Is D&D really a Medieval Game?

[ripx187]

I've been finding some interesting stuff lately that has really gotten me thinking. I know that I have always incorporated a ton of wild west principles into my games and I thought that it was just me, but, apparently, the game supports this style of play more than it does "Medieval" games. The only thing that really makes it medieval/fantasy is the equipment list, which is sold western style in all of these amazing shops. The economy itself, no matter what political system you use, still relies on a modern principle. There are no serfs, the social classes are not enforced, & everything is for sale (at strange but very convenient pre-set prices) including people. The cost for an army does not make much sense, the wages for professional soldiers is insanely low.

Now, granted, if we overcorrect any of these issues then the game will lose playability, but I now question if it is even possible to have a feudal system under these conditions. 

[Admin Pete]

I am not sure that you are talking about the game as presented but more about how specific people play the game. There is nothing in the rules preventing slaves or serfs from being present. As to the equipment list, there is nothing that says that all items have to be available everywhere and nothing that says those prices are the same everywhere. Many play it that was for convenience but that is not required by the rules and if it were many of us would ignore it anyway. For instance in the pbp below that I have started the best armor most players will be able to afford at first level is leather, they have to adventure to hopefully be able to afford chainmail. I am doing some serious play testing to see if I have meshed the different parts sufficiently.

I am also not sure what modern principal you are referring to.

[ripx187]

Oct 8, 2017 19:18:28 GMT -5 Admin Pete said:

I am also not sure what modern principal you are referring to.

A free market that relies on cash . . . or in this case, coin.

[ripx187]

Here is an article that discusses troop cost.
One that says that D&D is anti-medieval.
And one that is interesting as it suggests an Adventurer Rare default.

I think that we can use kings, and force the players to purchase titles. I've been pondering a system which begins with the player having to either earn or buy citizenship. There is a lot of DIY with OD&D which is attractive to me. I just really hate Treasure = XP, I have always been a stingy Dungeon Master. A Man-at-arms should be very well paid, perhaps he would be the best example to base an economy upon?

Most of this is thinking out loud, Perilous Dreamer.

[Deleted]

This is what happens when a set of rules written by and for members of the "Castle and Crusade Society" gets released to the general public.

[limeodyssey]

The book I am finishing right now, Dark Knights, addresses these issues head on.

D&D absolutely can provide a (fantasy) Medieval world, particularly if some of the more insane monsters are removed.

I added Social Status, arms ("heraldry"), Shame, and so on, and the rest of the mechanics are as per Classic D&D with very few exceptions.

I also added the concept of a Levy, ie involuntary service strictly for 40 days, as well as mercenaries provided through the agency of the Merchants' Guild.

If you add guilds etc. a lot of the strange elements of purchasing goods in D&D straighten out. Pervasive guilds are the driver of the price lists.

And through the simple expediency of specifying that tiny villages only have 1d4 items and mighty cities provide any possible item, you have some game balance.

Really, other than Gygaxian control freak stuff, the OD&D and classic rules are fine for virtually any sort of game, medieval definitely included.

[mormonyoyoman]

Oct 8, 2017 22:45:51 GMT -5 @gronanofsimmerya said:

This is what happens when a set of rules written by and for members of the "Castle and Crusade Society" gets released to the general public.

This deserves an exalt. Remind me to do that when I get to my Big Boy computer today.

[hengest]

I would like to hear more about the ideas in the OP and replies if anyone is still interested.

I did not assume that the LBBs intended to describe a set "world," although I admit I may be missing something really obvious or just not know something that everyone else knows.

At most, I take it as a medieval-flavored fantasy "feel" that becomes worldified only in play. But what do I know?

[Admin Pete]

Apr 16, 2021 21:19:27 GMT -5 hengest said:

I would like to hear more about the ideas in the OP and replies if anyone is still interested.

I did not assume that the LBBs intended to describe a set "world," although I admit I may be missing something really obvious or just not know something that everyone else knows.

At most, I take it as a medieval-flavored fantasy "feel" that becomes worldified only in play. But what do I know?

I think you can easily run a very feudalesque world if you want too. The mostly preset prices is just because no one wants to spend a whole game as each player negotiates price for each purchase.

[Morton]

Oct 8, 2017 22:45:51 GMT -5 @Deleted said:

This is what happens when a set of rules written by and for members of the "Castle and Crusade Society" gets released to the general public.

Wow! Really man! Takes a lot of stones to say something like that and then turn around and delete your account.