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My expectations for OD&D and B/X match yours. I also probably play them the same way. I use all three pillars of play with dungeon and wilderness exploration, combat, and social interaction. My current B/X group is dungeon crawling now, but are at the cusp of name level and have some domain...

Magic items have always been a boutique industry in my campaigns. You can buy a magic item but it is by brokerage (you need to make the right contacts, spend gold and wait the time set up the deal) and you can't special order the exact item you want. You might be able to commission a high...

There is complexity and then there is difficulty. At lower levels you have less abilities, so you have less complexity. In these terms, you could argue that low levels may be a sort of training wheels level... introduce the game at less complexity so new players can slowly develop their...

I'd allow the PC to perform magical research to learn that spell. If they spend the time and money and adventure for the right components, I'd let the player design a spell that matches this. They would have to compromise because they wouldn't be able to learn the spell at this power level. 5e...

Only if you believe levels 1-2 are training wheels which I don't. Low level is just as much a part of the D&D experience as high level.

You may fall off the bike many times while trying to learn to ride. Do people normally give up the first time they fall, never to try to ride again?

Mainly because in my opinion, D&D isn't just about story. There are some games that are story games (like Fiasco for one) that exist for the sake of creating a story and the fun in the process is its own reward. But D&D is not like that. You can tell stories with D&D, but it is also a game...

That section has basic DCs for challenge. But, in the traps section of the DMG there is a more detailed set of tables that include expected Save DCs, Attack Bonuses, and damage expressions for minor, setback, and deadly traps. These tables can be used for any kind of adhoc ruling. I was...

For me it depends on the way it is setup. I don’t mind milestone leveling if there are clear and understandable milestones that I can use to make intelligent choices for my character. Sometimes people make milestone leveling into level based on story or when the DM feels like it. I wouldn’t...

Yeah the 5E DMG has the same guidance as the 4E pg 42. It is just hidden in the traps section. It will give you typical DC's, attack bonuses, and damage for traps of various danger levels. Just apply them to the situation. Look at the conditions and apply them as warranted. In your specific...

The thing is some people want low level to start as weaker and others want to start as heroic from the beginning. In a game where low levels start weaker, those who want heroic game play have a recourse - they can start the game at a higher level. In a game where low levels start out heroic...

Yeah, I apologize as well. I totally missed the joke. I sometimes see people who disparage a certain playstyle that I like and I overreact. I was actually playing a low level B/X game recently. Survived as a 1st level thief with 3 hit points because we were pretty cautious, planned well, and...

There are tons of games that have people who enjoy them causally, but have others who strive to develop their skills and seek mastery. D&D is one such game. Playing D&D is a skill and you can develop it and get better at it. Doesn’t mean any insult to those who just want to play causally. As I...

It’s only any meat grinder to those who don’t know how to deal with low level games.

I got to wonder how do people deal with encounter building for level1 characters? 3 goblins is considered a ‘hard’ encounter for a level one party. So, if that’s all you get to deal with, then I get why people would think low level is boring and just training wheels. If low level characters...

I would disagree that levels 1-4 are training wheels. You need more skill as a player to survive playing a level 1 character than you would as a level 5. You have less hit points, less abilities, less resources to overcome challenges at lower levels than you do at higher levels. Some people...

OD&D - Underworld and Wilderness Adventures - use the default assumptions for the campaign world Basic D&D - XP format gold for XP and minimal XP for monsters AD&D - character classes AD&D 2E - don't really know, haven't played it all that much 3E: Ascending AC and to hit bonus 4E: Skills -...

I've been hoping for the return of the RPG box set. Something that turns D&D away from the intimidating 'college level course' level of preparation idea and the idea that it is something only for dedicated experts who pour over rules tomes and turns it closer to something where you can open the...

I'm probably going in on this even though I've already backed the Advanced Fantasy and I have the rule books for both OSE Advanced and Classic Fantasy. I will back it and keep the boxes for when my daughter is old enough. My parents bought me the Mentzer RedBox when I was 10, I should pay it...

Yeah good point. A lot of my public activity has been post delta peak but pre-arrival of omicron. Definitely follow your own best judgement on what is safe for you and your family/friends/loved ones. And everyone stay safe and healthy.