I love AD&D

[thedungeondelver]

How so? WP are already present in the PHB and I'm unaware of any advantage they confer to a character.

Arr! I was posting late at night - I meant weapon specialization!

 

[Gentlegamer]

3. Lack of Ripple-Effect from altering the rules...

I came up with the "Ripple-Effect" term when 3e came out and I tried running it with a low-magic campaign world. Basically, if I altered one part of the system, it would cause "ripples" throughout the system. For example, cutting down on magic items would alter the CR of various monsters and NPCs. It would be difficult, for another example, to alter the skill system without effecting the rogue and the bard. Tinkering with feats might hose the fighter.

Rules altered in AD&D usually don't "ripple" out and effect other systems. For example, altering the proficiency system will not effect thieves skills. Another example, letting the poor 1st level wizard get bonus spells for high intelligence (like a cleric with high system) will not make him overshadow other classes (he still needs to conserve his spells and stay out of combat).
Or removing demi-human level limits won't effect the rules (thought it might affect player choices for races).

This lack of "ripple effect" enabled a DM to tailor AD&D to suit his desires and tastes without much difficultly.

I agree with your general view. There is more "rules space" in the system to allow you to change things without having too many unintended consequences for other parts of the system. However, I disagree with what I bolded: a low-level magic-user able to use several Sleep spells could seriously unbalance a typical low-level game.

 

[Ulrick]

I agree with your general view. There is more "rules space" in the system to allow you to change things without having too many unintended consequences for other parts of the system. However, I disagree with what I bolded: a low-level magic-user able to use several Sleep spells could seriously unbalance a typical low-level game.

Balance? Balance? We don't need no stinking balance! Blah!

A couple sleep spells could knock out a bunch of kobolds or goblins, but they're not worth a whole lot of XP anyway. And, eventually, the magic-user will run out of spells...

But then again, I've gamed with a guy who miscast sleep. He targeted it so that half of the bad guys and half of the PCs got hit. And he did this TWICE! Fortunately, I had played an elf both times who stayed awake to yell at him!

 

[Irda Ranger]

The whole post was great but this part deserves special attention. I think Ulrick just nailed the most important thing that makes AD&D awesome. Having the leveling process be a mere moment of bookeeping which allowed attention to return to the actual game is golden. No time wasted on wondering what you will choose from column A or B, or what items you would like to get for slot X when a level is gained.

When playtime is limited it sure is nice to devote more of that time to the actual game.

Yes. I've been known to house-rule my AD&D campaign occassionally, but I always keep a sharp eye on making sure I don't violate this "During game time, keep it simple" philosophy or the strong class archetypes easily leveled "with the least of bookkeeping." These design philosophies (along with the modules!) are what makes AD&D so great to play.

 

[Irda Ranger]

I've gamed with a guy who miscast sleep. He targeted it so that half of the bad guys and half of the PCs got hit. And he did this TWICE! Fortunately, I had played an elf both times who stayed awake to yell at him!

I gamed with a guy who miscast Holy Word and knocked the entire party except himself unconscious just as we were about to face off against a Lich. Not good.

 

[Obryn]

Hah, I have a similar sleep story from my recent AD&D game, in the Moathouse.

The party's wizard cast Sleep. The party was all first level, and the snake had 3 HD... He rolled a 7 for the amount of HDs affected... And you can guess how that went.

Fortunately, given that it was a giant snake, it just ate the guy it had already killed and crawled off.

-O

 

[thedungeondelver]

The current TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL game I'm running has the same "cast sleep, damn the torpedoes" thing going on with regard to the party magic-user...that, and he throws darts into close quarters melee.

There are some funny, funny stories about how the party has dealt with this.