I found my D&D passion again. 1E basic: White Plume Mountain

[Mallus]

more kudos...

...very nice post Doc. It always warms my heart to hear of people having honest fun...

But it really does strike me that what occured was a case of getting back into a mindset, not a ruleset.

If it took breaking out White Plume Mountain, or even going against the giants on flimsy, trumped-up charges, so be it. But I bet there are lots of ways to get to the fun place you're describing.


That said, I have a sudden desire to find my old copy of Ravenloft {the module} and see how 'ole Strahd Von Zarovich is doing...

 

[Dr Midnight]

Re: more kudos...

...it really does strike me that what occured was a case of getting back into a mindset, not a ruleset.

You're exactly right. The ruleset change was an essential part of getting into that mindset... getting back to THACO and all the old pictures in all the old books. Writing the character out on a sheet of notepaper, not a printed official sheet. The aforementioned Erol Otus cover grinning at me like a neon sign.

That OLD gaming flavor... using the 1E ruleset was pretty much one of the means to the end.

 

[The Forsaken One]

Nice Doc, nice Nuff said.

 

[MerricB]

It's nice to see you enjoying it so much. Nostalgia is a great thing.

Lest anyone from Dragonsfoot think I'm slipping, I am wary about is whether or not the experience is not repeatable for someone starting D&D today - if you took them into a 1E or Basic game after five years of 3E, would they have the same experience? I think not.

However, if they went away from 3E for 10 to 20 years, then came back to it... the same feelings would apply.

Your first experience of anything is important. For myself, killer bees and green slime are the quintessential thing that make D&D great. Guess what I faced the first time I played D&D?

It's why I strongly believe that you should play the system that suits you. 3E is great for many people - just not everyone.

Cheers!

 

[Zaruthustran]

I'm with you, Doc. Did the exact same thing myself before 3E came out, when I was burned out on 2e.

When your character is so incredibly shallow (no skills, no feats, no nuthin but stats and class abilities) you have to focus on what's left: the adventure itself.

Too often, the modules I've run through in Living Greyhawk are seen as nothing more than XP fuel for the individual characters of individual players. With zero character options in 1E, you're forced to focus on something else: the game.

I'm not saying that Basic is better. But it's a good tonic for 3E rules-overload blues.

-z

Example of rules overload: the fine distinction between move-equivalent and standard action (why is loading a crossbow a MEA, but activating a magic ring a Standard Action?), the agony of reach weapons (why can't I hit something two diagonal squares away?), the rule that you can draw a weapon as part of a move--but not a wand, etc. etc. Many, many games have devolved into rules arguments, and I've seen normally mild-mannered gamers ferociously cite rules passages back and forth as if they were clerics consulting holy tomes during a debate on the nature of divinity. <pants from run-on sentence>. Anyway. Basic rocks.

 

[pogre]

Excellent!
Every once in a while we delve into huge dungeons with Old time D&D. D&D where there is only ONE dungeon. Purple Worm in the room next to the Unicorn room kind of stuff!

 

[The Forsaken One]

Nostalgia is great indeed! Tonight my girlfriend and me fell off the bed and while we were laughing and giggling like little kids she reminded me that we'd been on a carpet together before.

One of the best memmories of my life and most certainly one of the things I'm most proud of and counting myself very lucky for being granted such moment and the joy of remembering them with someone and being happy remembering them together

Ok... little nonsense... leave ya all back to the thread now got a bit carried away

Just wanted to say that you should savior some moments and cherish the memmories. Sometimes that's all we live on and the only reason we go on. The flashes and images of times past.

Cherish those happy moments, those special few! And if you can go back again and relive them and find joy again through them.

That's romance, even in D&D!

 

[Breakstone]

Whoa.

Doc, that was beautiful. I started playing D&D with Second Edition AD&D, and even though I'll never go back to that system, I've always wanted to get back that "beginning" feel, when everything was new and wonderful.

I'm glad you found it in a night of Dew-induced giggling gaming, Doc.

 

[johnsemlak]

I have a very good opportunity

My fledgling group here has never played or heard of all the classic D&D adventures or even the monsters. They haven't read all the Dragonlance novels or Drizzrt or whatever.

So, I'm looking forward to DMing many of the classic modules truely as they were meant to be played!

I can't wait to have them go thruogh the 'Giant's' series only to discover the Drow are behind it all. And the caves of chaos...

However, despite my desire for 1e nostalgia, I am going ahead with 3e rules. That's what the conversion section is for.

 

[Orcus]

Doc-

That was awesome!

You just nailed my whole philosophy (and, frankly, the philosophy of Necromancer Games). Well done!

Now go run Frost Giant!

Clark