Differences between 1st & 2nd Edition?

[Gentlegamer]

One of 3e's best, easiest and most logical changes was to reverse the way AC worked so higher AC was better. Then it was simplicity to say, "Roll the AC or higher and you hit..." instead of having the messy "roll, subtract from your THAC0, and that's the AC you hit" mechanic of 2e.

You could also roll, add the opponent's AC, and it was a hit if equal or greater than your THAC0. I used to use this procedure and have the players roll their opponents' attack rolls while I tracked other things.

 

[green slime]

And yet, most of the changes were truly minimal, when it came to their actual implementation. A DM could easily use monks, bards, and illusionists from 1e, together with rangers, wizards, and rogues from 2e.

 

[diaglo]

I'm surprised there isn't a comprehensive list online.

www.tsr.com

used to have the conversion guide online for free.
the one they sent out in 1989 for help in converting your character from 1edADnD to 2edADnD.

 

[rogueattorney]

I think the differences between 1e and 2e are generally understated. While, what you might call the "core mechanics" of AD&D aren't really changed, there were a lot of fiddly little changes that make for a very different game. An incomplete list of significant ones:

Racial and class ability score requirements were changed - generally to be more permissive

Racial and class abilities and descriptions were changed - some were minor (for example, dwarves now had a chance to render magic items inoperable and clerics had to give their money back after buying equipment), while others, especially the classes were major. The bard, druid, ranger, and illusionist in particular were radically changed.

Xp progressions changed - especially the paladin

Multi-classed mages could no longer wear armor while casting spells.

Alignment definitions were changed. CN, in particular was changed from being a radical individualist to being crazy.

Non-weapon proficiencies were added to the core rules.

The exchange rate between gold and silver was changed.

The way xp was awarded was changed.

Initiative was changed (from group d6 to individual d10)

The way weapon speed was implemented in combat was completely changed

The rate of natural healing was made quicker.

Surprise and the effects of being surprised were changed.

The content of the DMG was completely changed, with much of the combat rules being moved to the PHB and a lot of the advise and funky little tables being competely eliminated.

 

[Semah G Noj]

Bards were changed from a strange pseudo-prestige calss that nobody played to a core class that nobody played.

 

[Fifth Element]

Assassins, barbarians, monks, cavaliers and half-orcs were gone.

Barbarians and cavaliers were only in a supplemental book in 1E, not in the PHB, so we can't consider that a change - especially since 2E had them covered with kits, also from supplemental books.

 

[Remathilis]

Magic User was renamed "Mage", and groups of classes with similar abilities were grouped together.

WARRIOR: Fighter, Paladin, Ranger (d10 HD, 1:1 Thac0, multiple atks)
PRIEST: Cleric, Specialty Priest, Druid (d8 HD, 2:3 Thac0, Divine Spells)
WIZARD: Mage, Specialist (Illusionist et all) (d4 HD, 1:3 Thac0, Arcane spells)
ROGUE: Thief, Bard (complete change from 1e) (d6 HD, 1:2 Thac0, % thief skills (8 thief, 4 bard)

In addition, class groups used the same saving throw tables, WP/NWP rates, and XP charts (though Druid, Paladin and Ranger used a second column of those tables)

Psionics was regulated from the core to the Complete Psionic's Handbook. It was revised again in the Will and Way (Dark Sun) and PO: Skills and Powers
Barbarian was reprinted in Complete Barbarian's Handbook (and as a kit in Complete Fighters)
Cavalier became a kit in Compete Fighters
Monk became a lame Kit in Complete Priests, a spellcasting class in PO: Spells and Magic, and the martial arts class again in Scarlet Brotherhood
Assassin became a kit in Complete Thieves before returning to class status in Scarlet Brotherhood
Thief-Acrobat became a kit in Complete Thieves
Half-Orcs and Half-Ogres recieved PC write ups (though really wonky ones) in the Monster Manual, and proper one in Complete Book of Humanoids and again in PO: Skills and Powers.
Ninja got its own class in the Complete Ninja's Handbook, the last Complete Book to come out.

 

[The_Gneech]

Bards were changed from a strange pseudo-prestige calss that nobody played to a core class that nobody played.

I played one! The Dragon magazine variant bard, actually ("A Different Bard, Not Quite So Hard"). He was a fun character. Mechanically, I can't remember if he was any good or not, tho, because everybody at the table was playing by a different ruleset.

-The Gneech

 

[green slime]

Bards were changed from a strange pseudo-prestige calss that nobody played to a core class that nobody played.

We had a bard in our 1e game...

 

[billd91]

We had a bard in our 1e game...

So did we. Two different campaigns. The bard was a hit point mountain if he had a good Con because he had tons of hit dice and they shot up in levels once they became a bard.