D&D General A D&D Edition Grand Tour

[Byrd]

This idea bubbles up to the surface of my brain every once in a while: run a (short) campaign that works its way through each edition of D&D. In specific, I mean a Basic (probably B/X), AD&D1E, AD&D2E, 3E (maybe 3.5?), 4E and finally 5E (2014). One adventure per edition, so probably something like 20 sessions total.

But I need a good frame. I have considered the idea of making it generational (each new adventure is a new generation centered in the same place). ALternatives are time travel shenanegans, or a isekai/portal fantasy thing. Another question would be where to set it -- an official setting, a new setting, or a different setting per edition?

If you were going to embark on something like this (or, indeed, have done so) how would (or did) you go about it?

If I were to attempt such a thing:

Spoiler: Gonzo Campaign Idea

Assuming player buy-in has occurred, and the DM has been granted an Indulgence permitting a rollercoaster (railroad)...

BECMI model of the multiverse (the "Great Wheel" is just one cluster of outer planes).

Portal and time travel.

Each change in ruleset represents the reality shift of different planes.

Assuming it's not a new character in each edition.

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Start somewhere in the "Known World".
Many of the Gazetteers briefly mention how characters can get to the (AD&D) Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk settings from the various Gazetteer locations.

Toss in an artifact (Alphaks-entropic) that needs destroying, by being taken to each of the adventure locations.
['Cause, why not hit some clichés on the way from 0 to superhero. Path of the Epic Hero revealed along the way?
Six rulesets (in 20 sessions?) We've left gonzo far behind. ]

Each step changes both location and time.

Step 0. Known World (BECMI)
Step 1. Greyhawk or FR (1e)
Step 2. Sigil (?) (2e)
Step 3. d20 Modern/3.x + Part 6 of IM1 The Immortal Storm [Novice Immortals team up with the PC's? Whispered info about the Path of the Epic Hero?]
Step 3.5 Eberron
Step 4. (4e) [Not familiar with this edition]
Step 5. (5e) Old Alphatia [Obscure crumbs of Mystara lore in 5e -- Destroy the artifact in a time before Alphaks becomes immortal, in the plane where he was born.]

Figuring out an ECL chart across editions for character conversion...yikes!

 

[Zardnaar]

This kind of defeats the purpose.

OSE is very close to Basic line just more presentable to modern players.

I've been thinking of this but a level 3 grand tour from B/X or BECMI to 5E.

 

[...m...]

...i'm running a campaign where the party are cycling round-robin through alternative 5e systems, swapping at each new setting as they explore the labyrinth of worlds...it's not quite the same mechanically but it's much simpler to port 5e characters across alternate 5e rulesets, and thematically they're travelling back through earlier and earlier campaign settings all the way to blackmoor and its literary antecedents...

 

[Koloth]

One option is get one of the 6 book Paizo 1-20 adventure paths for PF1.
Book 1 = D&D
Book 2 = AD&D
Book 3 = 2E
Book 4 = 3.x
Book 5 = 4E
Book 6 = 5.x

The books normally have chapters so those books used for .X versions, pick a chapter or 2 for .0 and the rest for the .X version. It gives you a consistent story across the versions. PF1 is close enough to D&D that the conversions shouldn't be that difficult.

 

[Byrd]

OSE is very close to Basic line just more presentable to modern players.

I've been thinking of this but a level 3 grand tour from B/X or BECMI to 5E.

The comparison of third-level characters across the editions is certainly an interesting idea. It would illustrate quite clearly the changes in a character's abilities.
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ETA:
< tangent >
I've got most of the PHB's.

< /tangent >

 

[Zardnaar]

The comparison of third-level characters across the editions is certainly an interesting idea. It would illustrate quite clearly the changes in a character's abilities.
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ETA:
< tangent >
I've got most of the PHB's.
View attachment 441281
< /tangent >

Nice.

I woukd use a clone or 2.

PDFs of RC. Could play OD&D dead tree format

 

[Reynard]

The more I think of it, the more I think I would use a Portal Fantasy framework for this campaign. The first time the players fall into the fantasy Realm, they land in B/X bodies. They have their adventure, with bonds them both to each other and to the world. Later, they come together again (in the real world) and find themselves drawn back into the Realm, but time has moved forward there far more than on Earth and it is AD&D-ified. At that point it becomes clear that the PCs are Timeless Heroes that (from the Realm's perspective) reappear when the Realm is in need. Every passage into the Realm, time has moved forward and a new edition applies to the world they find. It does not matter that they aren't the race-class combo of last time, because the Destined Heroes are the minds within.

 

[the Jester]

If you were going to embark on something like this (or, indeed, have done so) how would (or did) you go about it?

I did something like this back in 2e. In my case it was time travel shenanigans. The party had to travel back in time and converted to 1e while they were there.

 

[TheHand]

@Reynard Do you envision the characters levels staying the same between each edition? Or will each adventure take them on a multi-level journey? Do they get reset back to level 1 when they time jump/portal hop?

 

[Reynard]

@Reynard Do you envision the characters levels staying the same between each edition? Or will each adventure take them on a multi-level journey? Do they get reset back to level 1 when they time jump/portal hop?

I think if I run it as a con game, they will start at 3rd and go up 1 level per slot. If i run it as a "real" campaign I would let them progress a little more organically.