Explaining AD&D1 to new D&D3 players

[Quasqueton]

There are a lot of new players coming into the D&D hobby with 3rd edition. If you were to show them old rule books for AD&D, what would surprise them the most?

Some possibilities:

AC starts at 10 and goes down. "Negative ten is good?"

1st level magic-users get only one spell. "You can only cast sleep? Once?"

Barbarians need 5,000 xp for 2nd level. "And an orc is worth only 15 xp?"

Weapon damage varies by the size of the opponent.

"What's a spetum? What's a fauchard?"

Monks get d4 for hit dice. Monks get no AC bonus from dexterity.

Each alignment has its own language.

The standard city random encounters chart includes demons, devils, night hags, rakshasas, and liches.

There is a chart to randomly determine what kind of prostitute you meet in a city encounter.

Dragons have a percentage chance of being asleep when encountered. Up to 50%.

Odin, Zeus, Ra, and Cthulhu each have only 400 hit points.

"What the heck is a flumph?"


Quasqueton

 

[VorpalBunny]

Barbarians need 5,000 xp for 2nd level. "And an orc is worth only 15 xp?"

True, but remember PC's gain experience in 1st ed for treasure found/accumulated. This tends to boost the rate players gain levels in 1e.

I think the one of most suprising thing to new players would be the fact that in 1e an ancient red dragon (the oldest age category) would have 11 HD, 88 hit points, a breath weapon that did a whopping 8d6 damage, and a 40% chance of possessing 2 magic-user (arcane) spells each level up to 4th level - that's a grand total of eight spells.

 

[the Jester]

"What's this bard thingy like, then?"

"Wait- the assassin's a base class?"

"Level titles? What's a level title?"

"Er, why can't I play a gnome druid?"

"What do you mean, I don't get the full con bonus to hp cause I'm a cleric?"

"What do you mean, I only get 2 hp a level from now on?"

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Barbarians need 5,000 xp for 2nd level.

There were barbarians in 1st edition? Well, if you go past the core books, you'll get them in Unearthed Arcana, but it will take 6,000 xp to get to 2nd level.

 

[X-ray Crossbow]

Boy! It sure was different...

"There can't be more than three Rangers in one group? Why the hell not?"

"Why can't I have more treasure than I can carry as a Ranger?"

"Whenever I hit 9th level, I get followers and can build a castle? I get followers even if I'm an Int 6 Cha 7 knuckledragging idiot? And why couldn't I build a castle before 9th level??"

"Wait, there's only three alignments? Lawful, Chaotic and Neutral??"

"We can get XP for getting gold coins and valuables?! HOO-RAAAAY!"

 

[Victim]

1e Barbarians are really hosed by the sleep spell. Something like an 8th or 9th level mage against a barbarian with equal XP could drop him with no save.

"What do you mean my wizard can't use a sword?"

 

[Ravellion]

"15 Strength does not modify my attacks or damage at all?"

"My 13th level cleric of Heironeous still only has one attack?"

"Why can't my fighter learn how to open locks?"

 

[Jack Daniel]

Okay, you're listing the differences between editions now... I think we get the picture.

 

[Ravellion]

I think the common ground for most of the things mentioned above is that they are all semi-arbitrary restrictions.

Honestly, I think the greatest shock for a 3e to 1e player would be the lack of skills/NWPs. The rest is mostly mechanics or the aforementioned arbitrary restrictions.

Rav

 

[the Jester]

Well, the Survival Guides and Oriental Adventures had non weapon proficiencies.