D&D Is 30

mainframemouse writes "For those who have not seen the Beeb article, Dungeons and Dragons is 30 years old. After many years of role-playing is wonderful to see the mother of all RPG's given respect and mention in the national press. There's even a note about the false accusations of the 80's." And for the record - flanking & attacks of opportunity in 3/3.5 Edition still irritate me. Combine a familiar with Master Tactician and some rogue levels, and you're off to the races.

Comments

30th birthday?

[addie]

Maybe it'll finally move out of it's parent's basement...

Roleplaying as a way to annoy friends

[UncleRage]

Back in highschool, a guy in our group would bring his sister to sessions once in awhile. (Hey, what were the rest of us going to say? A real live girl in the group... there's a no brainer).

Anyway, one of her friends (one of the drama group crowd, no doubt) had gotten her into the idea of playing a Wuthering Heights RPG -- no kidding, it does exist) and after much pleading and eyelash fluttering she talked us into "trying it out".

Well, you can use your imagination to figure what happened next...

GM: Kathy, Heathcliff sends you a note telling you he wants to meet you after the dance.

Thylgar (masquerading as Kathy): I have tied Kathy up and stored in her in the kitchen pantry. I write a note to Heathcliff telling him "okay".

Kathy: No, that's not how it's played!

GM: Heathcliff accepts.

Kathy: Stop! Play it right!

Kronos: I sharpen my +5 Vorpal Sword of Wimp Banishment in anticipation!

GM: The dance is over and Heathcliff is wandering the gardens calling for Cathy.

Thylgar (in high voice): Over here!

GM: Heathcliff rolls to spot ambush and failes.

Kathy: I'm serious, stop!

Thylgar: I remove my veil!

GM: Heathcliff appears to be baffled at the change of Kathy's appearance! Rolls to recover from surprise and fails.

Thylgar: Now!

Kronos: I throw my +5 Vorpal sword at Heathcliff's eye!

GM: (Not even rolling) Success!

Thylgar: I pummel Heathcliff with my hammer of ultimate asswhooping!

GM: (No rolling) Success!

Demagon: I kick Heathcliff's ass for being a pussy!

GM: SUCCESS!

Kathy: I'm leaving!

Thylgar: Shit, wait! Wanna go to the dance on Friday?

GM: Rolls dice... Nope, not gonna happen.

[The above account is a true story that has been mostly recreated from ancient memoriees].

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Introducing people to RPG

[hndrcks]

Back in the late 70s / early 80s, I had a core groups of friends I played D&D with... but when we wanted to introduce someone new to the concept of an RPG, we always got out those little black Traveller books. The character generation system was nice and fast, and the combat rules were easy to follow (we always dumped the psionics stuff). We must have run the 'Alien 1' style scenario twenty times.

My old D&D stuff (from 76-84) is around the house somewhere... but I know exactly where those Traveller books are. Anyone up for a game?