How many D&D versions have there been?

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

How many incarnations of the D&D rules have there been thus far?
I know of:
Dungeons and Dragons
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition
3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons v.3.5
What am I missing? I only started with 2nd edition, so I'm afraid there are bound to be holes in my D&D history.

 

[johnsemlak]

Depends on what you call a 'version'

Some editions have had small variations that don't really constitute a new edition in the way that 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 differ from each other.

The various versions of OD&D are the most complex IMO. Here are the follwing versions I am aware of:

OD&D--1974 (White Boxed Set)

Basic D&D, 1978 version (Sometimes called OD&D 2nd Edition.)

Basic D&D, 1981 Version (Red box, with Erol Otus cover), which also accompanied by the Expert Set.

Basic D&D 1983 version (Red Box, with Elmore Cover), also accompanied by the Expert set and later the Companion Set and the Masters set.

The four boxed sets that are derived from the 1983 version of D&D were eventually combined into the single volume Rules Cyclopedia, but this did not constitute a new edition.

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

For my purposes, 'version' means the publication of a stand-alone, playable rules-set which supplants and replaces all previous 'versions.'

I suppose that, under this definition, 3.5 might not be a 'version,' as new supplemental material is still compatible with 3e, but WotC has officially stopped supporting 3e in favor of 3.5, so I went ahead and regarded it as a distinct version.

I didn't list AD&D 2nd Edition Skills and Powers (AD&D 2.5) as a 'version' because TSR never stopped supporting regular old 2nd edition.

 

[Numion]

Two:

1) Pre-3e

2) 3e

 

[MonsterMash]

John's notes on OD&D are pretty clear, there are two versions of Basic D&D referred to by the editors name - Moldvay or Cook.

 

[the Jester]

For my purposes, 'version' means the publication of a stand-alone, playable rules-set which supplants and replaces all previous 'versions.'

I suppose that, under this definition, 3.5 might not be a 'version'...

TSR still supported dnd with the release of AD&D.

I think you should reconsider your definition. I would certainly call 2.8 (the Options books) as a different version of dnd.

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

While John's notes may be clear to you, MM, my relative ignorance requires that I beg the question a little more. . .

snip . . .

OD&D--1974 (White Boxed Set)

Basic D&D, 1978 version (Sometimes called OD&D 2nd Edition.)

Basic D&D, 1981 Version (Red box, with Erol Otus cover), which also accompanied by the Expert Set.

Basic D&D 1983 version (Red Box, with Elmore Cover), also accompanied by the Expert set and later the Companion Set and the Masters set.

The four boxed sets that are derived from the 1983 version of D&D were eventually combined into the single volume Rules Cyclopedia, but this did not constitute a new edition.

Did each of the 'versions' listed above supplant every previous version.

I guess it might be most helpful if I just explained what it is I need. For reference, I really just need a number. Are we talking about 8 versions thus far?:

1) OD&D--1974 (White Boxed Set)

2) Basic D&D, 1978 version (Sometimes called OD&D 2nd Edition.)

3) Basic D&D, 1981 Version (Red box, with Erol Otus cover), which also accompanied by the Expert Set.

4) Basic D&D 1983 version (Red Box, with Elmore Cover)

5) Advanced Dungeons and Dragons

6) Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition

7) 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons

8) Dungeons and Dragons v.3.5

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

TSR still supported dnd with the release of AD&D.

I think you should reconsider your definition. I would certainly call 2.8 (the Options books) as a different version of dnd.

I did't realize that. When I started playing (c.'97), there was only AD&D 2nd ed.

Also, I didn't want to get into calling Unearthed Arcana a 'new version,' so, by the same token, I disn't want to call skills and powers a 'version.'

 

[the Jester]

What are your purposes? Are you a spy??

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

What are your purposes? Are you a spy??

A researcher. It's sort of an off-hand remark in my paper, but I'd still like to be accurate. I had a couple threads up the other day on gender in D&D which bore more closely on the rub of my work.