3.X DM for a 1E party

[Breakdaddy]

I will throw my hat in the C&C ring here as well. I have some old 1e/2e players in my group (myself included, I go back to the moldvay box in the early 80's) that really love C&C because it is more intuitive than 1e/2e (ugh, THAC0) but not as complicated as 3e. My newer players prefer D20/3e because thats what they started out with, but I personally could go either way. I do have a slight preference as a DM to C&C, tis easier to run.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

My advice: Show them 3e. I guess they want to get to know something new here. They might like to see how the game has evolved. Of course, you should ask them beforehand, so this will cause no misunderstandings.

AD&D 1st edition did have races and classes. What you are referring to is either Basic D&D or OD&D (I'm sure Diaglo will be quick to point out which one it was (is?)).

Right. My pre-3e knowledge is limited, and my pre-2e knowledge is practically non-existant. I knew that at one time, D&D didn't discern between races and classes, but that was long in the past (a major pet peeve of mine with DSA, our national rip-off of D&D, which only very recently lost this).

Combat rounds were a minute long, initiative was rolled every round.

Ah yes, I remember. One of the most ridiculous things in the whole pre-3e-area. I remember that when I played 2e (didn't read the books too closely, I already knew 3e rules, which made it all worse. I relied on the rest of the party to tell me the rules as we went, so much I know about 2e could really be naughty word house-rules) it took a whole minute to draw my sword, and I coudln't do anything much for other, say 57 seconds. Or I'd cast that magic missile spell - so damn quickly, and just before the other guy got his fireball out, but then I had to wait almost 60 seconds before I could rattle off another quick incantation.

Stat bonuses were not as regular as in 3e, usually 16 was the least for any bonus so 18s were super important and str 18 gave a percentile score for fighters with higher bonuses.

But not for small characters, like halflings....

More alignment restrictions for classes (druids must be neutral neutral and rangers had to be good).

Don't forget the rest: Thieves could not be LG. He could be LN, the epitome of lawfulnes, but he could not be LG.

Wizards (called Magic users) did not get bonus spells.

Priests, on the other hand, only get spell levels up to 7 (or was that only in 2e?)

Energy drain was no save, just lose the levels.

Well, in 3e, negative levels don't allow a save right away, either. But of course, you can try to remove them just before they become permanent level loss.

 

[Henry]

...you should ask them beforehand, so this will cause no misunderstandings.

Best advice yet.

The things to keep in mind:

• 1e is different in a large number of ways from 3e.
• Don't play a system you are totally unfamiliar with unless you've at least had a chance to read 90% of the rules from the core book(s).
• If they are looking for a one-shot of 3e, pre-generate a wide range of characters (let's say about 1.5 characters per number of people playing) to choose from. This cuts down on the time that would be better spent going over the basic rules. Also, you might want to make a simple cheat sheet of combat steps.

And the most important rule:

Don't be a stickler for all the rules. Having a fun ruling is more important than having everything stick 100% to the books, escpecially if the alternative means spending lots of time not gaming and looking up rules.

Good luck!

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Hi Henry. Didn't recognize you at first

Best advice yet.

Don't say something like that. My ego will swell and I'll be unbearable

Don't play a system you are totally unfamiliar with unless you've at least had a chance to read 90% of the rules from the core book(s).

I have to second that. A DM should know the rules and the setting. Players might ask you questions, and you should have the answers. So good knowledge, coupled with the ability to make things up on the spot, will be most helpful

If they are looking for a one-shot of 3e, pre-generate a wide range of characters (let's say about 1.5 characters per number of people playing) to choose from. This cuts down on the time that would be better spent going over the basic rules. Also, you might want to make a simple cheat sheet of combat steps.

To expand on that: If you really have time, you could not only make general cheat sheets about combat, and general rules, but special sheets for every character you generate. These sheets will contain a write-up about the character's race (short description and the racial abilities; this might be important since the races have changed over time), how the class abilities work, what you can accomplish with the character's skills and feats. I know this is a lot of work, but this way the players need only read the general cheat sheet and their character information sheet and know what they need to know (and have a handy reference).

And the most important rule:

Don't be a stickler for all the rules. Having a fun ruling is more important than having everything stick 100% to the books, escpecially if the alternative means spending lots of time not gaming and looking up rules.

Good luck!

 

[IamTheTest]

Okay, Ive given my uncle a 3.0 PHB and after hes had a chance to read it Ill ask him what he thinks. Honestly, my DM style has always been thinking about the way something should work over what the rules actually say (games seem to be more smooth that way) so I dont think things will be too bumpy. Id rather run 3.0, if they dont want to do that Ill ask one of them to DM 1ed for a session or five and Ill run one after I get a grasp. I appreciate all the advice. Maybe after this happens Ill be able to score some points with the 20year club of dnders by telling them I went back to the roots.

 

[Breakdaddy]

Don't say something like that. My ego will swell and I'll be unbearable

Too late.

 

[Silverleaf]

The 1st Ed. initiative wasn't that bad. Most people ignored weapon speed, though most kept casting time. Everyone rolled every round. Start low and count up.

OTOH, a lot of folks didn't use the AD&D initiative and stayed with the Basic D&D rules instead. Hey, they work...

1st Ed. pre-UA was much simpler than post-UA. Keep it to PHB, DMG, and MM 1 and you would have little problems. There were fewer rules and less crunch. It was all about the RolePlay not RollPlay. Look at the end of the DMG (p. 241 or 249 IIRC) for the picture of the fat succubus. Right above it is a paragraph that explains 1st Ed. It goes something like "It is the spirit of the game not the letter of the rules..."

She's not fat, she's just right.

If the DM and a rule conflict, the DM ALWAYS wins.

Damn straight, after all he's putting in the bulk of the work. If someone doesn't like that they can run the game themselves.

 

[Henry]

Maybe after this happens Ill be able to score some points with the 20year club of dnders by telling them I went back to the roots.

Nope -- you won't score points with them unless you like it better.

More seriously, from the older "grognards" of the hobby who mainly play the 1st editions of AD&D, I find some of the most dedicated, loyal, and fun-loving gamers in the hobby that I've ever seen, mainly because these are the guys and gals who gamed through all the "D&D is Satanic" hysteria of many years ago, and lived to tell of it. Their game style is of another generation, and quite fun to behold in play.

Touchy and defensive gamers about their favorite game, you'll find in all camps.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

these are the guys and gals who gamed through all the "D&D is Satanic" hysteria of many years ago, and lived to tell of it.

Maybe they got into D&D from the other side - their fellow satanists brought them in "for educational reasons". Then, they found out that you don't learn how to sacrifice virgins properly, but decided to keep playing as it's fun. I think that's how Chess was invented.

 

[TerraDave]

The things to keep in mind:

• 1e is different in a large number of ways from 3e.
• Don't play a system you are totally unfamiliar with unless you've at least had a chance to read 90% of the rules from the core book(s).
• If they are looking for a one-shot of 3e, pre-generate a wide range of characters (let's say about 1.5 characters per number of people playing) to choose from. This cuts down on the time that would be better spent going over the basic rules. Also, you might want to make a simple cheat sheet of combat steps.

And the most important rule:

Don't be a stickler for all the rules. Having a fun ruling is more important than having everything stick 100% to the books, escpecially if the alternative means spending lots of time not gaming and looking up rules.

Good luck!

Perfect.

It may be possible (likely) that they don't know how much the game has changed. So yes, do talk to them. But don't DM anything you aren't comfortable with.