A game where people sit around a table and create a world in their imaginations, usually a fantasy world, where they can do things they can't in the real world... essentially an interactive story.

D20 is the ruleset D&D started and is used in other settings and games, like kotor 1 and 2.

It was initially started by tabletop wargamers who were heavily influenced by LOTR, and like LOTR, has gone on to influence/inspire countless other things. I'd say D&D is the father of RPGs and the grandfather of CRPGs. I'd also say it's damn hard to find a fantasy video game that hasn't been influenced in some way by D&D's premises, such as casters being "glass cannons", or completing missions for "xp" to improve your character.

I was hoping we'll find at least one person to say that :D

Ouch. Not a fan, are you? Not that I'm inclined to argue. I like 3/3.5 but it definately has flaws, and my experience with the older editions is small to none.

It's an expensive Sega Saturn import game.

Well, I have had some bad experience with the 3.5 edition, and thus, lots of frustration, yes.
I actually don't like the ruleset anymore, in nearly every aspect. :/

I respect the property for what it is and the inspiration it provided generations of creators of other mediums, but I've never been a huge swords & sorcery guy to begin with, but I've enjoyed some of the book series, so to me, D&D is a setting, as I don't ever see myself actually playing it directly, but I have and do enjoy BG 1&2, as well as the Dark Alliance series.

This thread makes me wish I had kept my original edition rules. And Chainmail too.

A bunch of nerdy BS for pimple-faced kids and adult weirdos.

I never played the PnP version, only CRPG versions. To me, D&D is a specific rule set for PnP that doesn't transfer great to the computer with the resting and limiting spell choices. I kind of just hate it now in computer form, even though back in the 80s and 90s, it was nice and fresh for me because I really like RPGs, and still do.

So when you say DnD, I expect many sided dice to determine outcomes and a core set of classes at a minimum (Cleric, Druid, Wizard, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue), with a potential variety in race. Also, Low LOL starting HP, especially for wizards.

This hot take from the "gaming since 1987" guy :D

Yeah, that part is downright ridiculous. It gets to the point where you might spend days if not weeks in-game time in a single, not all that big dungeon.

When ex #3 split, she threw all of that into a local dumpster I'm sure. She cleaned out the apartment and I seriously doubt she would have taken any of it with her.

I have most of it in *.pdf form and some of it I've rebought off of Amazon or directly from sellers. Link added not to spam but to show what kind of prices those books now go for.

Alignment matrix.

Chaotic Good and Lawful Evil are just fucking brilliant concepts. It's all so evident, self-explaining and "realistic". When they switched to a linear model in DnD4, it stopped being DnD.

God I hate alignments. The whole idea is so ridiculously artificial. And yet I know from experience that some people do need alignments to keep them in check and force them to roleplay, or they'll always end up playing "chaotic neutral", by which I mean they'll just do whatever they think is hilarious at the moment and won't bother to roleplay at all.

It is, and one of the reasons I hate playing Paladins, which the alignment almost makes every choice for you. I always went chaotic or neutral just for the choice to change my mind.

You are exactly right. It's all about having fun with a lot of good friends around and using your imagination. Unfortunately it is out of style nowdays. I still have my AD&D 2E rulebooks and all the DARK SUN 2E book accessories. And a lot of wonderful memories...

Isn't that some kind of satanic cult? I also vaguely recall there was some horrible incident in the early 1980s with some guy becoming a psycho because of that stuff and disappearing in the cellars under his college. Man, I'm really glad I don't have anything to do with that kind of thing!