Explaining AD&D1 to new D&D3 players

[Berk]

What would a modern computer user think if introduced to an old Commodore 64?

*shrieks in utter horror*

What would a Playstation gamer think if sat down in front of an old Atari?

WOOT!!!!!! Bring it on!!! =o) But you need to include the game cartridge Atari not the single solid block Atari that had like 3 games on it. And you need to have the Star Wars game where you had to shoot out the legs of those walking things, forgot their names been ages since I even wanted to know.

Compare Baldur's Gate to Pitfall.

Pitfall was a much better game IMO. =op

Mmmmmmmm, good old memories. Come to speak of it I miss my 50lb pong computer. =op

 

[Zappo]

Re: taking offense

What would a modern computer user think if introduced to an old Commodore 64?

"Hey, I've got that game on my cellphone!"

Just as I do with the C64, I have an unlimited amount of respect for Gygax's game, even more than I have for 3E itself. But A) that doesn't mean I don't like to poke fun at it, and B) that doesn't mean I actually like to play it when 3E is available.

 

[Hawkeye]

Atari memory

The Atari mention reminded me of something.

Back a few years ago, when my oldest neice was about 6 or so, she asked me to play Nintendo with her. I grew up on the Atari 2600, still have it, and other console games. I agreed. She proceeded to whip me at one of the Mario games and then taunting me stating that I didn't know how to play and that she could beat me at any video game. I took her up on that challenge and got the Atari 2600 out of the cloest and hooked it up. I placed Asteroids in the game and fired it up. I let her go first and she died in just a few minutes. Then it was my turn. 25 minutes later on my first ship, my niece got bored watching me tear up floating space rocks and flying saucers and went and found something else to do. She never again challenged me to play her at any video game. To this day she contends that I must have been using some sort of cheat code.

Hawkeye

 

[gfunk]

Gotta love those classic 1st edition Gygax modules!

"Uhhh . . . Acerack eats my soul even though my save vs. Death Magic is 2!?"

"The whole party is dead and I need to go back to town to get them raised. Can I please teleport out of the Underdark? Just this once? Pretty please?"


On the other hand, how would a 3rd edition gamer who went back in time feel about 1st edition?

"Evocation spells have no damage caps? Woo-hoo!!"

"So, let me get this straight . . . I can spend my entire move action continuously going 10 feet towards and 10 feet away from a stone giant and STILL get a full attack action? No attacks of opportunity? Woo-hoo!"

"I can Shapechange into anything and get every single one of its abilities? Woo-hoo!"

"Why does my magic-user with an 18 Con get fewer bonus hit points than a fighter with 17 Con?"

"So my 125th level magic user casting a Meteor Swarm can't affect Primus b/c he has 100% magic resistance?"


How about a 1st edition gamer transported into the future?

Player: "Fear my Hammer of Thunderbolts! My epic level dwarven fighter smites the evil Titan. It dies instantly right?"

DM: "No, actually it gets a Fortitude save, DC 14."

Player: "What the hell!? It's STILL considered an artifact?"

-----------------------------

DM: "Okay, the weapon master attacks you with his vorpal longsword." <rolls dice> "Okay, natural 13, that's a threat, let me re-roll." <rolls dice> "Oooh, a 12 its critical. I'm afraid that your PC is decapitated."

Player: "What what WHAT!!"

-----------------------------

Player: "Okay, I see Lolth, right? I cast Power Word Kill on her."

DM: "Nothing happens."

Player: "Hey, you're cheating! Lolth only has 66 hit points and Power Word Kill says it automatically kills anything with 100 hit points or less, no save!"

DM: "Oh dear . . ."

 

[Silver Moon]

I have to disagree with the latter assessment. I STILL play Monopoly today. It's a classic game that I cannot find a single soul who DOESN'T know how to play. Adults still play monopoly today, in addition to Sorry, Scrabble, Clue, and (depending on how inebriated you are in mixed company) Twister.

Albeit, most of them play with the money on Free Parking rule.

And there are now so many versions of each game! There are more versions of Monopoly than I can count (I have the Marvel Superheros version, which is cool); I recently saw a Disney verson of Sorry, and a Simpsons version of Clue. And regarding Twister, heck, back in college we thought of our own versions to that - but I'll leave that up to your imagination.

 

[Felon]

Uh easy. What you are positing is called a "slippery sloap fallacy"...SNIP

Oops. I feel like such a doap! I'm just glad that I haven't resorted to ad homonym remarks heh heh

Many 1e mechanics are not dated because they are old, but because they do a poor job of providing compelling gameplay and for many, fluff, relative to current alternatives, notably 3e. Any questions?

Well, I do wonder why one would dismiss other archaic 1e mechanics as arbitrary or crude, yet stand fast by the contention that these labels do not apply to the all-or-nothing "fine or dead" mechanics of hit points. Certainly there are more robust alternative systems that allow for a more compelling, cinematic representation of damage (e.g. characters getting momentarily stunned, knocked out but not dying, dying slowly over a long period of time, given a severe limp that hinders movement, etc.). To each their own, of course. Merely curious.

 

[Henry]

And there are now so many versions of each game! There are more versions of Monopoly than I can count (I have the Marvel Superheros version, which is cool); I recently saw a Disney verson of Sorry, and a Simpsons version of Clue.

Exactly - and every one of them uses the same rules. My point being that Monopoly isn't a "kid's game" - just like D&D, it's a game that all ages enjoy for all time.

And regarding Twister, heck, back in college we thought of our own versions to that - but I'll leave that up to your imagination. [/B]

Hence the "level of inebriation in mixed company" part of my post.

 

[Felon]

And there are now so many versions of each game! There are more versions of Monopoly than I can count (I have the Marvel Superheros version, which is cool); I recently saw a Disney verson of Sorry, and a Simpsons version of Clue.

Yet ironically enough (as far as this thread is concerned anyway), there is no D&D verison of Monopoly. I don't suppose Hasbro owns Parker Brothers...?

...but the truth is, my "Basic D&D brain" is about to explode At least I "deftly" diverted the discussion somewhat

Heh heh. Just like your average game of monopoly, this discussion is won when everyone else gets sick of playing.

 

[D'karr]

Yes, but since there's nothing for me to do once I get to Free Parking, all I did was move that turn. As I'm sure everybody knows, if all you do is move on a turn, the space that I left--in this case, New York Avenue--does not provoke an AoO.

Also, I moved around a corner to get to Free Parking. Since a corner typically provides half-cover, I'm protected from AoO's, for as the rules state with crystal clarity, you cannot make an AoO against a target with half or more cover (or is that half-concealment?).

Furthermore, I'm playing the doggie, and it's one those little terriers that knows how to flip over backwards. It can tumble up to 20" (4 spaces) without provoking. I can make the 15DC easily, so I just hope that there are no opponents in my path, or the DC goes up to 25.

Well, if you do pick up the money you have done something more than move. So you do end up provoking an Attack of Opportunity. It's a tough choice.

 

[Felon]

Well, if you do pick up the money you have done something more than move. So you do end up provoking an Attack of Opportunity. It's a tough choice.

Oooo, good point. Well, I still have the half-cover and tumbling protecting me.

....But wait! Picking up an item is a move-equivalent action that provokes an AoO in and of itself! Aaarrrrrrgh! All that precious rules-lawyering, all for naught!