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They're very different games. In a lot of respects, 1e and 2e are closer in actual rules than 1e and either OD&D or BD&D - baroque and rules heavy versus simple and rules light. Someone who likes BD&D isn't necessarily going to like a product catered to the 1e fan and vice versa. Thus, if...

I know it's been mentioned before, but that survey seems to lump OD&D, 1e, and BD&D all together. At least that seems to be what they're doing with their "1st edition (1974)" option. It might seem like a nit-pick, but if WotC cares enough to gather the data, you'd think they'd at least want to...

I think one of the things that people are missing with regard to aspects of the OSR is that there is a real "DIY" or "indie" strain to it. It has largely been about hobbyists publishing for other hobbyists with a decent amount of skepticism towards "professional" designers and any...

"The only reason anyone likes 4e is because it's 'the new and shiny.' Just wait until the bloom is off the rose..." Understand now?

This is a great point. Personally, I go into brick and mortar stores to see the used games. Buying used games over the Internet can sometimes be a risky proposition as my idea of "fair condition and your idea of "fair" condition may not be the same thing. So, getting used gaming materials at...

Exactly. And that's where ambitious pcs with their own goals come in. They can't get across the chasm. So what do they do? Hire dwarves to build a bridge. Consult a sage on the location of a magical flying device. Explore other parts of the dungeon to find a way around. Research a magic...

That's a fundamental misunderstanding on how a sandbox is supposed to work. Upon reading some of the old Greyhawk and Blackmoor play accounts (see, for example, Gygax's Dragon articles from 2000-2004), I see a lot more gamism than simulationism in the original sandboxes.

What's amazing to me is how foreign the "sandbox" concept seemingly is to so many people. Then I recall that it's been literally 25 years since anyone in the mainstream of rpg publishing has promoted/supported sandbox play. The "story" has been the fundamental design goal in published...

I'll just "me too" the comments that the most surprising thing about this is that WotC highlighted a non-4e oriented blog and linked to a non-4e D&D product. I've always admired Goodman's ecumenical take on D&D and would be pleasantly surprised if WotC were ever to follow suit to some small...

D&D is a brand of fantasy role playing games published by TSR from 1973 to 1999-ish and by Wizards of the Coast from 2000-ish to present.

There were only two in the month of February. Far be it from me to gripe about a free product, but I do find myself clicking on the site to see if it's been updated less and less.

This is a good question. I think, in my case (and I agree with Kzach's post on this topic) I don't assume that the DM has put everything in the adventure to be beaten by my character now, I don't assume that the DM is perfect in his balancing of combats, and I don't assume that the DM is taking...

As much as 4e may have spurred others to look into the OSR, the creation of the OSR had already happened before 4e was announced. OSRIC was published and had more than 30 products for it before 4e's publication date. Encounter Critical, Mazes & Minotaurs, Labyrinth Lord, Mutant Future, BFRPG...

<Sigh>... I neither need to read Mr. Slaviscek's mind because PC quoted what he thought right there in his post, nor do I need to read the mind of Ryan Dancey, who has written many, many times about the intended effect of WotC's open gaming initiatives. Here's a good example right here...

Nice quote from Slaviscek, except for the fact that he's wrong... It was completely the intent of the d20/OGL licenses.

Guys, I know these are old rules and not everyone has immediate access to them... But jeeze-louise!!! Come on! If you don't know anything about the rules maybe you should stop commenting on these versions of the game. I know if I started pulling so-called 3e and 4e rules out of my nether...

That's not what I said. You said there were no non-combat related rules in Basic/Expert D&D. Factually incorrect. I cited numerous examples. You said there was no social resolution mechanic in Basic/Expert D&D. Factually incorrect. I cited the page numbers. You said there were few...

The two views on this product can basically be boiled down to, "It's a few lousy tables!" or "It's a few great tables!" So, allow me to dissent from the OP's dissent. For $9 I got a hardback book with a couple cool tables and some absolutely fantastic art. Seriously, if you like Erol Otus or...

This is such utter b.s. that I have to wonder whether you've actually read the books in the last two decades. Virtually nothing outside of combat mechanics - no skills?: Dwarves have a number of mining and dungeoneering skills; elves have increased ability to find secret doors; halflings...

Some good ol' Appendix N fantasy always helps to set the mood: Robert Howard's Conan stories Jack Vance's Dying Earth stories The Hobbit Burrough's Mars series Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser H.P. Lovecraft's fantasy Elric Poul Anderson's fantasy DeCamp & Pratt's Harold Shea stories Bellairs'...