Can someone list all versions of D&D and explain their differences to me?

[Tiefling]

I got into D&D for the first time through 3rd Edition. I later picked up a 2nd Edition PHB at a used book store, so I also have a decent idea of what 2nd Edition AD&D is like. But I continually hear people talking about things like the various editions of Basic D&D, all sorts of strange boxed sets (I own a boxed set, the "New, Easy to Master" kind, that my brother bought way back when, but apparently there are others), some sort of white book that preceded them all, and what not. Is there anyone out there who could (A) list all the various versions for me (preferably chronologically) and (B) explain the primary differences between them? Pretty please?

 

[diaglo]

try here

http://www.acaeum.com/.

 

[EricNoah]

I can't do it all, but ....

The major breakthrough between the original "Basic" D&D and 1E AD&D was separating out class and race into two distinct things you could customize about your character. In Basic, you'd play an elf -- which meant you were an elf fighter/magicuser. No elf clerics, no elf thieves, no elf fighters. Likewise, if you were a cleric, that meant you were a human.

I think the major breakthrough between 1E and 2E was skills (though there were some products late in 1E that introduced skill systems). That, I think, led to the ability to customize further with kits, which a lot of people liked despite the fact that some were not very balanced.

 

[johnsemlak]

I imagine more knowledgable people will put up more detailed posts, but here' sa brief summary:

OD&D original D&D-- the original game, created by Gygax and Arneson in the 70s

Basic D&D-- Basic D&D actually refers to sets of rulebooks called the Basic, Expert, Companion, and Masters sets. Each was a boxed set, Basic was for levels 1-3, expert from 4-14, and so on. Hereafter I'll call this version Basic/expert D&D. Basic/expert was a distinct version from OD&D, with new rulebooks and so forth.

AD&D was created around the same time as Basic D&D. AD&D was a separate game from Basic/Expert.... It was primarily developed by Gygax. It was not sold in boxed sets, but in Hardcover core rule books (The Players Handbook, DMG, and the Moster Manual at first, then others later. Later on, this version came to be know n as First edition (so original D&D abd Basic D&D are actually pre-1st edition.)


For a long time, TSR pubished AD&D and Basic/expert simultaneously as separate lines. AD&D was more complex in general, and aimed at older gamers. However, in reality, most people just mixed the two lines and played with the rules of each system they preferred.

In the late 80s, TSR published the AD&D second edition. the Players Handbook, and DMG were republished. There were several boxed sets published for 2e, but they were all accesories, not core game products.

Also, gradually, the Basic/Expert D&D line lost appeal and gradually TSR stopped making products for it.

Finally, there is 3e. The name AD&D was changed simply to D&D.

That's a basic summary

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I believe that the era of Race=Class was after AD&D. Earlier versions of D&D didn't have that, as I recall. Maybe I'm wrong. The Race=Class, no Good or Evil alignment version of D&D was, and still is, the "new" version to me.

 

[EricNoah]

Well maybe I'm remembering it wrong, but I have a strong recollection of module B1 having pregenerated characters in the back and they were things like "1st level hafling" etc. And that was definitely for the old blue set (what johnsemlak more correctly calls OD&D).

 

[diaglo]

I believe that the era of Race=Class was after AD&D. Earlier versions of D&D didn't have that, as I recall. Maybe I'm wrong. The Race=Class, no Good or Evil alignment version of D&D was, and still is, the "new" version to me.

you are wrong.

Original D&D published in 1974 had the Halfling, Dwarf, and Elf classes. also had Fighting Man, Magic-user, and Cleric. Later added Thief.

3 alignments: Lawful, Neutral, and Chaotic.

i played a Lawful Dwarf for many years.

it was never Basic to me.

 

[jmucchiello]

White Box (often referred to as original d&d or OD&D) (1974)
- Gygax and Arneson
- contained 3 half page books (8 1/2" x 5 1/4")
- Only three classes existed: fighting men, wizards and clerics.
- AC starts at 9 and goes down. (Stolen from Chainmail)

- additional supplements introduce the thief, druid, illusionist, etc.
- exceptional strength appears in the supplements.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1977) 1st edition
- Gygax
- MM, PHB (1978), DMG (1979), FF, MM2
- AC starts at 10 and goes down.
- To hit charts are weird: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 21, 22, 23, ....
- Multiclassing is limited to non-humans. Humans could dual class.
- main classes: Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Cleric, Druid, Wizard, Illusionist, Thief, Assassin, Monk, and the Bard prestige class.

- Unearth Arcana (1984?) introduces Barbarian, Cavalier, Thief-Acrobat, Non-weapon Proficiencies, Comliness

- Dungeoneers Survival Guide, Wilderness SG, Manual of the Planes (c. 1987-8): Hybrid 1st/2nd edition AD&D material. More non-weapon proficiencies.

Basic Dungeons & Dragons (1978) Blue book with dragon
- Gygax
- Only book in the series. AC starts at 9 and goes down.
- Alignments reduced to Lawful, Neutral and Chaotic.

Dungeons & Dragons (1981) Red box and book (2nd edition of the blue book game)
- author forgotten
- Only details levels 1-3
- Continues with Expert (4-14), Companion (15-?), Master and Immortal sets. (I only had basic and expert.)
- 7 classes: Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Thief, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling (yes, the races were classes: Elfs were ftr/wiz, Dwarves were Fighters and halflings were ftr/thf)
- AC starts at 9 and goes down.

Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, 2nd edition (1989)
- David "Zeb" Cook, et. al.
- Introduces THACO. AC starts at 10 and goes down.
- Main classes: Fighter (Paladin, Ranger), Cleric (Druid), Wizard (8 Specialists), Thief (Bard). (Gone are Barbarian, Assassin and Monk)
- non-weapon proficiencies in the PHB (yet still considered optional)
- Lots of splatbooks containing kits.

AD&D 2nd Edition Powers and Options (1993?) (AD&D 2.5)
- Points buy based class customization.
- Abilities scores split in half
- high level stuff (10th+) addressed for the first time.

D&D 3rd Edition (1999)
- Tweet, Cook and Williams
- All XP charts collapsed into single chart
- Multiclassing is no longer simultaneous
- Eliminates exceptional strength and exclusive fighter bonus for high str and con.
- Ability Score modifiers are uniform for all abilities.

Edit: Assassin info added to 1st ed AD&D

 

[diaglo]

OD&D original D&D-- the original game, created by Gygax and Arneson in the 70s

you forgot Don Kaye. i realized he died early, but he was still a part.

Gygax
Arneson
& Kaye

 

[johnsemlak]

btw, does anybody know a convenient and standard way to refer to the Basic/Expert/Companion/Masters (Immortal?) line? I see a lot of people say Basic D&D, which is misleading, since the basic set was only the first set of the line.