Back to 1st Edition?

[Erekose]

I've just made a few purchases on eBay and noticed that a gamer was selling off all of his/her 3E books because of a return to 1E.

It's started me wondering . . . if you went back to the 1E rules what 3E rules could be used without unbalancing the game?

Please note, this isn't a "what's the best thing about the 3E?" thread so much as "what could be used from 3E in a 1E game?"

 

[Eternalknight]

Well, a lot of the new spells, and I suspect the skill system would work.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

3e's armor class would be useful, where the higher the number, the better. Also, replace THACO with BAB.

 

[johnsemlak]

I might bring the Sorceror class. I liked the sorceror because it offers a class whose Prime Requisite was Charisma.

Perhaps the simplified Ability score charts would be good in 1e. (though I liked having exceptional strenth).

Keep the Race-specific weapons. They add great flavor.

 

[MerricB]

Spontaneous casting of healing spells for clerics.

Cheers!

 

[diaglo]

the players.

other than that i find all the things i like about 3ed are already in my 1ed campaign.

 

[Umbran]

Without unbalancing the game? 1E didn't have what we today refer to as "balance" anyway, so there's not much risk in that regard.

 

[jasper]

One of my gamers is running a 1st/2nd edition game.
General rules is you use the phb of the which you rolled up a character. Ex my thief is 1st so I use the 1st ed phb, my brother thief is a 2nd ed.

He is using some poison rules. Nothing else.
Oh we both use off the cuff/sorcerer rules on spells when we Dm 1st or 2nd

 

[Henry]

In my humble opinion:

1) Up-scaling Armor Class and Base Attack bonus.

2) Spontaneous clerical healing.

3) The grappling and subdual rules. I find the 3E versions of these VASTLY superior to 1E.

Not a whole lot else can be imported without wholesale changes, because of the shift from solid target numbers (a la saving throws, Nonweapon proficiency checks, etc.) to Target DC's.

 

[Enceladus]

You can never go home again.