Are our tastes set?

deganawida · Jun 6, 2024

I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about D&D, editions, and tastes. I’ve noticed that, while I love the mechanical purity of B/X, the weirdness of 1e, the balance of 4e, and so forth, my tastes always seem to come back to 2nd edition. I mean, I love all the editions, but 2e was my first real embrace of D&D, and I end up judging every other edition by it, even when other editions are better and just as fun (which is really frustrating, of course).

If you you had just one D&D version you could play the rest of your life, with the group of your choice, would it be the one that brought you to the dance, or would it be a different version?

TiQuinn · Jun 6, 2024

deganawida said:
I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about D&D, editions, and tastes. I’ve noticed that, while I love the mechanical purity of B/X, the weirdness of 1e, the balance of 4e, and so forth, my tastes always seem to come back to 2nd edition. I mean, I love all the editions, but 2e was my first real embrace of D&D, and I end up judging every other edition by it, even when other editions are better and just as fun (which is really frustrating, of course).

If you you had just one D&D version you could play the rest of your life, with the group of your choice, would it be the one that brought you to the dance, or would it be a different version?

It’d probably be either 2e (the one that brought me to the dance) or 5e (the one that brought me back to the dance). The problem is they are different games in my mind and I want something different from both of them. They’re both D&D to my mind but if I want the action packed hero game, I’m going with 5e. If I want the exploration and dungeon delving aspect, I’m going with 2e.

Parmandur · Jun 6, 2024

deganawida said:
I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about D&D, editions, and tastes. I’ve noticed that, while I love the mechanical purity of B/X, the weirdness of 1e, the balance of 4e, and so forth, my tastes always seem to come back to 2nd edition. I mean, I love all the editions, but 2e was my first real embrace of D&D, and I end up judging every other edition by it, even when other editions are better and just as fun (which is really frustrating, of course).

If you you had just one D&D version you could play the rest of your life, with the group of your choice, would it be the one that brought you to the dance, or would it be a different version?

Different version: I started with 3.x, but I couldn't conceive of going back after playing 5E. Maybe trying some BD&D or AD&D, but 3.x? Nah.

TwoSix · Jun 6, 2024

I started with 2e, but if I had to pick one game, it would be 4e. Myriad options, and the best mechanical skeleton once I get bored and need to start adding and tweaking.

payn · Jun 6, 2024

deganawida said:
I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about D&D, editions, and tastes. I’ve noticed that, while I love the mechanical purity of B/X, the weirdness of 1e, the balance of 4e, and so forth, my tastes always seem to come back to 2nd edition. I mean, I love all the editions, but 2e was my first real embrace of D&D, and I end up judging every other edition by it, even when other editions are better and just as fun (which is really frustrating, of course).

If you you had just one D&D version you could play the rest of your life, with the group of your choice, would it be the one that brought you to the dance, or would it be a different version?

I wouldnt say my taste are set considering I play numerous RPGs and always looking at new comers. When it comes to fantasy though, my closest "set" is definitely a house-ruled PF1. Which isnt my first D&D experience, but I would say it was my formative years where I really began to learn what I like, and more importantly, what I dont like.

I do think about it in terms of what if 3E/PF1 was never released and it actually came out today? I probably would think its too much and not adopt it.

Celebrim · Jun 6, 2024

I started with 1e, moved to 3e and I'm pretty happy there. Just like nothing moved me away from my 1e house rules until 3e came along, it's going to be really hard to move me away from my 3e house rules.

I also run D6 and BRP. But I had a ton of fun with Goblonia a few years back at a convention and still look around for other systems that I might enjoy. I could probably run Blades in the Dark if I felt it was right for my group, but I'm not excited about that.

So I don't know that my tastes are set, but I do feel that we're past the point where a designers best efforts should be put into building new systems rather than new stories.

ichabod · Jun 6, 2024

deganawida said:
If you you had just one D&D version you could play the rest of your life, with the group of your choice, would it be the one that brought you to the dance, or would it be a different version?

I would take 5E, and I would be sad. I would be sad because while 5E is what I like right now, I know my tastes have changed over the years. So I know they will change in the future, and some day I will not enjoy playing 5E.

Snarf Zagyg · Jun 6, 2024

I would say ... partly, yes.

I think that the first version of D&D that you played the heck out of is the version will always be your first love. In much the same way that studies tend to show that people have attachments to things that they remember at a younger age.

For me, while I have some memories of OD&D, AD&D (1e) is the game that I played so many hours of, and it will always be my first true love in D&D. But that's because I know it like the back of my hand, and I can run it (with all the knowledge and experience and with my own more free-form style) so easily, and even use anything I want from all of TSR-era D&D, since they are all inter-operable.

If I could only play a single version of D&D, it would be 1e. That said, 5e is, by far, my second favorite.

ETA- and I would add that one of the reasons I like 5e so much is that while it has a better and more forgiving system, it is also fairly easy to tune to make it more 1e-ish, when I need to scratch that itch.

Cadence · Jun 6, 2024

Started with B/X and then shortly after 1e. A lot of 2e. Reasonable amount of 3.5/PF 1e. A tiny bit of 4e. Playing 5e now.

If I had to pick one it would either be an e8 (or so) version of PF 1e or 5e.

If you ask me about monster art? It's the old stuff.

Ralif Redhammer · Jun 6, 2024

I do not think of people as fixed beings, for we change in ways small and great throughout our lives. But there are some things that resonate deeply within each of us no matter other changes.

If I had to pick one edition to play for the rest of my life, I'd be hard-pressed. I'd probably choose BECMI. Part of it is nostalgia, but I also feel that it had the best presentation and the level of complexity most in line with my sensibilities of all of TSR's era of D&D.

But then again, if I was looking for variety and options to see me through the rest of my years, 2e has so much of those that I might pick that. And I have many fond memories of it. Until 5e came along, it was by far the edition I had played the most of.

Are our tastes set?

deganawida

Legend

TiQuinn

Registered User

Parmandur

Book-Friend

TwoSix

"Diegetics", by L. Ron Gygax

payn

I don't believe in the no-win scenario

Celebrim

Legend

ichabod

Legned

Snarf Zagyg

Notorious Liquefactionist

Cadence

Legend

Ralif Redhammer

Legend

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