tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post7536856396432559603..comments2024-03-27T20:09:00.283-04:00Comments on Tenkar's Tavern: The Oxymoron that is RPG TravelTenkarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05159289652051155824noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-30743025499756138072022-03-14T03:04:07.718-04:002022-03-14T03:04:07.718-04:00I cut my teeth on the Wilderlands, which was all a...I cut my teeth on the Wilderlands, which was all about exploration of the wilderness. So in most of my games, the Journey is often as important and enriching (in treasure and lore) as the destination.<br /><br />The Journey is a huge factor in classic heroic literature and fantasy fiction, from the Odyssey to The Hobbit, and from the Nibelungenlied to the adventures of Conan, the Journey often takes up a larger portion of the story than the events at the destination!<br /><br />However, one thing that I have found over the years and the iterations of Dungeons & Dragons is that the Wilderness portion of the adventure has lost out to the Dungeon portion of the adventure, by design. OD&D, AD&D, and BX, each gave Wilderness adventure equal measure to the Underworld adventure. From 2E on up, however, the focus came more and more on the Dungeon itself, rather than the Journey thereto.<br /><br />I think it is in part the fact that time, for many, became more of a factor. As the player base aged, got careers, had families, or simply got stuck in the nightmare that is the modern "Work Three Jobs to Pay the Bills," the time to play became shorter, and opportunities fewer. So players needed more bang for their buck out of modules and materials, as they cold only play once every other week for a couple of hours, instead of two or three times a week and overnight on Saturday.<br /><br />This is essentially core to the 5th Edition experience, where a session is designed to last 3 or 4 hours, rather than a whole evening, and to be more self-contained and done-in-one than campaign oriented. To be sure, there are plenty of ongoing campaigns out there, but even the official 5E D&D mega modules are designed to be run as discrete 3- to 4-hour (max) sessions.<br /><br />It is neither good nor bad, it is merely a thing. I know plenty of folks who love that style of play; easy, breezy, minimal investment, lots of adventure in each session. I also know of players who like the long Journey, discovering the world along the way.<br /><br />The only winning move in D&D is if you have fun... you win.James Mishlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03510782553325944558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-84087132307453682692022-03-14T01:31:25.599-04:002022-03-14T01:31:25.599-04:00My experience has been quite different than yours....My experience has been quite different than yours. Travel has been a big feature, and is not just glossed over.Corathonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453135801686019143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-15844832562970983132022-03-14T00:55:46.505-04:002022-03-14T00:55:46.505-04:00I think when most people say that they love to tra...I think when most people say that they love to travel, they mean that they love to be at the destination for a while. Getting there, and getting back, are necessary pains needed to reach that destination and kick back, or explore, or shop, or whatever they're doing once they get there.Dennis Laffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03053699552003336733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-37628294374076266622022-03-14T00:11:24.931-04:002022-03-14T00:11:24.931-04:00Before I had a family I loved travel. Even more so...Before I had a family I loved travel. Even more so before email on your phone and plane wifi. Back when you were traveling for work but disconnected from the office. New places, expense acounts, swimming pools, day drinking on a plane. <br /><br />Now it's just not fair to my partner. <br /><br />sevenbastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961009160456478009noreply@blogger.com