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The original was posted on /r/osr by /u/hildissent on 2025-06-29 20:23:46+00:00.

I had an unfortunate experience with an abusive teacher as a pre-teen that turned me off of school (and authority figures) for most of the rest of my younger years. I often credit my obsession with D&D as the impetus for my efforts to self-educate as a teen. There was math, a lot of vocabulary, and a desire to research various topics on my own to make my games more authentic. D&D was my classroom.

I've recently been reading the TSR-era books again, and it is obvious to my adult eyes how the text often pushes you to want to know more. I just don't get that vibe from many modern games. Don't get me wrong. I love a tersely written clone that clarifies rules and is easier to reference during play, but there is something magical to me about a game that can hold a kid's interest while telling them how rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide as it falls and causes limestone to erode and form caves (Dungeoneer's Survival Guide).