AD&D Collection

[Sado]

I got rid of all my old AD&D stuff a long time ago (there was a time between my early gaming days and 3E where I decided I was too cool to play d&d), and I'm looking to rebuild a little. I never had the black cover books shown here and here and here or any of the Player Option books (Skills and Powers, Combat and Tactics, Spells and Magic). I sure like the way they look though, and I'm picky in that I like all my stuff to match. If I get all the black cover books will that be everything I need for AD&D?

 

[RichCsigs]

If by "AD&D" you mean "not 3.whatever" edition, then your answer is yes. Getting all the black cover books will allow you to play 2nd edition AD&D.
The black cover books were the last printings of all the 2nd edition books. They also included all the new Player's Option and DM's Option books.
I don't know where you plan to buy these, but these are rather common so I wouldn't pay too much for them ($10 each would be pushing it for me). Also, be aware that they put out softcover versions too.

Hope that helps.

 

[Sado]

Thanks for the info. Several are going for around a buck on ebay. I don't plan on spending too much.

 

[ecliptic]

You will probably just end up thinking you wasted your money. Once you realize just how horribly bad the rules were.

 

[Sado]

I don't know, I had fun at the time. We had the PHB with the warrior on horseback, but I like the look of the black books better.

 

[ecliptic]

I had fun with 8 bit videogames back in the day but I am not about to go relive those memories. They are much better where they are, memories.

 

[Paddraigh]

Oh those sweet memories of my first adventure and my first videogame, way back in the early 80s

But doing ist again - now way!

 

[Whisper72]

I know where you are coming from. IMHO the 'older' 2nd edition and first edition stuff is better. I myself am using ebay to rebuild my OD&D and 1st edition collection... Somehow flipping through the original S1, Tomb of Horrors brings back good memories, and personally I think that the PHB with the charging warrior on it was the very best version of the DnD rules 'evar'. It was not as 'CRPG/miniature wargame' like as the new rules of 3.x are (again, IMO, as I experience them).

If you like uniformity in the books, definately watch out, the books (looking the same on an ebay picture) were brought out in hard as well as softcover...

As for Players Options.... consider reconsidering.... it is my impression that the bad taste left by many about the 2nd edition was mainly because of these books (and the generally poor quality of the black-cover editions of the 'core rulebooks'). If you want to go for playability, consider buying the 'first printing' of the 2nd edition, the PHB with the charger, the DMG with the red dragon and the 'white' monstrous manual. IMHO this is the best set of all from the point of view of playability...

All of this is natch IMHO, no guarantees, no returns etc....

 

[ecliptic]

I liked the Player's Option books.

Also the black PHB, DMG, and such are far superior to the original prints. As errors and such was corrected, not to mention the organization factor.

 

[Turanil]

There is six books in all:

--PHB (Player's Handbook) / 2159
--DMG (Dungeon Master's Guide) / 2160
--PO:S&P (Player's Option: Skills & Power) / 2154
--PO:S&M (Player's Option: Spells & Magic) / 2163
--DMO: HLC (DM's Option: High Level Campaigns) / 2156
--PO:C&T (Player's Option: Combat & Tactics) / 2149

You also need a monster book:
--MM (Monstrous Manual) / 2140