395022861202062010-04-21T15:16:06.420-07:002010-04-21T15:16:06.420-07:00Trey said...
I'd quibble i bit with how ...Trey said...<br /><br /> <i>I'd quibble i bit with how your dividing the D&D clades, in that I'm not sure what's the cuttoff between 3E and 1st adn 2nd. But then, as in biology life is a continuation, and groupings are human imposed, and for that reason, somewhat arbitrary.</i><br /><br />Yep, taxonomy is highly subjective and always involves a lot of judgement-calls. In the end taxonomic classification artificially imposes structure on nature for our own convenience and isn't always perfectly accurate.<br />Thanks for your thoughtsSean Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16429301144221551751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384696295028916937.post-80247655846933632372010-04-21T14:59:41.217-07:002010-04-21T14:59:41.217-07:00Rick Marshall said...
Fourth edition, though,...Rick Marshall said...<br /><br /> <i>Fourth edition, though, was redesigned according to very different criteria and with very different intentions. I would argue that fourth edition is no more part of third edition's lineage than it is part of D&D's lineage.</i><br /><br />I agree, and I wrestled with this very thought myself: whether to include 4E as a descendent of 3E or of completely independent origin. In the end it was a judgement call based solely on the similar skill lists and feats, but I could easily have gone the other way, too.<br />Thanks for your insightful comments.Sean Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16429301144221551751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384696295028916937.post-74288599830520584282010-04-21T14:53:33.944-07:002010-04-21T14:53:33.944-07:00Blogger P. S. Mangus said...
"I couldn&#...Blogger P. S. Mangus said...<br /> "I couldn't agree more! Also, great use of the Guinness pic, which I find most appropriate, and one which makes me thirsty at the same time!"<br /><br />Thanks! Guinness always has great ads, and this is one of my favourites.Sean Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16429301144221551751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384696295028916937.post-39010179665301625232010-04-21T03:25:00.203-07:002010-04-21T03:25:00.203-07:00Good reminder of the accurate usage of a much misu...Good reminder of the accurate usage of a much misused concept.<br /><br />I'd quibble i bit with how your dividing the D&D clades, in that I'm not sure what's the cuttoff between 3E and 1st adn 2nd. But then, as in biology life is a continuation, and groupings are human imposed, and for that reason, <i>somewhat</i> arbitrary.<br /><br />I don't wince every time I see a physician turn on the TV, but since 3rd year of medical school, i generally change the channel. ;)Treyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04647628467658839351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384696295028916937.post-74399545450026746832010-04-20T19:46:40.259-07:002010-04-20T19:46:40.259-07:00Thank you for writing this.
The equations of (1) ...Thank you for writing this.<br /><br />The equations of (1) the passage of time with progress, (2) change with progress, and (3) evolution with progress - especially when those equations are made both unconsciously and arrogantly, as is so often the case - demonstrates how widespread scientific illiteracy is among people who think of themselves as educated and advanced specimens of humanity.<br /><br />Having observed the development of third edition reasonably closely, I can confirm that it was the result of a conscious redesign, not just evolutionary speciation. However, it was a redesign done by long-term D&D fans with the intent of actually being a new version of D&D. Many of the changes involved the incorporation of D&D or AD&D house rules - I even had a house rule of mine incorporated into third edition.<br /><br />Whether the designers of third edition succeeded in creating a version of D&D or whether they created a related game whose fundamentals changed too much for it to be a genuine daughter species is certainly open to debate. After all, redesign and evolution are very different processes, which is why redesigns so often unintentionally break design lineages.<br /><br />Fourth edition, though, was redesigned according to very different criteria and with very different intentions. I would argue that fourth edition is no more part of third edition's lineage than it is part of D&D's lineage.Rick Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01707062453047354335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7384696295028916937.post-57698712428433851672010-04-19T19:05:11.447-07:002010-04-19T19:05:11.447-07:00"You will note that I do not refer to 4E as D..."You will note that I do not refer to 4E as Dungeons and Dragons, or the 4th edition thereof, as I do not consider it to belong to the the D&D lineage, but rather a separate, unrelated game of independent origin..."<br /><br />I couldn't agree more! Also, great use of the Guinness pic, which I find most appropriate, and one which makes me thirsty at the same time!Shane Mangushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03865733072718219138noreply@blogger.com