On combat orientation, 3e vs. 1e: pages on combat in the 1eDMG, 23/169; in the 3eDMG, 23/246. Pages on combat in the 1ePH, 2/109; in the 3e PH, 19/274.
I disagree that 1e was only concerned with combat. Gary included an abundance of information on world-building and establishing a believable...
Oh, I've bought it. Just haven't read it yet! I've a ton of stuff to get thru and haven't made to that particular tome yet. I'll post when I do tho. :)
Initiative OK
Treasure OK
Spells No Way-That's the spell caster's responsibility and no one else's. If it ain't written down, it ain't there!
Hit Points No Way-I'm not gonna let some other bozo keep track o' my hitpoints! If they don't do it, drop 'em on the 2nd hit. "I was keepin' track, and...
Since you're willing to consider "The Complete Wizards Handbook" I'll add KenzerCo's HM "The Spellslinger's Guide to Wurld Domination: Crushing Empires for Fun and Profit". How can one resist a title like that? Haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to it. :D
Asmodeus. Well because...he's Asmodeous! As a DM my players would have a tiny chance against any of these BBEGs. Against The Man himself, they'd need a miracle!
AD&D: 4d6, drop the lowest die 7 times, drop the lowest stat. Repeat twice for 3 sets of stats, pick the best set, arrange as desired.
HM: 3d6, in order.
In 1e, playing that character's (F/MU) campaign 4, maybe 5 months out of the year, about 6 hours per weekly session, it took approximately 10 years. In 3e, got a wizard to 7th level, 4 hours per weekly session, in less than 2 months.
Munchkin re-defined
OK. I got that #98 a little wrong. Looking at this player's sheet a little more closely, I see scattered around that this is a multiclassed character to the tune of:
#98 (revisited):
Monk20/Rogue20/Fighter20/Wizard20/Cleric20/Adept20!
The guy says he actually played this...