Best Suitcase D&D.

[Zardnaar]

Scenario traveling to a small town and looking to take D&D with me. I'm taking the Rules Cyclopedia and some retroclones on PDF with me. I'm also considering taking some adventures in dead tree format as well and I am wondering what to take. Needs to fit in a large tramping pack. And here are ye options. It may be a smaller group of 3 or 4 players so they may run a couple of characters each.

BECMI/Retroclones. I have some BECMI adventures and PDFs so I am thinking of running BECMI/ACKS or Labyrinth Lord.

1st Ed. Not sure what to take. I have some adventures and the core books are light. I have never run 1st ed though only played it long ago.

2nd ed. I like 2nd ed but the books are bigger and I like the extras so probably not and space is limited.

3rd ed. Thick books, check out the Pathfinder book. Prefer playing this one with minis on occasion so probably not an option.

So basically back to graph paper and no more than the core rules, dice and maybe an extra PHB. I do not own a dead tree rules cyclopedia however. What is the best D&D lite for travel/exile for an indeterminate amount of time (1 week through to rest of life IDK). Potential players have not played since 2nd ed only one has played BECMI before circa 1995. Heavily leaning towards ACKs or 1st ed and running ToEE with new group. Might go shooting/tramping as well up here.

 

[delericho]

Given the group you have, I would discard 3e, 4e, PF, or similar right away. I would also discard any retroclone that isn't a strict clone of a known system - you probably want things to be as familiar as possible and it may well be small differences that trip you up. (But YMMV on that one. )

Since you don't own a hardcopy Rules Cyclopedia, I would advocate either 1st or 2nd Edition, and since you've not run 1st then that suggests 2nd to me. The books aren't that much heavier, and while some of the extras are nice they're really not necessary.

ToEE is a good choice for adventure, as might G1-3 (but only in 1st Ed - giants got a big boost in 2nd which might throw those adventures off balance). Maybe something like Ravenloft?

One more thing: if you're going to be running exclusively from adventures, it might be worth considering whether you really need the Monster Manual/Monstrous Compendium with you. Indeed, in the case of 2nd Ed, you might not even need the DMG with you - if you can prepare details of the required magic items in advance, then there's little else you truly need "at the table".

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Rules Cyclopedia if hard copy, but this is really a scenario that screams for a tablet loaded with a lot of pdfs.

BTW -- can't red your post; can you change to default text color?

 

[Kobold Stew]

Is there a reason ye options doesn't include Next? That would be my choice.

Otherwise, pick a tight retroclone, if your players will go for that.

 

[Kinak]

If players are going to be running a few characters each, I wouldn't do anything after 2nd. That said, I don't like running for more than 3 or 4 characters anyway.

My personal preference would be towards a low-weight retroclone, but I'd grab the 2nd Edition PHB if people want to play that. You can run a totally respectable 2nd Edition game with just the PHB and a notebook (or other method of note taking). Custom magical items are way cooler anyway and the quick stat blocks in adventures are basically the whole stat block.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Zardnaar]

Is there a reason ye options doesn't include Next? That would be my choice.

Otherwise, pick a tight retroclone, if your players will go for that.

I don't like D&DN that much and potential players have not played for years. They are familiar with BECMI and AD&D, 3rd ed not so much. I also have more dead tree TSR adventures than 3rd ed. I do have Adventurer Conquer King printed out and bound so leaning towards that and some BECMI modules. B2,3,5 or B10.

 

[ccooke]

I'd definitely be going with Next for this if I were doing it, but it's a huge preference issue.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I don't like D&DN that much and potential players have not played for years. They are familiar with BECMI and AD&D, 3rd ed not so much. I also have more dead tree TSR adventures than 3rd ed. I do have Adventurer Conquer King printed out and bound so leaning towards that and some BECMI modules. B2,3,5 or B10.

No B4? It's the pick of the litter. It can be an entire campaign.

 

[Zardnaar]

No B4? It's the pick of the litter. It can be an entire campaign.

I have it on PDF from RPGnow.com. I have not got it in dead tree format.