Editions

[pawsplay]

Why do people say 1e and 2e as if that is unambiguous?

First, there was OD&D.

Then there was AD&D, and AD&D 2e.

Also, around the same time, Basic D&D, then Basic D&D (red and blue), IIRC, and the expansions that comprise the Rules Cyclopedia.

D&D Third Edition seems to have been pulled out of a hat. I guess it was designed to appeal to AD&D fans, who could view it as a third edition, but it's also a third edition of Basic D&D. Or it could be a third edition of OD&D, then either AD&D or D&D.

But in any case, D&D 3e is not just another iteration of AD&D. It includes a number of Basic D&D isms, including max hit points at first level (optional rule from Basic GM guide), power attack (formerely known as Haymaker, high level fighter option), and so on. D&D 3e is a reinvisioning, drawing on many sources, including AD&D 1e, 2e, Powers and Skills, the Rules Cyclopedia, and other developments in the RPG world (such as Ars Magica, Talislanta 3e, and Rolemaster).

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[Thanee]

1e = AD&D 1st Edition, it stands in no direct relation to the 3e of D&D 3rd Edition.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Odhanan]

1E means AD&D1e. 2E means AD&D2e.
All the editions of D&D have a particular name. OD&D. B/X edition. Rules Cyclopedia. Et cetera.

I guess fans of the game visiting regularly hobby message boards are just used to these denominations.

 

[Contrarian]

But in any case, D&D 3e is not just another iteration of AD&D. It includes a number of Basic D&D isms, including max hit points at first level (optional rule from Basic GM guide)

1E had that as an optional rule, too. It's in Unearthed Arcana.

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Grind that axe all you want; it's still not gonna chop anything.

 

[tzor]

Almost all edition discussions evolve around 2nd Edition AD&D. That's the first edition that had an edition number. 1st edition is the original AD&D. The previous edition was simply D&D and until attempts at revising the original edition this was simple enough as it was. When third edition dropped the "A" things got complex.

3E is clearly an evolution of AD&D, not OD&D. Many of the features are a direct result of problems with later sub-editions of 2E, especially the later development of the 2E kits. It is formula not table driven. Spells are unified across the classes. In some ways 2E is more similiar to 3E than 1 E was to 2E.

 

[WayneLigon]

Why do people say 1e and 2e as if that is unambiguous?

Because there are substancial differences between Original and the various Basic Set itterations, and AD&D. For all practical purposes, the Basic Set stuff (eventually culminating in the Rules Cyclopedia) is a seperate game not connected to AD&D. Treating races as classes is the main point of difference; AD&D and AD&D 2E have this very major point in common, as does 3E. Thus 3E is much more the 'child' of AD&D than it is of the basic set/original line.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

1E had that as an optional rule, too. It's in Unearthed Arcana.

Not quite. UA gave a minimum hit point total for 1st level characters, but not max. It was average before con bonuses, rounded down, I believe.

 

[Crothian]

Why do people say 1e and 2e as if that is unambiguous?

Because most people know what they are talking about. There might be a lot of editions but most D&Ders know what we mean when they read 1e

 

[Henry]

In way, through their use, they've been MADE unambiguous through their use on message boards. Similar to how I use the term "Kleenex" and I've never been corrected to use "facial tissue", or "Band-aid" to mean "adhesive bandage."

 

[diaglo]

OD&D(1974)
1edADnD
2edD&D Holmes
3edD&D Holmes
4edD&D Moldvay
Cook Expert
5edD&D Mentzer along with X, C, M, and I
2edADnD
RC
2.5edADnD
2000ed
4edDnD Hackmaster
3.11ed for workgroups