So many of you seem to forget that Remove Curse was a 3rd level Cleric Spell in 1E.
1E and 2E had lots of curse types. And unlike 5E, the remove cruse spell could not just automatically remove any curse.
But you can't keep playing that character.
Yes, only the player gets to grow and learn.
Also, note how you immediately assume "plot armor" and that the character is totally invulnerable just because they don't get killed by a random die roll every other combat. Don't be insulting.
That is what plot armor is though....The main character can't die.
New School: Lite or even no resource tracking. Many NS DMs just ignore items and equipment as characters are just assumed to have any thing they need. It is also common to have a house rule that lets a player "just say" their character remembered to bring whatever item the player wants. And for somethings characters have a vague unlimited supply, as it is assumed that a character is buying, finding or making things all the time.
To compare to Old School, most players would keep pages of found items. And many players would write things like "gold ring shaped like a snake, found in the west tower". Most DMs would require players to keep track of every torch, arrow or gallon of water.
New School: Vague equipment or item usage....at best. The general gameplay just has the characters having "tools" or "equipment". But the player need not keep track of anything. And when a character does an action, the details are unimportant or not even mentioned...the character simply does the act.
Old School: The player needed to know what they were doing or trying to do. Often in general terms, but just as often a DM would want all the real details. If the player wants a character to do an action, they can describe using items and such to at least try it. Of course, this is why players often collect everything they can....
New School: Lite descriptions of areas and places...or at least more focused ones. The DM will often do an over view of an area as "a dining hall" or such. But only mention details relevant to the game play. Anything else is just in the background, much like a video game where things you can interact with are a special color or shade. The DM only mentions important things, often leaving the rest vague.
Old School: You can expect a fairly detailed account of most areas and places by an OS DM. Often very long ones. The OS DM will often note everything...nearly every minute detail. And nearly none of it is directly important to the game. Though, as with above, a player might be able to use any detailed item or object.
