In exploring some solitaire
B/X Dungeons & Dragons
gaming recently I’ve realized yet another distinction in my
preferred play style. Some “old school” games like
D&D
or other retro-clones in the Old School Renaissance movement (OSR)
exemplify a “grinder” mentality, where new characters, rolled up
in large crowds, are funneled
through deadly dungeons and meet horrible deaths, with only the most
worthy surviving to rise through the levels (a kind of “survival of
the fittest” mentality devised by some roleplaying game Darwin).
Yet I’ve spent much of my life enjoying games that treat characters
as heroes in a greater saga, ones with mechanics to reinforce that
concept while still imbuing the setting with a degree of risk and
suspense. While I’m currently enjoying my exploration of my
B/X
D&D roots with a resurgence of excellent OSR supplements, I
can’t help but question the grinder mentality and seek ways to
ensure my characters survive more as heroes than ground meat.
Two elements stand out for me in the balance between grinder and
heroic play: the literary origins of fantasy roleplaying, which
emphasize a central hero who grows and faces risks but ultimately
triumphs; and the mechanics of early class-and-level games which
emphasize chance and, in doing so, deal mercilessly with beginning
characters. While the literature (and to some degree other media)
influencing the development and early popularity of
D&D
offers rich setting inspiration, the form requires a linear plot and
protagonists readers care about who survive through much of the
story. Literary influences play such a large role in
D&D
that both the
Dungeon Masters Guide and versions of the basic
rules include references, the infamous “Appendix N” in the DMG
and the Moldvay
Basic D&D rulebook’s “Inspirational
Source Material” page. As a kid I was invested heavily in similar
influences, particularly in tales of myths and legends, Tolkein’s
Middle-earth, epic Ray Harryhausen films, and
Star Wars. The
literary tradition focuses on the central hero overcoming obstacles;
this isn’t always conducive to the kind of experience games offer.
Roleplaying games merge elements of heroic literature and other media
with the uncertainties generated by game mechanics. Randomness plays
a major role in many game elements, from creating a character to
determining who succeeds in combat and other critical tasks.
As I’ve written before, the random nature of conflict resolution in games,
despite one’s best effort to hedge their bets with modifiers and
bonuses, can lead to some intense frustration at dice that keep
rolling poorly.
