Greybeards & Grognards 2 "Who Dies" and My Life In Gaming Editions.

[S'mon]

I dunno, the Fighters in my B/X & C&C campaigns seem at least as varied and interesting as in my 3e campaigns, and stats/crunch don't really have anything to do with it. My C&C PBEM have two completely mechanically identical Odin-worshipping Norse Fighters whose personalities make them very different in play; one's a common-born carl, the other a noble shield-maiden, with different outlooks, beliefs and behaviours.

 

[Reynard]

Compared to what? A 1st Edition fighter who nearly always had a longsword, full plate and a shield, a huge strength and no skills at all?

Except the lack of skill rules in 1E actually made it easier to create a unique fighter.

 

[diaglo]

is this where i get to tell you that OD&D(1974) is the only true game. All the other editions are just poor imitations of the real thing.

diaglo "still uses Chainmail (1971) for his OD&D campaign" Ooi

 

[diaglo]

Except the lack of skill rules in 1E actually made it easier to create a unique fighter.

pg 12 DMG (1979 revised)

 

[molonel]

Except the lack of skill rules in 1E actually made it easier to create a unique fighter.

You know what?

1st Edition AD&D was a great game. I loved it. Played it through and through. My books got lost along the way, but I took the effort to replace them.

The lack of skill rules, however, was not one of its strengths.

 

[Rothe]

Except the lack of skill rules in 1E actually made it easier to create a unique fighter.

I've seen this a lot. I guess it depends on what you mean by "unique." If it is in personality and role-play how does that differ from any other role-playing game where you can play them differently.

How does 1eAD&D let me make a Fighter that has some stealth and/or can climb, you know, sortof like a young Conan but weaker?

I think it depends if the DM is of the camp: each class has their own area of expertise, and since Thieves have these skills no other class can unless explicitly stated.

As opposed to a DM of the camp: yeah a Thief has special abilities but climbing or moving quitely is something any one can do, your just not as good at it as a Thief who can do these things in really, really hard situations.

I submiit I met many a DM of the first camp who shut down you even attempting to play the Fighter in anything but one mode.

 

[Reynard]

I've seen this a lot. I guess it depends on what you mean by "unique." If it is in personality and role-play how does that differ from any other role-playing game where you can play them differently.

How does 1eAD&D let me make a Fighter that has some stealth and/or can climb, you know, sortof like a young Conan but weaker?

I think it depends if the DM is of the camp: each class has their own area of expertise, and since Thieves have these skills no other class can unless explicitly stated.

As opposed to a DM of the camp: yeah a Thief has special abilities but climbing or moving quitely is something any one can do, your just not as good at it as a Thief who can do these things in really, really hard situations.

I submiit I met many a DM of the first camp who shut down you even attempting to play the Fighter in anything but one mode.

I agree. It is very DM dependent. I am of the opinion, however, that the more rules you have -- no, scratch that. the more situations for which you have rules is actually limiting. It breeds a "if you don't have the skill, you can't try it" attitude in many. Wheras, in games where there are fewer situational rules (like skills) it is up to the player to say "I hide in the brush and wait for them to pass, then gank them" and it is up to the DM to adjudicate such things. You'll have some DMs who say, "Sure!" and some who say "No Way!" and many that fall somehwere between.

Tangential -- thief skills are very specific abilities. Hide in Shadows isn't just trying to not be seen, like around a corner or in the woods. It is disappearing into the gloom, and popping out like a hungry ghost. Shortening the name to "Hide" in 3E might have saved some ink, but it tore the heart out of the rogue/thief character.

 

[hong]

You know you're old when you see people ten years younger than you calling themselves "grognards".

 

[khyron1144]

You know you're old when you see people ten years younger than you calling themselves "grognards".

Would it make you feel better or worse to know that I have also called myself a young curmudgeon and an old crank before my time?

 

[hong]

Would it make you feel better or worse to know that I have also called myself a young curmudgeon and an old crank before my time?

You're just prematurely cynical.