D&D General How Long Did You Play the Different Editions of D&D? (+)
- Thread starter el-remmen
- Start date
Stormonu
NeoGrognard
This is the short version. I play/played several other game systems (including some fantasy systems, such as MERP) during various eras, usually post 1989.
Holmes - 1979 to 1981
B/X (BEMC) - 1981 - 1988
AD&D 1E - 1984-1990
AD&D 2E - 1989-1999 (While I got the books when they came out, we waited until MC2 was out so I had time to digest the rules before we started)
D&D 3E/3.5E - 2000 - 2010? (we played 3E until we switched to PF1; I didn't switch to 3.5 until about a year after it was out. We primarily played several non-D&D systems after 2008, until PF1)
D&D 4E - 2008 (three attempts, about 3 month long apiece)
PF1 - 2010? - 2014? (we started with the playtest and stopped a few months after 5E came out)
D&D 5E - 2014 - (we started with the Starter set and a couple months later started using the PHB/MM/DMG full rules)
Holmes - 1979 to 1981
B/X (BEMC) - 1981 - 1988
AD&D 1E - 1984-1990
AD&D 2E - 1989-1999 (While I got the books when they came out, we waited until MC2 was out so I had time to digest the rules before we started)
D&D 3E/3.5E - 2000 - 2010? (we played 3E until we switched to PF1; I didn't switch to 3.5 until about a year after it was out. We primarily played several non-D&D systems after 2008, until PF1)
D&D 4E - 2008 (three attempts, about 3 month long apiece)
PF1 - 2010? - 2014? (we started with the playtest and stopped a few months after 5E came out)
D&D 5E - 2014 - (we started with the Starter set and a couple months later started using the PHB/MM/DMG full rules)
Ralif Redhammer
Legend
DCC RPG is such a treat of a game. It's so weird and creative. The mix of Appendix N and 70s metal/hard rock influences is Chef's Kiss
Just about the only thing I wish they did differently design-wise was to not have every spell have its own table. I get that that's a huge part of the game, but consolidating that somehow to just a few tables would make the game completely perfect for me.
One thing I just realized is that my longest-lasting, single campaign occurred during 4e. Huh. I played other editions longer, but those were all broken up into multiple campaigns. For 4e, I ran for the same set of characters (mostly) for the entire time, in one consecutive campaign.
Just about the only thing I wish they did differently design-wise was to not have every spell have its own table. I get that that's a huge part of the game, but consolidating that somehow to just a few tables would make the game completely perfect for me.
One thing I just realized is that my longest-lasting, single campaign occurred during 4e. Huh. I played other editions longer, but those were all broken up into multiple campaigns. For 4e, I ran for the same set of characters (mostly) for the entire time, in one consecutive campaign.
- BECMI: 1 or 2 campaigns but just throw away
- AD&D (1E): 1 or 2 sessions when the special books came out
- AD&D (2E): 1991 to 2002 (11ish years) [we still talk about going back just flipping AC/THAC0 I have a retro clone we used a few times too]
- Used Combat & Tactics/skills and powers options for 2E from '96 to '02 off and on.
- D&D (3.xE): 2000 to 2006 (6ish years) we were into other systems because 3e lost us we were ready to jump ship in 2005
- D&D (4E): 2008-2019 (11 years) we still look and talk about going back (this brought us back or else CoC and WoD had us)
- D&D (5E): 2014 to present we did the "next play test then went back to 4e and we ran 4e and 5e side by side for a while (along with WoD) right now we have been 5e only since before covid hit and useing Roll20 that will stay.
pogre
Legend
O-D&D 1975-1979
1e 1979-1986
2e never played - we played WFRP instead.
3e/3.5e full run
4e Our group playtested 4e and I ran a campaign after this, but my group did not enjoy it and we switched to Pathfinder and WFRP for gaming
5e full run - Dove in on the playtesting of Next and have been playing ever since.
5e is closing in on the longest I have ever run an edition of D&D. It has a ways to go to catch up with WFRP1e though.
1e 1979-1986
2e never played - we played WFRP instead.
3e/3.5e full run
4e Our group playtested 4e and I ran a campaign after this, but my group did not enjoy it and we switched to Pathfinder and WFRP for gaming
5e full run - Dove in on the playtesting of Next and have been playing ever since.
5e is closing in on the longest I have ever run an edition of D&D. It has a ways to go to catch up with WFRP1e though.
