I've introduced my 5th ed group to AD&D 2E

[DarkCrisis]

I'm not entirely sure why OD&D settled on these systems. Ability checks to roll under your ability score, ok, that makes sense. But there's so much else that can trip up newbies, lol.

DM: "Ok, so, your AC goes down, based on what armor you wear, and your defensive adjustment from Dexterity lowers your AC."

Player: "Right, ok, so in that case, my Platemail gives me 3, my 15 Dex reduces that to 2 and my shield...oh!"

DM: "Oh?"

Player: "So that magic shield +2 is cursed then! I want to get rid of it!"

DM: "No, it's not cursed, it lowers your AC by 2."

Player: "Wouldn't that be a Shield -2 then?"

DM: "....."

Baldurs Gate introduced me to the rules of AD&D.

So I load up the game and make a fighter and start off next to the inn.

I go in and buy some leather armor and equip it…. Why did my Armor Class go down? I figured I wasn’t trained to use it yet and took it off and went about my way to explore..

 

[Emirikol]

And I have found a renewed passion for DMing D&D. It has been missing a long time.

AD&D is always will be D&D to me. It just feels more like an actual adventure. IMO.

Great to hear. Im always nostalgic when I read these things.

 

[Emirikol]

During the forced world shutdown, we played A4 Slavelords dungeon with 1e (yes, naked with a dagger). We had a blast. No Im keen to run it again.
During 2008-2014-ish we switched to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. It has MUCH lower hit points (wound threshold) but damage still scales up dangerously.
Since we use milestone xp for all our games, players really use their skill and creativity more often to solve problems.

 

[Jahydin]

@DarkCrisis

Had a blast reading about your experience and feel the same way. I was a bit too young to play AD&D, so no nostalgia at play when I say I find it more exciting to run than the current edition. As a player though, I prefer to run two different classes to keep things more interesting. Leveling up at different intervals, getting more use out of random treasure, and solving different sets of problems are just some of the perks.

Have you tried Castles & Crusades? It's free to check out!

Keeps all the combat math of AD&D, has well written classes, uses a simple d20 attribute check system, and ascending AC!

For those that dislike the Thief's low-success rate, C&C has that covered as well. Thieves usually start with at least a 50% chance to succeed in their Dex Skills.

But if you're really in love with AD&D rules, Hyperborea is also a fun read just for the 22 subclasses alone!

 

[Alzrius]

The way to do this would be to do it as color, which is how Raistlin was run by the player in Dragonlance. Raistlin's CON was actually a 12, but he roleplayed it as Raistlin had very poor health and only kept going because of the potions and herbs he was continually consuming.

Minor nitpick, but Raistlin's Constitution score was 10, not 12. I checked in Dragonlance Adventures, DLC3 Dragonlance Classics Volume III, and Dragonlance Classics: 15th Anniversary Edition, and they're all in agreement on that point. Not that it makes much of a difference, but I thought it was worth noting.

Please note my use of affiliate links in this post.

 

[Celebrim]

Minor nitpick, but Raistlin's Constitution score was 10, not 12. I checked in Dragonlance Adventures, DLC3 Dragonlance Classics Volume III, and Dragonlance Classics: 15th Anniversary Edition, and they're all in agreement on that point. Not that it makes much of a difference, but I thought it was worth noting.

Fair enough. I was going on memory and should have looked it up before stating it as a fact. Thank you for the correction.

The point however stands. Constitution of 10 is not a particularly low score suggesting fragility and ill health. It's perfectly average. Neither CON 10 or CON 12 would have in 1e AD&D provided bonus hit points.

 

[Reynard]

The point however stands. Constitution of 10 is not a particularly low score suggesting fragility and ill health.

Rolling a 1d4 for HP at first level might be thought of that way, though.

 

[Mallus]

A 2e game sounds great!

Maybe 2e will be our next D&D campaign. We’re playing 5e now after a 2-year 0e (Labyrinth Lord) game and I admit it a nice change of pace to be able to do heroic practically from the start.

2e with the common house rules and all the kits/splatbooks would make a nice middle ground between 5e and (the oldest) old-school.

 

[DarkCrisis]

We are having a blast with 2E. All but one of the players that is. I think she (Druid player) feels under powered compared to what shes used to in 5E.

 

[James Gasik]

We are having a blast with 2E. All but one of the players that is. I think she (Druid player) feels under powered compared to what shes used to in 5E.

Yeah, AD&D Druids had a lot of spells that only work in specific environments, and their ability to take on animal forms wasn't nearly the powerhouse it became in the WotC era. It gets better at higher levels...but then you have to start fighting other Druids for supremacy!