D&D 2E Now I have the hankering to play a 2E game...

[Gorg]

After reading through- and posting in- the which Edition thread, and having a look through my old rulebooks I now want to play a 2nd edition game...

If for no other reason than because I like the 2E monsters so much, lol. I found today, that I have 2 big binders full of Monster Compendium pages, The Monstrous Compendium hardcover; Annuals 1-4; the Mystara appendix; AND the Ravenloft appendix. Also have the Tome of Magic, a giant stack of splats, and both Combat and Tactics and Spells and Powers. Even have a handful of 2E Greyhawk modules., and some campaign setting stuff.

Of course, after playing 3E and 5E, I'm not sure I could go back to THAC0 and race class/level limits... Or weakling low level mages.

But DARNIT, it looks so fun!

That massive stash of 3E materials is calling me as well...

PHOOEY!! on having so many fun editions, lol.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yeah it falls to me as well.

I don't use THAC0 or level limits though.

 

[Retreater]

Yeah. THAC0 isn't terrible to convert to an attack bonus in an ascending AC formula. I do this in Swords & Wizardry.
For the weakling mages, maybe up their hit die type to d6? I don't think either would "break" the game.

 

[cbwjm]

I wouldn't mind running a 2e game. I'd probably keep thac0 just because it isn't really that difficult to use, and I think people would pick it up easily enough. Other things I'd do:

• I'd grant mages additional spell slots like a cleric but based off intelligence instead of wisdom to give them a little extra kick at low-levels. Might also give them some sort of magical basic attack that requires a wand or staff.
• All other classes that have spells would also gain bonus slots, bards, rangers, and paladins would get a few extra.
• Ignore level limits and minimum ability scores. I wouldn't ignore prime requisites so a paladin still needs good strength and charisma for that 10% bonus (though that 10% doesn't really count for all that much in the long run)
• Open up multiclassing to all races and maybe get rid of dual classing altogether.
• Allow any class to learn to use any weapon. Want to play a wizard wielding a greatsword? Go for it! Still won't be any good due to a low thac0 progression but you can still use it.
• Remove thief skills and make them nonweapon proficiencies any class that gets thief skills gains either specific skills or bonus skill slots to select skills from the rogue group.

Not sure what else I'd change. I'd consider simplifying weapon proficiencies to weapon groups, same with specialisation. Might also grant warriors a bonus to damage equal to their level/4 rounded up and the ability to cleave once/level when dropping an enemy to 0 hit points. That's largely an ability from ACKs which I think would fit in well with standard 2e dnd.

 

[Zardnaar]

Think I let humans MC anything they like and Demihumans can dual class. Last days of 2E I gave wizards bonus spells a'la clerics.

 

[DaveMage]

Just play with a party full of Bladesingers. I'm sure you'll have a grand old time....

 

[toucanbuzz]

I'd have no desire to return to THAC0 (after 10 years of play, still had players who didn't get the math), but I loved, loved, loved, the idea of opportunity to shine for each class and to have to be clever to overcome certain enemies. Mind Flayers with 90% magic resistance and a nasty stun cone? Golems that shrugged off nearly every traditional attack? Life draining undead that were friggin' the thing of nightmares... Some monsters pushed players to be inventive instead of merely pressing button A (default attack) and dealing damage.

 

[overgeeked]

After reading through- and posting in- the which Edition thread, and having a look through my old rulebooks I now want to play a 2nd edition game...

If for no other reason than because I like the 2E monsters so much, lol. I found today, that I have 2 big binders full of Monster Compendium pages, The Monstrous Compendium hardcover; Annuals 1-4; the Mystara appendix; AND the Ravenloft appendix. Also have the Tome of Magic, a giant stack of splats, and both Combat and Tactics and Spells and Powers. Even have a handful of 2E Greyhawk modules., and some campaign setting stuff.

Of course, after playing 3E and 5E, I'm not sure I could go back to THAC0 and race class/level limits... Or weakling low level mages.

But DARNIT, it looks so fun!

That massive stash of 3E materials is calling me as well...

PHOOEY!! on having so many fun editions, lol.

It would be pretty easy to boost the magic-user’s hit dice and give them simple damaging cantrips. Removing class and level restrictions is a snap. Just say it and done. Ascending AC is easy to do. Descending AC is 9 minus your whatever. Ascending AC is ten plus your whatever. The PHB tells you the to-hit bonus progression for each class, just hand that out as a bonus to-hit. Done.

 

[J-H]

I'd have no desire to return to THAC0 (after 10 years of play, still had players who didn't get the math), but I loved, loved, loved, the idea of opportunity to shine for each class and to have to be clever to overcome certain enemies. Mind Flayers with 90% magic resistance and a nasty stun cone? Golems that shrugged off nearly every traditional attack? Life draining undead that were friggin' the thing of nightmares... Some monsters pushed players to be inventive instead of merely pressing button A (default attack) and dealing damage.

Why not just import those features to 5e?

 

[toucanbuzz]

Why not just import those features to 5e?

I have, little by little. Golems were one of my earliest steps. Many monsters are more like puzzles to be solved rather than bags of hit points.