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

[Retreater]

Why not just import those features to 5e?

Not to get into edition warring, but there are notable differences between TSR-era games and 5e, including...

1. hit point bloat
2. prevalence of magical subclasses
3. more common but less powerful magic
4. death saves
5. easy healing
6. passive Perception
7. skill checks that override roleplaying
8. skill checks that override problem solving

 

[Stormonu]

I've found myself considering running a 2E game more and more, if not at least to refresh my memory of that system.

I'd have to find a replacement for level drain that is scary, but not as frustratingly punishing as it was back in 1E/2E, though.

THAC0 wouldn't bother me, but using ascending AC might be something that benefited my players. Also probably wouldn't be a bad idea to convert the % thief skills into d20 rolls (each 5% being 1 on d20).

 

[GreyLord]

I enjoy THAC0, I actually like it a LOT MORE than 5e's proficiency bonus which is the exact same no matter if you are a trained soldier that is also a sniper that can hit something half a mile away, or a book worm that apparantly can hit just as easily with a knife... (BLEH...I HATE how 5e's proficiency bonus gives the idea that everyone advances in how they can fight equally...the most unbelievable thing about 5e to me).

I enjoy THACO much more than the "Easier" method of doing BAB in 3.X edition. Supposedly adding is much easier...supposedly. However, with THAC0 normally it was calculate THAC0 out with other bonuses included once (STR+THAC0+Class skills) and then that's it. You subtract your enemies AC from it and roll over that.

With 3.X you do something similar to get your AB (BAB+STR or DEX+Class Bonus) but then you add after EVERY ROLL.

So...one math problem with subtraction during combat vs. 200,000,000+ infinite math problems...which is easier again??

I suppose in 3.x you could Take the AB from the AC of the creature to narrow it down to doing one math problem for that creature...but then...you are doing the exact same thing people complained about THAC0 with...you need to know how to subtract and according to THAC0 detractors...we know how hard THAT WAS...

That said, I can't say 2e is my favorite version of D&D, but I never had a problem with THAC0, but people keep complaining about it like I should have.

 

[Jack Daniel]

I don't see a meaningful difference between (d20 + descending AC ≥ THAC0) and (d20 + BAB ≥ ascending AC). It's the same math either way.

The easiest method of all — and I use this whenever I play — is to leave the descending AC values intact, but convert THAC0 into an attack bonus (AB = 21 − THAC0). Then every attack roll is always a quick and easy calculation: target AC + attacker's to-hit bonus, roll that or less on 1d20 to score a hit.

 

[overgeeked]

I enjoy THACO much more than the "Easier" method of doing BAB in 3.X edition. Supposedly adding is much easier...supposedly. However, with THAC0 normally it was calculate THAC0 out with other bonuses included once (STR+THAC0+Class skills) and then that's it. You subtract your enemies AC from it and roll over that.

With 3.X you do something similar to get your AB (BAB+STR or DEX+Class Bonus) but then you add after EVERY ROLL.

So...one math problem with subtraction during combat vs. 200,000,000+ infinite math problems...which is easier again??

Well, you'd have to redo that one math problem every time you got a new magic item, an appropriate level, etc. and that would give you a chart that you'd have to look up...cough "200,000,000+ infinity" cough times. A lot of people would rather do basic addition than look up numbers on a chart repeatedly. But the math is the same, so it's just preference.

I don't see a meaningful difference between (d20 + descending AC ≥ THAC0) and (d20 + BAB ≥ ascending AC). It's the same math either way.

The easiest method of all — and I use this whenever I play — is to leave the descending AC values intact, but convert THAC0 into an attack bonus (AB = 21 − THAC0). Then every attack roll is always a quick and easy calculation: target AC + attacker's to-hit bonus, roll that or less on 1d20 to score a hit.

That's really slick.

 

[Zardnaar]

I've found myself considering running a 2E game more and more, if not at least to refresh my memory of that system.

I'd have to find a replacement for level drain that is scary, but not as frustratingly punishing as it was back in 1E/2E, though.

THAC0 wouldn't bother me, but using ascending AC might be something that benefited my players. Also probably wouldn't be a bad idea to convert the % thief skills into d20 rolls (each 5% being 1 on d20).

I'm thinking of using exhaustion levels instead of level loss.

Magic resitance 3 levels.

6
11
16

Roll that number on a d20 you beat it. Fail spell fizzles.

Stolen from the old 3.5 minis game.

 

[Marc_C]

Just play it as is, no optional rules, but start everyone at level 3. Remember to give magical items to the PCs.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Or weakling low level mages.

Every D&D player from 3e on ... "I love D&D, but you know what ... it's so unfair how wizards are so powerful, and martials suck now. Also? What ever happened to niche protection?"

D&D players going back to the old editions after playing 3e+ for years .... "How will I ever play those weak magic users?"

 

[Ath'kethin]

Not to get into edition warring, but there are notable differences between TSR-era games and 5e, including...

1. hit point bloat
2. death saves
3. skill checks that override roleplaying
4. skill checks that override problem solving

Not to quibble, but this is a forum on the internet and therefore the very ideal of quibble-space:

1. I remember people complaining about hit point bloat in the 2e era, since Thieves had a d6 Hit Die instead of the original d4.

2. Death saves, like much of 5e's "innovations," appeared as early as the 1991 D&D Rules Cyclopedia (and probably before that).

3. I knew DMs in the early 90s who refused to use the Proficiency or ever the Secondary Skills systems in AD&D/2e due to the same complaints.

4. See 3, above.

TL;DR - we've been trying to get these darn kids off our lawns for DECADES, at least.

 

[Stormonu]

Every D&D player from 3e on ... "I love D&D, but you know what ... it's so unfair how wizards are so powerful, and martials suck now. Also? What ever happened to niche protection?"

D&D players going back to the old editions after playing 3e+ for years .... "How will I ever play those weak magic users?"

What makes me laugh is looking through my late 2E books and seeing the RPGA ad “We won’t make you play the cleric” - they had no clue how good clerics could be, even before Codzilla.