basically 2e style: a fantasy simulator with a lot of gritty mechanics, where the party keeps it mostly serious, and the GM uses historical inspiration to make a culturally and mythologically balanced world that is part sandbox, part scripted, medium magic, and very immersive - a world that is not centered around the players, a world where PC death is a real risk and the players have to actually be engaged to survive.
like, serious D&D shit.
yeah, i’m not into the theater kids style of D&D either, but i do like immersive RP balanced with combat and problem solving.