AD&D 1st edition and 2nd edition differences?

[Evenglare]

So I dont know a lot about the actual changed from 1st editio to second edition. I would like to have run some dragonlance in them as I recently picked up the 1st edition reprints. To my knowledge though Dragonlance modules first came out during second edition, so what does this actually mean if I want to use my 1st edition reprints to play?

I'd probably want to use OSRIC for my players (I dont want them handling my books really).... on that note is there a second edition retroclone? I looked up myth and magic but I couldnt actually find anywhere to buy / download the damn thing and I'm not even sure it's a second edition clone anyway.

 

[Jan van Leyden]

So I dont know a lot about the actual changed from 1st editio to second edition. I would like to have run some dragonlance in them as I recently picked up the 1st edition reprints. To my knowledge though Dragonlance modules first came out during second edition, so what does this actually mean if I want to use my 1st edition reprints to play?

Well, the actual differences are small enough that you can easily use material including adventures using the other eition. The scaling remains the same, monster stat blocks - for fights at least - use a nearly identical format etc. pp.

The selection of races and classes differs between editions, but no need to worry about that.

2nd edition changed from attack matrices to the THAC0 system, officialized the stat roll, and introduced non-weapon proficiencies. These were a proto skill system which relied on stat rolls as well; you would actually "buy" a non-weapon proficiency or not; you didn't increase or buy up the values because NWPs were a really rare ressource.

The actual DL adventures were published using 1st edition rules, anyway. Or do you have the Silver Anniversary version, which came out in '99?

I'd probably want to use OSRIC for my players (I dont want them handling my books really).... on that note is there a second edition retroclone? I looked up myth and magic but I couldnt actually find anywhere to buy / download the damn thing and I'm not even sure it's a second edition clone anyway.

For a good overview over all those retroclones, including links to the respective sites and the 2nd edition ones (For Gold & Glory, Myth & Magic) see here.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

There's very little difference, as I recall. Mostly cleaned up the rules presentation and added a few classes. THAC0 replace attack tables (and while THAC0 is commonly reviled, this was a big improvement) I think the new classes were cavalier and barbarian. You should have no problem at all using 1E to run Dragonlance.

 

[Huw]

Off the top of my head:

• Monks, Assassins and Half-Orcs dropped as character options. All are added back in various splat books
• Bards (originally a proto-prestige class) now a base class with very different abilities
• Thieves and Wizards get to specialise, so are actually useful at low level
• Clerics also get to specialise, starting the CoDzilla trend
• Kits added in splat books. Think Pathfinder character options
• Non weapon proficiencies (think skills), originally from Oriental Adventures, now core
• Combat tables replaced by THAC0 system. Mechanically different but statistically very similar
• Numerous rules from 1e dropped, including psionics (later added back in totally different system), grappling (also replaced by a totally different system), weapon speed factors and modifiers versus armour.
• Dragons get a huge boost in power, from "dangerous" to "extremely dangerous". This will be important if you're running Dragonlance under 2e rules.

In general, I used to run both 1e and BD&D modules with very little change under 2e. The 2e to 3e leap was bigger, changing saves, hit point progressions and with numerous tweaks to spells and abilities.

 

[Yora]

Myth and Magic should be out any day now. I'm not sure how accurately it actually sticks to 2nd Edition, but it seems to have all the things that are great about it and freshened them up for a 2010s game. I could do without the class talents, but I think they are more rare than feats in d20 games, so they shouldn't interfere too much.
Too bad their website is still completely unfinished, just like it was a year ago.

 

[Nikosandros]

Clerics also get to specialise, starting the CoDzilla trend

Specialized priests are actually, in general, much weaker than standard clerics.

Dragons get a huge boost in power, from "dangerous" to "extremely dangerous". This will be important if you're running Dragonlance under 2e rules.

Giants were also boosted.

 

[Neonchameleon]

So I dont know a lot about the actual changed from 1st editio to second edition. I would like to have run some dragonlance in them as I recently picked up the 1st edition reprints. To my knowledge though Dragonlance modules first came out during second edition, so what does this actually mean if I want to use my 1st edition reprints to play?

The Dragonlance modules came out in 1984 - mid 1st edition.

The biggest change between 1st and 2nd edition is the DMG. The rules aren't that different (XP for GP being sidelined, assassins and monks being thrown out, and bards being rewritten, a lookup table replaced with THAC0*). But the guidance in the DMG is very, very different. The 1e DMG is best described as Gygaxian with such gems as the Wandering Harlot Table and entertaining little cartoons like the fighter in plate armour leaping into the wizard's arms on sight of a Rust Monster. 2e is a much more sober document and talks about things like encounter based play and not that much about dungeon crawling (the focus of the 1e DMG).

* Class changes: Illusionists become specialist wizards (and specialist wizards are a power boost to the wizard), the fighter gains Weapon Specialisation and so a huge boost, the game gains Non-Weapon Proficiencies, the thief gets a stealth nerf (things like Scale Sheer Surface downgraded to Climb Walls), the Bard becomes something sane, and monks and assassins die (given the only things monks were better than thieves at until around the time the thief hit level 10 were falling off walls, running away, and playing dead I'm unsurprised).

 

[rogueattorney]

Rangers are very different.

Multi-classed m-u's can cast spells in armor in 1e, they can't in 2e.

What actions gain you experience points is completely different, which strongly effects how the games are played.

Initiative and timing within combat is completely different.

 

[Corathon]

Most of the differences have been mentioned already, but there are many small differences (e.g. in how particular spells work).

 

[Morrus]

So I dont know a lot about the actual changed from 1st editio to second edition. I would like to have run some dragonlance in them as I recently picked up the 1st edition reprints. To my knowledge though Dragonlance modules first came out during second edition, so what does this actually mean if I want to use my 1st edition reprints to play? .

They came out during 1st edition, not 2nd. So you can use your 1E reprints exactly as they are.