1st ed Dungeons & Dragons..

[penemue]

I don't really believe it myself, but I've started up a 1st ed. D&D campaign. Not even Advanced D&D, it's the basic set (red box) with expert rules. Re-organized by Goblinoid Games as Labyrinth Lord. The oddest thing was having a D&D style book with an index. Gasp.
I'll put some campaign info on here soon.

[Edsel]

1st Edition and the Old Advanced D&D were the two best versions of that system. I have kept my three AD&D books (DMG, PH and MM) to this day. 2nd Ed AD&D was the last version that I enjoyed.

[tkdguy]

I like the Basic/Expert sets a lot. I started out with those rules, so I have a soft spot for them.

[mirage]

I don't really believe it myself, but I've started up a 1st ed. D&D campaign. Not even Advanced D&D, it's the basic set (red box) with expert rules. Re-organized by Goblinoid Games as Labyrinth Lord. The oddest thing was having a D&D style book with an index. Gasp.
I'll put some campaign info on here soon.

I prefer the Blue Box edition of D&D.

First that's what I started with. :-)

Second, it has the 9 point alignment system.

Third: it made a distinction between Race and Class.

Unfortunately, it was kind of a dead end since the more recent stuff, Red Box, and Blue Expert box editions weren't compatible. In some respects AD&D was a more natural transition.

[Lord Mhoram]

1st Edition and the Old Advanced D&D were the two best versions of that system. I have kept my three AD&D books (DMG, PH and MM) to this day. 2nd Ed AD&D was the last version that I enjoyed.


Making no value judgements about the content (I have felt each iteration of D&D to be better than the previous one...)


I still have my original AD&D PH, DMG and MM. Dieties and Demigods too - all first run (yeah the DDG has the Cthulu and Melnibonian in it).

Man were those books made to last. Great binding, good paper quality. 30 years on, used hard, and still well bound.

Then on the other end of the spectrum was the first run Unearthed Arcana - that was falling apart on my within 6 months.

[tkdguy]

I prefer the Blue Box edition of D&D.

First that's what I started with. :-)

Second, it has the 9 point alignment system.

Third: it made a distinction between Race and Class.

Unfortunately, it was kind of a dead end since the more recent stuff, Red Box, and Blue Expert box editions weren't compatible. In some respects AD&D was a more natural transition.
That's because the blue basic book was meant to have the players graduate to AD&D afterwards. The red book that came out was where D&D and AD&D became separate games.

A couple of people on the Dragonsfoot forums have expanded on the blue book. I can PM you the links if you're interested.

[Corven_Ren]

I still have all of my 1st edition stuff as well. Heck the only 1st edition stuff I don't have is the Manual of the Planes, MM II, Dungoneers Survival Guide & the Wilderness Survival guide.

[Vondy]

That's because the blue basic book was meant to have the players graduate to AD&D afterwards. The red book that came out was where D&D and AD&D became separate games.

A couple of people on the Dragonsfoot forums have expanded on the blue book. I can PM you the links if you're interested.

Will you send them to me, too?

[AmadanNaBriona]

Funny, I always kinda thought of the white box as being the "First Edition" of D&D

:nya:

[Beast]

same here
which would make AD&D about 3rd edition



Funny, I always kinda thought of the white box as being the "First Edition" of D&D

:nya:

[Lord Mhoram]

Funny, I always kinda thought of the white box as being the "First Edition" of D&D

:nya:


same here
which would make AD&D about 3rd edition

I was looking over Wikipediaand they have a pretty good article about D&D, and another about the different games and versions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editions_of_Dungeons_%26_Dragons)

Pamphlet D&D -> Basic (Holmes) -> Basic/Expert (Modovoy) -> BECMI (Mentzer) -> Rules Cyclopedia

The Holmes basic was intended to be a lead in to AD&D, but Homes and Gary had very different ideas from the game so you had after the Holmes basic

AD&D -> AD&D 2e -> AD&D 2nd Revised (powers and options stuff) -> D&D 3.0 - -> 3.5 -> 4th.

Of course a lot of rumors that AD&D being very different was to push out Arneson's claims to D&D, and that 2nd ed was doing the same to Gygax.

And now you have C&C, Osric, Pathfinder and others - Keeping each version of D&D "alive" for the people who want to play that one.

[tkdguy]

Will you send them to me, too?

PM sent.


