Anyone Still Use 2nd Ed. Books For 3rd Ed. Games?

[Psion]

Just to be a bit different, I have to say that I find my 2nd Ed Monster Manual

Mine is still packed away, but I get where you are coming from. Basically, I am familiar with all of the "backstory" behind most of the popular D&D monsters, being familiar with the 2e MM. But some of the new integrations threw me for a loop. I actually had to go hunt down notes on what the intent was behind the Aranea and the Nighshades before I was content using them.

Glad I did, too. The aranea confused me when they showed up as shapechangers in 3e; last I remember from isle of dread they weren't shapechangers. But they have a really cool backstory behind how this came to be in Savage Coast that I plan to adopt.

 

[jaerdaph]

Oh definitely - all the time.

If you think about it, most 2e sourcebooks (like Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft) were around 80% system independent background material. Much of that still can be used with 3e. My 2e AD&D sourcebooks will always be an important part of my library

jaerdaph

 

[thatdarncat]

I still use two FR accessories: Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog for funky equipment, and Cloak and Dagger for some good plot ideas.

 

[qstor]

I use the Dragon archives CD ROM a lot. I didnt get Dragon for all of the 2nd ed. period. Going back through there are a lot of good articles there. I liked the one about Inns and Taverns.

And as others have pointed out, Faiths and Avatars is great to still use for background material most of which will not appear in the new 3e FR gods book.

I DM Greyhawk too and I use the From the Ashes set and Greyhawk: The Adventure Beings for the background on the city of Greyhawk. The players Guide to Greyhawk is also good. It has some neat role playing ideas for the Greyhawk races. You can pick it up cheap on Ebay. I dont think its available as an ESD. From the Ashes is but it's a VERY large file.

Mike

 

[Chacal]

I still use the 2ed Monster manual for monster "ecologies" too.
I also frequently refer to the Monstrous Deities (or whatever they call it) for informations on non humans gods.


Chacal

 

[Psion]

I use the Dragon archives CD ROM a lot.

Oooh, forgot that one. Tons of ideas and useful reference material in there. Crap like "boolay" notwithstanding.

 

[drowdude]

1st Edition Dungeon Master's Guide.

The "Historical Reference" series of books.

Various Planescape materials, especially On Hallowed Ground and The Planewalker's Guide.

The World Builder's Guide.

FR Stuff: The Atlas, FR Adventures hardback, Ruins of Undermountain, Skullport, the Faiths and Avatars trilogy, Drizzt's Guide to the Underdark, Drow of the Underdark, Cult of the Dragon, & Secrets of the Magister.

Dragon Magazine Archive.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Go get the 1e FR boxed set. That was a good campaign setting, not the uber-munchkinism that the FR later became.