D&D 5E 5E AD&D Restricitons

[Zardnaar]

This thread is about how you use 5E to run a restricted game so it is a spin off form the when to restrict stuff. The DMG also has optional rules on things like alignment. ANy class or race introduced after 2000 is also off limits.

For the most part this is a composite of 1E and 2E AD&D so you can be a monk for example even if 2E excluded them. Had Gary still been in TSR his 2E would also have excluded the Monk but I will be allowing it in. RAW 5E only has 4 core races and classes and the game has been designed to incorporate this. Only one race or archetype is allowed with a possible exception of wizards as 5E has no generic wizard and 2E allowed specialists.

Rules used
Ability Score Increases only, no feats

Optional Rules DMG

Alignment restrictions (As AD&D)
Slow Healing
Class and Race restrictions

Allowed Races

Dwarf (Mountain)
Elf (High)
Gnome (Rock)
Halfling (lightfoot)
Half Elf
Half Orc
Human (default)

If you were using 1E UA you can add in the other Dwarf, Elven, Gnome, and Halfling subraces and perhaps the Barbarian but the 5E Barbarian is very different to the AD&D Barbarian.

Classes
Bard (valor)
Cleric (healing Domain)
Druid (land)
Fighter (Champion)
Monk (way of the open Hand)
Paladin (devotion)
Ranger (hunter)
Rogue (assassin and thief)
Wizard (illusionist and invoker)

a 2E game would also allow the other wizard specialists and you could also about the Eldritch Knight and Arcane Trickster being allowed in. So 11 archetypes, 17 if you count the other wizard schools. Paladins are LG only, Druids are Neutral only, rangers good, Monks any lawful, Bards any non Lawful.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Why did you pick mountain dwarf as the limited one? Is 1e specific that the normal PHB version are the mountain sort, and then all the other editions used hill dwarves as the one mentioned in the PHB just to be different?

Same question with halflings, or slightly different, did the 1e halfling not have save bonuses like a dwarf?

I guess you could be intentionally creating differentiation between the races a bit since back in the day there was large portions of overlap between gnomes, dwarves, and halflings.

 

[Zardnaar]

Why did you pick mountain dwarf as the limited one? Is 1e specific that the normal PHB version are the mountain sort, and then all the other editions used hill dwarves as the one mentioned in the PHB just to be different?

Same question with halflings, or slightly different, did the 1e halfling not have save bonuses like a dwarf?

I guess you could be intentionally creating differentiation between the races a bit since back in the day there was large portions of overlap between gnomes, dwarves, and halflings.

The PHB had advice on what the most likely races are and in FR for example the PHB Dwarf was the mountain Dwarf. It could honestly go either way in the Dwarf's case as IIRC the Hll Dwarf was the default in non FR games.

I think the Basic rules also said something like the Lightfoot was the most common one, I could be wrong on that and had a brainfart the Stout might be the better one.

 

[Shiroiken]

I would suggest swapping the sub-race abilities of the Rock Gnome for the Forest Gnome (except ability score adjustment). The Tinker Gnome (which is what I call the Rock Gnome) didn't come about until 2E or later, and then it was mostly a Realms thing IIRC. The Gnomes of Dragonlance were Tinker Gnomes, but they were specifically different than normal Gnomes.

This would make the "default" Gnome:
+1 Con
Natural Illusionist
Speak with Small Beasts

 

[Zardnaar]

I would suggest swapping the sub-race abilities of the Rock Gnome for the Forest Gnome (except ability score adjustment). The Tinker Gnome (which is what I call the Rock Gnome) didn't come about until 2E or later, and then it was mostly a Realms thing IIRC. The Gnomes of Dragonlance were Tinker Gnomes, but they were specifically different than normal Gnomes.

This would make the "default" Gnome:
+1 Con
Natural Illusionist
Speak with Small Beasts

Tinker Gnomes were in 1E but they were separate from the PHB.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Don't forget about level limits and racial class restrictions! Only humans can be paladins.

 

[Shiroiken]

Tinker Gnomes were in 1E but they were separate from the PHB.

I know... I said that they were in Dragonlace (which was published in 1E), but specifically different than normal (i.e. PHB) Gnomes.

The Rock Gnomes of 5E are closer to Tinker Gnomes than 1E PHB Gnomes, which is why I'd suggest switching the abilities, but keeping the +1 Con. That is what I've done for my Greyhawk Gnomes (which makes things easy, since Gygaxian Greyhawk has no Forest Gnomes).

 

[delericho]

Don't forget about level limits and racial class restrictions! Only humans can be paladins.

Yep, that's what I'd expected this thread to focus on. Also alignment restrictions on the classes, and tight limits to which multiclass combinations are allowed.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Yep, that's what I'd expected this thread to focus on. Also alignment restrictions on the classes, and tight limits to which multiclass combinations are allowed.

In exchange for those tight multiclassing restrictions, though, you get real, simultaneous multiclassing, up to your level limits. You can potentially become an Elven Fighter 14/Wizard 16 someday, if you gain enough experience.

 

[Zardnaar]

In exchange for those tight multiclassing restrictions, though, you get real, simultaneous multiclassing, up to your level limits. You can potentially become an Elven Fighter 14/Wizard 16 someday, if you gain enough experience.

I would probably just use the 3.5 gestalt rules in 5E.

Level limits are not really needed as we have a better human. Racial restrictions ciould come back. Hell I want them to come back if they ever do Greyhawk again or Dragonlance.