Do you like D&D?

[BWP]

I (mostly) hated pre-3rd ed editions of D&D, although each new edition featured improvements. I looked to other game systems for my fantasy needs (I liked RuneQuest and DragonQuest best.) However, 3rd ed. was the first version I actually really liked, and I was happy to play it for its own sake, and 3.5 is better still.

 

[Pants]

I much, much prefer the current ruleset to previous rulesets. The old systems were so backasswards and plain odd that I can't really remember how to play them anymore. Even when I did play 2e, I understood less than half of what to do (okay, roll a d10 for surprise and init (right?), surprise only occurs on these numbers, roll to hit with a d20, roll a bend-bars/lifet gates with a percentile... hmmm f**k this, where's my Nintendo?). But... I still had fun, because D&D, in any form, would be fun with the right DM.

 

[Abulia]

This is a public poll to show who voted for what.

"The results of which shall be used against you in future discussions."

 

[francisca]

I voted from a DM point of view. I quit running 3.5 6 months ago, and haven't looked back. I've been running 1e since then, and having a blast. So, I voted that I strongly prefer a previous edition. On the other hand, I'm getting geared up to run a monthly Conan d20 game, set in Lankhmar, but only because I really like the departures from D&D, and feel it is a good mesh with my idea of fantasy.

As a *player*, I am pretty neutral. I'm currently playing in a 1e game, and a 3.5 DL game, and enjoying both. I'll play any version of D&D, if given the chance (though I wouldn't be too keen on 2e w/ all of the splat books and Option series.)

 

[zeo_evil]

I played AD&D for the first time when I was 13 around a small card table in my friend’s room. I am about to turn 30 in five days. I have only thing to say. I have played more D&D since the new edition came out than I had ever played in all of the previous editions and years combined. I strongly prefer the new edition of the game.

 

[Sigdel]

Tell you the truth, I hated 3.0 when it first came out. I spent four years and a lot of money teaching myself how to play AD&D. Nobody I knew knew how to play. So I was self taught AD&D fan. I was excited about 3.0. When it came out, I rushed to my hobby store and bought a copy. Then I screamed like a girl. What did they do? It was so different. Light the PC game Might and Magic. I threw the PHB down on my bedroom floor and there it sat for almost a year. Then I picked it up, dusted it off, and decided to give it a second chance. After all, I spent $40 on it and I was going to get my jollies somehow, right? When I gave it a fare chance, I realized what they were trying to do. And despite myself, I liked it. Now I like it a lot. I wonder what the heck they were thinking back then. But hindsight is 20/20. The oldschool stuff isn't perfect, but I still use it. 3.0+ is not perfect, but its close. Closer than 2.0 and back.

 

[Jdvn1]

I think Gary Gygax recently said his favorite versions were the current one and the original one (go figure). I like the current one, personally.

 

[RFisher]

Sort of like going to a dog-lovers forum and constantly spouting how much cats are better pets.

I voted strongly prefer another edition, but I keep coming back here because:

• I still play an awful lot of the current edition, even if I strongly prefer another
• I've been around here long enough--since the days when I preferred the current edition...
• d20 is bigger than the current edition of D&D!
• While ENWorld remains more d20 than not, it's been moving away from being exclusively d20 since--I dunno--it began? There's plenty of general roleplaying discussion going on

Edit: Heck, your own classic module threads would be enough to keep someone who hated the current edition but loved previous editions visiting here, Quasqueton!

 

[Li Shenron]

I'm not sure how to answer the poll...

My favourite is 3.0. It's not perfect, but it's the best for my taste, and of course it's just fantastic

Second is 3.5. Quite the same as 3.0, but for several little reasons I prefer the previous. Still great however.

Then there is OD&D (or some 90s reprint which I have played). Lots of defects and restrictions but of a "nice" type. The kind of RPG that I can really enjoy for a while, but not for too long (at least continuously).

Then there is AD&D 2ed, a system fascinating for its complexity, but also frustrating, for this time the restrictions seemed more inappropriate. Not a bad game, but I would rather never go back to play it now that there is a 3ed. [Note that instead I would definitely like to play a single OD&D adventure now and then]

I have not played AD&D 1ed, although I've heard that it's basically the same as 2ed.

 

[ZuulMoG]

I like the current edition because it works better with my admittedly math-challenged brain. I always found THAC0 confusing in AD&D. It seemed to me to work backward. I didn't like dealing with negative numbers. It also seemed to take forever to level up (although that may merely have been the campaign I was involved in). Despite all the kits there wasn't as much variety within classes. 3.X doesn't solve every problem, but then no system does. It's just easier for me to wrap my meagre brain cells around using one die for most everything and adding bonuses to it to determine success.

All the things you complain about were the good points of earlier editions. ThAC0 kept the riff-raff out, Levelling up took forever because it was supposed to confer a sense of accomplishment, and What you perceive as a lack of character flexibility was more than made up for by this litte thing we geezers like to call roleplaying.

My first character was a LG fighter with an 18 Charisma who didn't think he was worthy of being a paladin. He didn't need a prestige class to describe his particular version of LG fighterness. I supplied the details. With my brain, that I raised up from mediocrity with frequent use.

Exercise is good for your brain.