D&D General 50 years, 50 publications - the poll

[payn]

NVM hard to parse the list its soooo big.

 

[Zardnaar]

BX under Moldvay is the best of the D&D starter sets IMHO. Of ALL the starter sets, the 5E w/ Lost Mines can't be beat - it is truly D&D in a box.

Of all the PHBs, I'd say the 2014 5E is probably the best. Hard to choose a DMG looking back, the game has changed a lot since it started and a lot of old systems and advice haven't held up well. Overall, I'd probably go with the 3.0 DMG.

For value, 2E's Monstrous Manual (the book, not the looseleaf) is absolutely the best. For interesting monsters, I'd give the award to the original Fiend Folio (and some of the best 1E monster art too). Overall for monster design and use, I'd give the 5E Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse book top rating.

The Rules Cyclopedia deserves special mention - it's the only complete D&D game in a single book, from 1st-36th level. That's worth mentioning alone.

When it comes to adventures, I6 - Ravenloft is absolutely the top of the heap. Other well-done adventures include S2 - White Plume Mountain, B4 - The Lost City and X1 - Isle of Dread. Lost Mines of Phandelver is probably the best all-around adventure that encompasses all that is D&D in one package.

As far as campaign worlds, the 1E gray box Forgotten Realms is best, with Greyhawk hot on its heels. the original Dark Sun is a stand-out and bold undertaking that show how the D&D game can be stretched. Al-Qadim is the most beautiful book in all of D&D, and is captivating (to me).

As far as supplements, Aurora's Whole Realms Guide is the ultimate shopper's guide, with Arms & Equipment Guide a great treatise on "what are all these weird armors and weapons anyways?". The Compendiums (Wizard, Priest, Magic Item) are a fabulous collection of the first 25 years of the game's magic system.

Lost mines is the best adventure but not the best starter set.

Second one best content weakest adventure

Third one best for beginners, best beginner set. Lost Mines better for not newbs.

So if you stuck a tweaked lost mines in the essentials set with DoSI type pre cons that's the best one.

 

[Stormonu]

Lost mines is the best adventure but not the best starter set.

Second one best content weakest adventure

Third one best for beginners, best beginner set. Lost Mines better for not newbs.

So if you stuck a tweaked lost mines in the essentials set with DoSI type pre cons that's the best one.

By 2nd one do you mean the Essentials boxed set?
And 3rd one that would be Dragons of Stormwreck Isle?

(I guess the Stranger Things and Rick & Morty sets aren't even on the radar)

 

[Zardnaar]

By 2nd one do you mean the Essentials boxed set?
And 3rd one that would be Dragons of Stormwreck Isle?

(I guess the Stranger Things and Rick & Morty sets aren't even on the radar)

Yes.

I went back and reread them all. LMoP great adventure might not be the best starter though. And the preconstructed characters suck.

 

[Stormonu]

Yes.

I went back and reread them all. LMoP great adventure might not be the best starter though. And the preconstructed characters suck.

They're using the Standard Array, I think (15,14,13,12,11,8) and I think that makes them Adventure League compatible. My first time players didn't have any problem with them, though.

 

[Zardnaar]

They're using the Standard Array, I think (15,14,13,12,11,8) and I think that makes them Adventure League compatible. My first time players didn't have any problem with them, though.

I think one had a high dexterity and 10 strength. They gave them a greatsword.
. I'm also comparing the to the DoSI which tie them to the adventure.

 

[JEB]

One of the modules I bought was B10 Night's Dark Terror. This is a module I could have bought when it was new and did not. I finally ran B10 in a 5e campaign in 2018 and it's the greatest adventure I've ever run.

B10 is very well regarded now in OSR circles.

Up until now all I knew about B10 was the module's name, and what was on Wikipedia - didn't know it was an OSR darling. Guess it was a good include on the list! (May have to check it out myself. In fact, sounds like I should look more closely at the B-series in general...)

 

[JEB]

I'm quite surprised how little love L1 Secret of Bone Hill is getting. By TSR standards it's a masterclass in non-linear dungeon design, though still can't hold a candle to Jacquays' best.

Much like B10, pretty much all I know is the name and what's on Wikipedia. But that sounds like a nice pitch!

 

[JEB]

For value, 2E's Monstrous Manual (the book, not the looseleaf) is absolutely the best.

100% agreed. Though I actually might rate the 5e Monster Manual as my favorite in terms of content, it's a close competition.

For interesting monsters, I'd give the award to the original Fiend Folio (and some of the best 1E monster art too).

Also agreed, though I may be biased as it was my first D&D book.

Overall for monster design and use, I'd give the 5E Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse book top rating.

Unfortunately, no one nominated it last week. (I could add it to the very bottom of the list, but it's already a long list and realistically it'd lose at this point.)

 

[JEB]

NVM hard to parse the list its soooo big.

Strategy I used, FWIW - copy the list down into a separate document, and go through the list at your leisure, marking favorites. Then go here and vote when you're done. (Bonus - you also have a record of what you voted, in case you change your mind later.)