- I wonder if certain versions of D&D represent the evolved forms of certain approaches to the game.
- These forms developed over extensive playtesting, and deliberately fixed issues their predecessors had.
- B/X D&D, now most clearly expressed in Old School Essentials, seems to be the evolved form of OD&D and Holmes Basic D&D.
- Pathfinder 1e is obviously the evolved form of D&D 3e / 3.5e, but perhaps less obviously the evolved form of AD&D 1e and 2e, trying to cover every possible situation with a rule, and providing the flexibility 2e kits offered.
- Dungeon Crawl Classics seems to be the evolved form of the random tables which proliferated in zines, and could be added to any edition.