Dungeons & Dragons

So I guess Dungeons and Dragons is entering into fourth edition. I have to admit to not being aware of the announcement while I was at GenCon. Like many others I've seen posting on the web this news doesn't really impact me. Games I'm involved in rarely use the system. I also imagine that when I do sit down to play some narrative-light simulationist tactical roleplaying I'll have my choice of editions.

I think of D&D as being much more the summer blockbuster type of game system. It's a beer and pretzels game enjoyed by a wide audience but lacking the nuance required for more mature role-playing. My current interests run closer to what various independent role playing games are trying to do. These are the art house movies of the games industry.

This makes me a gaming snob.

At GenCon I played two separate DnD events. The first was the Dungeon Delve. You and five others attempt to get through three combat encounters in twenty minutes. You recieved tokens redeemable for semi-fabulous prizes depending on how far through the module you got. D&D is well suited to this sort of thing. At its heart the game is about simulating fantasy combat. Most of the rules are dedicated to this. The other section of the rules is about how to make your characters more powerful as they gain in experience and wealth. Look on the forums dedicated to the game and you'll mostly see guidebooks for player class builds and rules clarification discussions. I end up with the distinct impression that the pen and paper game is now looking to the video games it spawned for its guiding design principles.

Also I am playing D&D tactics for the PSP.

The other D&D event I played in was the first round of NASCRAG. Claiming to be to the RPGA what the Shriners are to the Masons. After running through the first round module with a juvenile minded group (our group name was Richard Head and the Jizz Juice Brigade (team cheer: Boner, Brah!)) I was left with little interest in playing in a D&D tourney ever again.

The game was a mishmash of combat encounter followed by some puzzle solving followed by an encounter that was solvable through the use of game mechanics. Points were given to teams based on solving the puzzles and roleplaying. The roleplaying points were assigned based partly on genuinely being in character, and mostly on hitting bullet points on the provided character synopsis (which is really just another puzzle to solve: "What should I have my character do that will make the GM think I'm playing him in-character?"). My little group ended up talking to one of the GMs in the airport on our flight back, which gave me some insight into these proceedings.

Still, 4th Edition! Exciting!

Saturday Exercise: None

Sunday Exercise: 5 miles running with hills.