I was looking over Wikipediaand they have a pretty good article about D&D, and another about the different games and versions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editions_of_Dungeons_%26_Dragons)

Pamphlet D&D -> Basic (Holmes) -> Basic/Expert (Modovoy) -> BECMI (Mentzer) -> Rules Cyclopedia

The Holmes basic was intended to be a lead in to AD&D, but Homes and Gary had very different ideas from the game so you had after the Holmes basic

AD&D -> AD&D 2e -> AD&D 2nd Revised (powers and options stuff) -> D&D 3.0 - -> 3.5 -> 4th.

Of course a lot of rumors that AD&D being very different was to push out Arneson's claims to D&D, and that 2nd ed was doing the same to Gygax.

And now you have C&C, Osric, Pathfinder and others - Keeping each version of D&D "alive" for the people who want to play that one.

Here's (http://web.fisher.cx/robert/rpg/dnd-id/) an illustrated guide to the different editions, up to and including 4th edition.

[ghost-angel]

For the last month or so I've gotten the idea I want to get into, or run, a Red Box game of D&D. I dunno why really, but I do. I have a lot of the Gazeteer supplements as well as some adventures.

Hummm... maybe I can convince some people to play a few sessions with me.

[tkdguy]

Same here, using the Moldvay and Cook/Marsh editions, aka B/X. The setting would be Middle-earth. I was also trying to make a sword & sorcery campaign similar to that of Conan.

[mirage]

That's because the blue basic book was meant to have the players graduate to AD&D afterwards. The red book that came out was where D&D and AD&D became separate games.

A couple of people on the Dragonsfoot forums have expanded on the blue book. I can PM you the links if you're interested.

Send away. :thumbup:

[penemue]

woo. It'd be great to get those links too!!!

Campaign Info:
The campaign is set in an era roughly equivalent to the late 18th century. There is a central continent in the northern hemisphere that was once a great Empire ruled by a despot who kept various cultural and ethnic groups in check until he died of old age on a campaign to invade the Eastern Continent. Without an Emperor, the Empire fell and the Balkanized states erupted into conflict. A terrible war swept across the continent and to make matters worse a barbarian horde from the steppes of the Eastern Continent chased the Imperial invasion back to the capital. The fall of the Imperial City plunged the continent into a new dark age. Colonies in the Western and Southern Continents fell into ruin, unable to continue without Imperial assistance.
The war raged for 10 years and then out of the centre of the Empire a strange and deadly plague tore through the land. Attempts to flee the continent were impeded by barbarian hordes.
The plague has cut off many villages. The players were stationed on a sleepy garrison on an island and have been cut off for over 5 years because of the plague. The Island's Governor has lost his mind after he sank a plague ship in a very unpopular, but necessary move to keep the island free from disease. Hundred of people died and an attempted coup was put down with bloody ferocity. This really polarized the garrison and the 200 remaining citizens.
A supply mission was sent out to gather materials from the mainland, but it didn't return. That was one month ago and the Captain of the Guards has set up a plan to sneak off the island and try to find out what happened. The Player Characters stumble across the plot and instead of turning him in, they accompany him on his mission to discover the fate of their friends and families on the mainland.
Lots of surprises are in store.

[Teflon Billy]

That's because the blue basic book was meant to have the players graduate to AD&D afterwards. The red book that came out was where D&D and AD&D became separate games.

A couple of people on the Dragonsfoot forums have expanded on the blue book. I can PM you the links if you're interested.Could you just post the links publicly here?

Is there any driving reason to keep them secret?

TB

[Dr. Confoundo]

I'm not sure I understand the love for these old systems. Do you guys get together and play Champions using the first edition ruleset too?

[penemue]

I have no love for 1st ed D&D this was a chance to kick the player's expectations in the butt and try something different for a change.
I still think Hero is the best system for meta genre role playing, but it's sort of like listening to retro 80s music even though there are some really good bands out there now, the familiarity brings you back to your youth. Also it's free.
I think there was a subversive excitement about playing 1st ed. too as 4th ed. has caused so much hype recently.
Anyway, the players are loving it.

[penemue]

I was playing the fantasy campaign last Thursday when I realized I really don't have a lot of properly scaled minis.. So I decided to remedy the situation by cutting up some Heroclix, MageKnight Figures and Warhammer bits and pieces.
Stage One: Cut and paste...
Next step.. add details, prime and then paint.
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=830
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=829

[tkdguy]

Here's (http://aliveandoutofprint.org/resources/thumbnails.php?album=38) one of the links that has some expansions for the 1978 blue book (Holmes) version and the 1981 red book (Moldvay) version.

Here's (http://www.philotomy.com/holmes.html) a link that lets you download another expansion of the Holmes edition.

Note: The editions are named after their editors. These expansions were created by fans of these systems who still play them.