Kannik
Legend
AD&D (1E): 1987-1989
AD&D (2E): 1989-2000 *
D&D (3.XE): 2000-2009
D&D (4E): 2008-2016, 2021
D&D (5E): 2015-present
33 years of D&D, 36 years of RPGs in total, and still loving it.
* - When I joined my main D&D group in 1988, they were already starting to incorporate some of the bits that would make its way in to 2e, so in some ways some of my 1e time could be considered playing 1.5e. We officially began playing 2e on the day before it was released; the dad of one of my gaming buddies was the local distributor for TSR and he sold us the books a day early and at wholesale prices. And so it continued like that throughout high school -- which was a sweet deal! And the only time in my life where I had "connections"
AD&D (2E): 1989-2000 *
D&D (3.XE): 2000-2009
D&D (4E): 2008-2016, 2021
D&D (5E): 2015-present
33 years of D&D, 36 years of RPGs in total, and still loving it.
* - When I joined my main D&D group in 1988, they were already starting to incorporate some of the bits that would make its way in to 2e, so in some ways some of my 1e time could be considered playing 1.5e. We officially began playing 2e on the day before it was released; the dad of one of my gaming buddies was the local distributor for TSR and he sold us the books a day early and at wholesale prices. And so it continued like that throughout high school -- which was a sweet deal! And the only time in my life where I had "connections"
B/X - Summer of 81 until Christmas 81. My whole group got AD&D books, etc for Christmas and made the switch.
AD&D 1E - Christmas 81 to Present. Currently running 2 1E campaigns.
AD&D 2E - Tried it briefly when it came out, never really grabbed me so stopped playing it after just a few months and stick with 1E
3E & 4E - was largely out of RPGs when these were released and was content to stick with 1E
5E - 2014 to Present. I enjoy 5E and it's a great way to find new 1E players. I play and run a couple 5E campaigns.
Emrico
AD&D 1E - Christmas 81 to Present. Currently running 2 1E campaigns.
AD&D 2E - Tried it briefly when it came out, never really grabbed me so stopped playing it after just a few months and stick with 1E
3E & 4E - was largely out of RPGs when these were released and was content to stick with 1E
5E - 2014 to Present. I enjoy 5E and it's a great way to find new 1E players. I play and run a couple 5E campaigns.
Emrico
schneeland
Hero
I share that sentiment. This is basically the only major change I would like to see in the game, or rather: where I would like to see a section with exactly those general tables.
I am personally also not the biggest fan of the thieves skills, but that seems minor to me compared to the spellcasting topic.
MockingBird
Hero
I got into D&D late. I was born in 82 and once I was old enough, in the south, satanic panic was real, I got my first 2e PHB in 96 I think. I remember at the time TSR was in trouble and getting books was not easy. I finally found a DMG about a year later. In between that time I scored the FR grey box and a few other splat books.
2e 95ish to 98ish
3e just a few games here and there 2002ish
4e I tried to get my friends in on this edition but it was impossible for a bunch of casual players 2008ish
PF 1e few games here and there 2010ish
5e has been a winner, it's a lot easier to introduce to casual players 2014-current
I couldn't get into 3e at all. It was familiar but it was off and I couldn't put my finger on it. I'd later figure it out when I joined some PF games. I didnt like the level of knowledge you needed to build an adequate character.
4e I bought the main books. I really wanted to get a steady game going. My players just didnt get it. They just wanted to play and not have to think about which powers to use and when.
5e has been the best for my group. I debated going back to earlier editions until inwas able to look at the next playtest stuff.
2e 95ish to 98ish
3e just a few games here and there 2002ish
4e I tried to get my friends in on this edition but it was impossible for a bunch of casual players 2008ish
PF 1e few games here and there 2010ish
5e has been a winner, it's a lot easier to introduce to casual players 2014-current
I couldn't get into 3e at all. It was familiar but it was off and I couldn't put my finger on it. I'd later figure it out when I joined some PF games. I didnt like the level of knowledge you needed to build an adequate character.
4e I bought the main books. I really wanted to get a steady game going. My players just didnt get it. They just wanted to play and not have to think about which powers to use and when.
5e has been the best for my group. I debated going back to earlier editions until inwas able to look at the next playtest stuff.
Similar Threads
Recent & Upcoming Releases
-
June 16 2026 -
June 16 2026 -
September 16 2026 
Arcana Unleashed(Dungeons & Dragons)
Rulebook featuring "high magic" options, including a host of new spells.
Replies (181) -
September 16 2026 -
October 1 2026 -
October 6 2026 -
January 1 2027
