Best simulacrum for AD&D 1st Ed feel

[xebec]

Hello Everyone,
I've played a few 1st Ed AD&D sessions in my life, but never had the opportunity to DM a 1st Ed AD&D game until now. I've got 6 players who are not familiar with 1st Ed AD&D rules and certainly don't own any of the Gygax books. I'm giving the AD&D simulacrum serious consideration due to the ease of obtaining PDFs and printed material. The burning question is "Which simulacrum is best for recreating that AD&D 1st Ed feel?" I'm looking at running some of TSR's old AD&D modules. I've read several reviews that seem to favor Labyrinth Lord (and Labyrinth Lord: Advanced Edition Companion), but OSRIC looks excellent as well. I'm certainly open to the Swords & Wizardry crowd pleading their case, but I've really got my heart set on an advanced 1st ed system.

Your input is greatly appreciated,
Xebec

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

First, welcome to ENWorld!

Second, why not just go for the real thing? Used 1ED books are easy enough to find, after all.

Third, I haven't tried it out, but a lot of people say Hackmaster is essentially 1Ed, cleaned up a bit.

Fourth, if you know exactly what you want and you're familiar with the system, you can always get that 1Ed feel using a toolbox system like GURPS or HERO.

 

[xebec]

Thank you for the welcome. I appreciate it. I'm pleased to be here!

I know the crowd I'm dealing with and they'll be turned off by hunting down 1st ed books from eBay. I'm willing to consider Hackmaster, but the word-of-mouth has been generally negative from a DM perspective. I'm quite pleased with the idea of the simulacrum games and want to support the movement if they're offering the right product for the task at hand.

I honestly hadn't given HERO any thought thus far. I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[Vigilance]

Your best bet is OSRIC. You can get the PDF version for the low, low, low cost of free. There's also POD versions of the rules for around 20 bucks.

You can get the all in one rules PDF here, along with a book of monsters as well.

OSRIC

 

[Thanael]

Get OSRIC for easy reference. But i would also advise you to get the orginial 1E DMG and PHB (plus perhaps UA if you want). The books should cost not more than $ 5 on ebay/amazon/half.com if you are willing to get a somewhat worn copy.


Amazon.com: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Master's Guide ($ 2.70)

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Dungeons-Dragons-Players-Handbook/dp/0935696016/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277150875&sr=8-2]Amazon.com: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Players Handbook[/ame] (from $ 2.07)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I honestly hadn't given HERO any thought thus far. I'll check it out. Thanks!

Just to be clear: good toolbox systems like HERO, M&M and GURPS can mimic the feel of 1Ed- or any other game, for that matter- if run by a good GM experienced with the system in question.

They will NOT, however, match the mechanics at all. You won't be able to run the old TSR stuff without doing some conversion work (some of which was done for you in HERO 4th, as I recall). I threw out that suggestion because I don't know what systems you're familiar with.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Actual AD&D 1e ftw. Nothing else will even come close to providing the "AD&D 1e feel".

I don't really get the whole retro clones thing though, so ymmv and all that.

Certainly, either way, you will be best off having copies of at least the real DMG, PHB and MM. Then, there are some other brilliant tomes in that line, worthy of investigation, IMO. Not many perhaps, but some. And a few select 2e supplements make the list, for me. Yes, even if 1e is what's on the menu.

My advice is, don't put up with second best. Oh, and spend more money in the process. But hey, it's your call. Best of luck and good gaming, whatever you decide.

 

[xebec]

Thank you for all of the input, it's greatly appreciated! To answer some of the specific questions:

Re: Hero and GURPS. I understand that the systems are significantly different, but I'm game-system curious. I've had recommendations for both. I will definately check them out.

Re: AD&D 1st Ed. I should have been clearer. I do own copies of PHB, DMG, MM1, MM2, FF, D&D, UA and OA. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING can replace those books, and I don't intend to chuck them out in favor of something else. I certainly would like my players to pick up copies of the PHB, but I really can't force them to. I'd like to keep the initial time and energy investment as low as possible, as they're not 100% sold on the 1st ed idea.

Re: Simulacrum. I can't help it, I've got a soft spot for what these guys are doing. A community driven old-school revival is awesome, and I want to help any way I can, but I am looking for the right tools to do the job. Based on everything I'm hearing, if I want to go the retro-clone route, and I want to keep the complexity down, I should go with LL & AEC. It sounds like the greatest use of OSRIC is as a reference guide to supplement the 1st ed books. I looked through both OSRIC and LL/AEC last night, and I have to admit that OSRIC is daunting. On initial glance, Gygax's manuals appear less so due to his narrative. LL/AEC on the other hand appears less daunting. However, determining how a game is going to play by reading the rules is really not my forte. At this point, I just want to make sure that LL/AEC captures most, if not all of that 1st ed magic.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Re: Simulacrum. I can't help it, I've got a soft spot for what these guys are doing. A community driven old-school revival is awesome, and I want to help any way I can, but I am looking for the right tools to do the job. Based on everything I'm hearing, if I want to go the retro-clone route, and I want to keep the complexity down, I should go with LL & AEC. It sounds like the greatest use of OSRIC is as a reference guide to supplement the 1st ed books. I looked through both OSRIC and LL/AEC last night, and I have to admit that OSRIC is daunting. On initial glance, Gygax's manuals appear less so due to his narrative. LL/AEC on the other hand appears less daunting. However, determining how a game is going to play by reading the rules is really not my forte. At this point, I just want to make sure that LL/AEC captures most, if not all of that 1st ed magic.

Huh. I totally missed when you mentioned the AEC before. What's it like, anyway?

I've only seen OSRIC, far as 1e clones go, so far. Curiosity always gets the better of me with RPGs. I've gotta know, y'know?

 

[xebec]

Actually, the AEC book looks fantastic. It provides 'advanced' replacement chapters for Labyrinth Lord's classes and spells chapters, and provides new monsters and new items to supplement the LL core book. After a brief read-through, I was hard pressed to think of anything I remember from AD&D that was missing. I know plenty of stuff is missing, but I just can't put my finger on it yet.