[tkdguy]

I'm not sure I understand the love for these old systems. Do you guys get together and play Champions using the first edition ruleset too?
It's a matter of personal preference. Not everyone likes the newest edition of a game. I personally like AD&D 2nd edition better than 3rd edition, which I eventually tried. I therefore never "upgraded" to 3.5 and am not interested in 4th edition.

[Lord Mhoram]

I'm not sure I understand the love for these old systems. Do you guys get together and play Champions using the first edition ruleset too?

I know people that play 3rd or 4th instead of 5th. I may likely stay with 5th, depending on what 6th looks like.

Sometimes newer editions change things you don't want change. I really didn't feel that 2nd ed D&D was better than first - it didn't change things the way I wanted them changed, and changed things I liked. I played 1st D&D until 3rd came out.

[tkdguy]

Basic D&D (http://r4bid.net/_LoreWeaver/DnD-phb/index.html)

Edit: It's not the entire Basic Set, but it has a lot of good information there.

[RedneckJedi]

Yes. Its about preferences. I prefer 1st & 2nd ed. D&D over 3rd + . Its no longer the same game. I played since 1977 and agree that the things you want changed were never changed. I personally like 2nd edition best but will occasionally play basic for nostalgia reasons.

[penemue]

Session 2 occurred on Thursday night. It was delayed by the late arrival of most players due to the snow and a Christmas party.
We started around 9:30 or so... The PCs accompanied the captain of the guards on his mission to the mainland to discover the fate of the month overdue supply mission. The characters glided through the snow past partially sunken galleons, cannons rusting and masts collapsed. Arriving into a fishing village the scene was unnervingly quiet. The port was the site of a horrible battle. Two huge warships are run aground in the shallows and most of the fishing vessels have been pushed on shore by ice and crushed into kindling. Negotiating the graveyard of sunken vessels is quite dangerous and the docks have been all burnt and collapsed. The pilot stays with the skiff in case a hasty retreat is in order. The characters wander the burnt-out streets and are shocked by the damage and quiet. The town took a horrible beating from cannon fire. The surgeon character noticed movement in a building's attic window up on the hill. The characters made their way to the building and banged at the door. The thief player was taken ill and had to go home. There is something going around. We made the thief break in the side door and climb up the stairs. Suddenly a noise broke the silence, the baying of hounds. Lots of them. A pack of mad dogs were descending the hills down by the docks. The captain of the guards ran to get the pilot from the boat, unshouldering and readying his musket. The PC guardsman followed him, ready to fire at anything that jumped out. The pilot heard the Captain's calls and ran towards him. The dogs moved in on the pilot and as one attacked the PC guardsman fired and saved him. The Captain backed off and took down another dog..
Meanwhile the attic dweller is a warrior who has moved from attic to attic in the village every night, avoiding the "things" that wander at night. They battle the dogs in a fairly epic battle. The dogs are behaving strangely, full of rage. Two grenades are used by the Captain (all that he had) and that thins the herd. The PC guardsman was the only one hurt, but the surgeon speeds his healing and they take refuge in the attic.
After investigating one dead dog further, the surgeon identifies a black flakey material that has infested its brain.

[penemue]

Stage Two to remedy the lack of human fantasy minis.... painting.
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=879
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=880
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=881
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=882
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=883
http://www.herogames.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=884

[penemue]

