So when I was first thinking about starting this blog last year, my friend asked “Why don’t you talk about how Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition (DnD 4e) is like a board game?” I thought the idea was interesting and thought about it a bit, but I had not played enough 4th edition to really compare the two very well. Over the last year I have continued to think about the question as I have gained more experience with DnD 4e. I have a notebook with ideas for the site and from time to time I would jot down my thoughts comparing DnD 4e to board games. Here are the results.

The figures and grid for DnD are similar to meeples and a square-grid board. (Carcassonne)

Similar to many board games position and movement matter in DnD 4e. (Chess)

Just like in many strategy games there are a lot of decision points. “Do you attack the hobgoblin?” and “What power do you use?” are similar questions to “Do you attack Brazil or Peru?” (Risk) or “Do you trade your wheat hoping an ore is rolled?” (Settlers of Catan)

Some board games give players a specific role that gives them different abilities. (Puerto Rico) DnD 4e has roles that give you a basic outline for how to play your character. Your character’s class determines this as well.

Co-op games (Pandemic) require the players to work together to win. In DnD 4e you must work as a team with your fellow adventurers to have success.

In DnD you roll dice to determine your characters success. Many board games have you rolling dice to determine your fate. (Monopoly) This may seem obvious and like it is a stupid point, but I was thinking of how both board games and DnD have a degree of randomness.

Some games deal with resource or hand management. (Power Grid) Although not the exact same in DnD 4e you must manage Encounter and Daily Powers.

I know some of these mechanics are not exclusive to DnD let alone 4th edition. But for some reason playing 4e seems more board game-like than earlier editions of the RPG. It isn’t something I can put easily into words. Maybe it’s the cards and powers I can’t quite put my finger on it. Can you?