The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games - Michael J. Tresca [40]
In 1989, the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons was published. This version simplified the combat system by quantifying the roll needed To Hit Armor Class 0 (THAC0). Actions were changed to real-life scale in feet rather than inches, demi-human races (elves, halflings, and their ilk) were made more viable characters, critical hit rules were introduced, and an attempt was made to make Dungeons & Dragons “mom friendly.” Demons and devils were renamed (the creatures themselves remained largely unchanged), the assassin class was removed, and the game focused on playing heroic, noble characters.
The second edition was my bread and butter. The proliferation of game worlds made it an exciting time to game; Dark Sun was set in a postapocalyptic future, Ravenloft provided gothic horror, and Spelljammer offered pulp futurism. I used all those elements, turning my campaign into a delirious hodgepodge of aliens, gothic horror, and post-apocalyptic cynicism that would later influence the creation of RetroMUD.
By the late 1980s, many other gaming systems were eating away at TSR’s dominance. Magic: The Gathering offered a collectible card game fantasy variant, and role-playing games shifted in focus from high fantasy to horror and science fiction. By 1998, TSR filed for bankruptcy, only to be purchased by Wizards of the Coast, creators of Magic: The Gathering.
The third edition of Dungeons & Dragons was released in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast. This system simplified Dungeons & Dragons and focused on rolling a 20-sided die. The supporting scheme was called the d20 system. Skills, introduced awkwardly as “non-weapon proficiencies” in the second edition, were codified. Feats, a rules system for heroic actions outside the scope of skills, were introduced. The new system simplified some aspects of the game such as movement and attempted to quantify other situations with attacks of opportunity, a rule that never went over well with players. Prestige classes were introduced, a further means of individualizing a character through rigorous entry requirements. The sorcerer was also introduced as separate from the wizard, more in keeping with the latest fantasy fiction that made the Vancian spell system seem outdated (Barton 2008:23). This system, dubbed 3.5, was revised again in July 2003.
In addition to the d20 system, Ryan Dancey believed that the designers of “fantasy heartbreakers” who felt they could improve on Dungeons & Dragons should be embraced as part of the gaming development community. Through the Open Gaming License (OGL), his efforts paved the way for support game companies to take on the risky costs of creating adventures, while supporting the sales of the three core rulebooks that made up Dungeons & Dragons: the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. By opening the license to small developers, the gaming scene exploded, with more content than ever before.
This allowed some interesting divergent paths for fantasy role-playing. Castles & Crusades from Troll Lord Games streamlines the Open Game License rules so they are more in the spirit of the Original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set. HackMaster by Kenzer and Company continued a series of compatible rules for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. These two examples are proof that none of the previous editions ever stopped developing, with fans supporting each line even as the game continued to evolve. Perhaps the most significant divergence was the creation of the Pathfinder rules set from Paizo Publishing, an offshoot of the 3.5 OGL rules established as an alternative to the fourth edition of Dungeons & Dragons.
In August 2007, Dungeons & Dragons fourth edition was announced at Gen Con. The core rulebooks: Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master’s