Muskets and Mayhem Episode 3: Darkest Before the Dawn
The characters are resting up in the attic of the abandoned building with Glint, who has been moving from attic to attic, hiding out every night. Avoiding the things that wander the night. The Fusileer who was injured last time rests up and there is a feast of cold dried fish to feed everyone as they wait out the night. As dawn approaches, Yannick, the Captain of the Guards heads out with the surgeon. They notice the dead dogs in the street are gone, no footprints in the snow, just... gone. They run up to take the dog carcass the surgeon had been looking at and as it hits full sunlight it falls apart into flakey ash. These things can't stand light.
Yannick and the surgeon continue through the town, it's almost all burnt out and in ruins. They approach a burned out cathedral, the roof has caved in, but the structure is relatively secure. The thief surveys the waterfront and town, looking for evidence of the supply team that they were looking for, but no evidence is found. Looking into the town, the thief notices the Captain and the Surgeon approach the cathedral across a graveyard. Then he also notices a soldier dressed in the red uniform of the old Empire troops approaching them. He climbs off the roof and runs into town.
Yannick is determined to check out the cathedral from the inside. He walks in, but the surgeon is unsure, staying at the door.
The thief is startled by a soldier who runs out of a nearby alley. He jumps into another alley, but he was spotted. He climbs up between the two closely placed buildings and drops on the soldier, knocking him down. They struggle on the ground, the thief attempting to pin the soldier, but the soldier hits the thief with the butt of his rifle, hitting with a critical hit, breaking a rib. The thief falls unconscious.
The surgeon steps in to see how Yannick is doing. They have a sense that they are being watched. Yannick preps his musket. The surgeon sees a bayonet move into the door and ready, aiming at Yannick. He swings at the musket. The Fusileer fires and Yannick fires back hitting the soldier in the spine with a critical hit, killing him instantly.
This action seems to awaken something under the cathedral, it's alike a wave of movement echoes under the stone floor.
The shooting awakens the thief. The soldier is gone, but there are tracks in the snow.
The fusileer and Glint (the attic dweller) also get a move on the check out the shooting. The skiff pilot stays hidden in the attic.
In the Cathedral, dark shapes step out of the shadows. The infected people that live deep in the catacombs. Yannick is being outflanked. The surgeon steps out onto the steps, almost stumbling over the dead soldier.
Yannick shoots at a creature in the choir balcony, but only wings it.
The thief confronts the second soldier who is aiming to fire at the surgeon on the steps. He is joined by Glint and then the fusileer. Outnumbered, the soldier tries to talk his way out. They move in as Yannick runs past the creature and two more leap at him and miss. Yannick slides out into the light and slides down the stairs, his metal armour sending sparks flying. The creatures withdraw from the light. The thief throws a burning sack into the church, but the fire doesn't spread. They bury the fallen soldier and talk to Duncan, the other Empire soldier. He claims he walked two days from a local canal in search of supplies. His unit is from a garrison north of the Imperial capital. The characters are shocked to hear that the Empire still exists, having fallen so many years past, before the continent descended into chaos. The plague apparently hit quickly, moving up the food chain, infecting carnivores , driving them mad with an insane rage. It seems to be some kind of fungus that grows inside the host, infecting the brain, it turns the victim into unstoppable creatures of unfocused rage and fury. There is some talk of blowing up the cathedral, but the PCs decide to take the skiff up the coast to find the supply barge that had been lost from the island. They push off from the ruined docks, carefully avoiding sunken ships in port and moving up the coast.

[Tuscarora]

I would play a 1st edition AD&D or even D&D game. The last editions took the RP out of the game by creating a rule for everything. It was easier and more fun to just make choices as a DM on success of something or not.

[Nolgroth]

For the last month or so I've gotten the idea I want to get into, or run, a Red Box game of D&D. I dunno why really, but I do. I have a lot of the Gazeteer supplements as well as some adventures.

Hummm... maybe I can convince some people to play a few sessions with me.Can you run on Thursdays? :)

Yes I saw the dates on the posts.

[tkdguy]

I would play a 1st edition AD&D or even D&D game. The last editions took the RP out of the game by creating a rule for everything. It was easier and more fun to just make choices as a DM on success of something or not.

I agree, and so do a lot of the people who prefer the older editions.

Have you visited the Dragonsfoot (http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/index.php) forums? It's one of the boards for people like us who prefer the older editions. And they have free downloads of character sheets and adventures the members created.

[Captain Obvious]

Some of those Dragonsfoot adventures are really nice. I was surprised to find them for free after seeing some of the stuff that gets sold these days.

[Vondy]

If I were going to play D&D I'd play 1st or 2nd Ed. AD&D.

The later editions did nothing for me.

[Fitz]

I've changed my fantasy campaign over to a fairly heavily house-ruled version of Swords & Wizardry (http://www.swordsandwizardry.com/), which is a free 0D&D clone, and I'm enjoying GMing more than I have in years. Hero is a fantastic toolkit, and it allows an enormous amount of flexibility, but it takes a lot of work to run, and I was getting pretty badly burned out after years of it. S&W (or 0D&D) is similar enough to AD&D that I can run it in my sleep, but is a lot less restrictive in many ways than AD&D was.

[tkdguy]

I tried out my sword & sorcery campaign using the 1st Edition AD&D rules last year. I had planned to use Chaosium's Stormbringer game with a few cosmetic modifications, but I ended up running a game on the fly at a friend's house. Since we were familiar with AD&D and he only has the 1st Edition rules, I used those rules.

[Captain Obvious]

I've been playing D&D with my kids occasionally. I use the Rules Cyclopedia rules...simple enough to keep them on task and not overwhelmed with choices.

[tkdguy]

I've been playing D&D with my kids occasionally. I use the Rules Cyclopedia rules...simple enough to keep them on task and not overwhelmed with choices.

That's a good choice. It has almost all the rules from levels 1 to 36 in one book. Besides, I always had a soft spot for D&D.