"?" about "The D&D Rules Cyclopedia"

[Pramas]

The most fun I've had playing D&D in the last 5 years was a Rules Cyclopedia campaign.

 

[Nikosandros]

I'm more of an AD&D man, but BECMI is an eminently fun and playable game and the RC is a neat package that delivers most of the rules in one book. Take a look at the errata document linked above... it also contains a ton of house rules and it's thoroughly annotated.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The current ENWorld campaign I am running is using BECMI and RC.

 

[Wormwood]

IMHO its one of the best D&D books ever made, but it is its own system; not much you're going to be able to mine for another edition. It IS a good simple version of D&D, however, and is my favorite edition that I cannot play.

You are not alone, sir.

The RC rocks, and is one of only four old D&D books that I did not give away or sell in the wake of 4e.

 

[Remathilis]

You are not alone, sir.

The RC rocks, and is one of only four old D&D books that I did not give away or sell in the wake of 4e.

I've kept all my books (RC, 1e, 2e, 3e, 3.5 and now 4e) mostly for nostalgia sake. While the 3.5 and 4e books seen routine use, RC sits out purely for inspiration, the rest are packed away.

What were the other three books, btw?

 

[PeelSeel2]

Great rules. You should own a copy.

 

[Mercule]

For those who like some of what 4e brings to the table, I wonder how hard it would be to merge the two.

For example, while I like the idea of some sort of bonus "power" for all the classes, I dislike how the progression and mechanics are so similar. Maybe the old Weapon Mastery rules could be adapted to match the 4e system.

 

[tvknight415]

Here's another vote for the "if I could only have 1 book on a desert island" view.

I prefer the B/X presentation of the rules (and don't like campaigns going much higher than 14th level anyways), but as a single-book resource, there is nothing better. The rules are light enough to not bog down play, but detailed enough to keep most people happy.

 

[kitsune9]

The Rules Cyclopedia was a collecting and reprinting of the Basic, Expert, Companion, & Master rules for Basic D&D (sometimes abbreviated BECM or BECMI for the fifth book, Immortal). As such, it collected the main rules for the "simpler" version of D&D running along side AD&D 1e and 2e. In it you find the following:

All in one hardbound tome.

IMHO its one of the best D&D books ever made, but it is its own system; not much you're going to be able to mine for another edition. It IS a good simple version of D&D, however, and is my favorite edition that I cannot play.

I agree as well that it's one of the best books ever made and a good synopsis of the book too.

Basic D&D (with the Elmore cover art) was what I started with though Traveller (the little black books) was the first time I ever saw a rpg being played.

Mmmmmm......memories.....

 

[Wormwood]

What were the other three books, btw?

My 1e DMG (because it's just so much fun to read), and my Moldvay Basic and Expert sets (because they remain the *best* way to introduce new, younger players to D&D).