I got the Rules Cyclopedia

[Bob]

Sorry I did not address that.

There is a pretty complete listing of monsters from A-Z, stats included. Plenty to run the game all the way from 1 to 30+ levels of advancement.

Magical items also included, plus rules for making special/intelligent magical items/artifacts.

My point: It has EVERYTHING you need to play Basic D&D.

 

[WayneLigon]

OD&D? The Rules Cyclopedia is a compilation from the various Basic D&D books, but is not Original D&D. Basic D&D is a simplified rules-set from AD&D, sharing many of the concepts OD&D had (races are classes, for example), but with many concepts that OD&D did not have. The Rules Cyclopedia, for example, has skills, weapon special maneuvers, all sorts of things OD&D did not have.

I really liked the weapon mastery rules, and I used them some in 2E. The large Empires boxed set even had an alternative combat system where armor absorbed damage instead of increasing in AC.

 

[WayneLigon]

So basically, this book is all you would need to play the game? Or would you still need a monster book and more?

It is complete in and of itself, everything all under one roof. And hey, it was written by Aaron Allston, so of course it has to be good

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Sounds really neat people!

WotC should consider a rules lite alternative like this again - something a little more detailed than the adventure box set.

 

[Daiymo]

OD&D? The Rules Cyclopedia is a compilation from the various Basic D&D books, but is not Original D&D. Basic D&D is a simplified rules-set from AD&D, sharing many of the concepts OD&D had (races are classes, for example), but with many concepts that OD&D did not have. The Rules Cyclopedia, for example, has skills, weapon special maneuvers, all sorts of things OD&D did not have.

Good point Wayne. I guess I, like many tend to lump DnD pre 1st ed ADnD into ODnD. The more correct term would be Basic DnD.

I like many of you perhaps came of age and cut my teeth on the Basic sets in the early 80's. I was too young for the 70's rules. So for me Basic is my original intro into the genre.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

OD&D? The Rules Cyclopedia is a compilation from the various Basic D&D books, but is not Original D&D. Basic D&D is a simplified rules-set from AD&D, sharing many of the concepts OD&D had (races are classes, for example), but with many concepts that OD&D did not have. The Rules Cyclopedia, for example, has skills, weapon special maneuvers, all sorts of things OD&D did not have.

A correction, here. Basic D&D is NOT a simplified rules set of AD&D. It is a different game, that started before AD&D, and evolved in parallel.

OD&D (the original 3 booklet boxed set) was published in 1974.

The first Basic Rules were a clarified version of OD&D (Holmes revision) and published in 1977.

The first AD&D book was the Monster Manual, published in late 1977. The 1E Players Handbook was published in 1978.

Basic D&D underwent two fundamental revisions after the Holmes edition: the Moldvay edition (circa 1980, Erol Otus art) and the (author forgotten, Elmore art) edition circa 1983.

Conceptually, Basic/Expert D&D has more in common with OD&D that AD&D. Things like skills and special maneuvers did not start appearing in the rules until the Companion Set was released circa 1984-85.

As others have stated, the Cyclopedia is a compilation of all the rules from the last editions of the boxed sets. It is a different game, though with a massive number of similarities, than AD&D. I'd regard it as failed marketing on TSR's part that split their customer based (and luckily wasn't repeated with 3E).

Find out more by checking out The Acaeum.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

OD&D? The Rules Cyclopedia is a compilation from the various Basic D&D books, but is not Original D&D. Basic D&D is a simplified rules-set from AD&D, sharing many of the concepts OD&D had (races are classes, for example), but with many concepts that OD&D did not have. The Rules Cyclopedia, for example, has skills, weapon special maneuvers, all sorts of things OD&D did not have.

I really liked the weapon mastery rules, and I used them some in 2E. The large Empires boxed set even had an alternative combat system where armor absorbed damage instead of increasing in AC.

Well, actually the only thing that WASN'T out of the 4 basic boxes was the skill system. That one appeared first in Gazeteer 1: The Grand Duchy of Karameikos. Everything else came from one of the boxes...like those "weapon special maneuvers" was the "Weapon Specialization" from the Master's Box, if I remember correctly.

 

[barsoomcore]

a virtually complete set of James Bond 007 RPG

I still that is the most elegantly-designed game I've ever seen. I love the way they got combat, skills, car chases and gadgets all working with one simple mechanic.

Sigh. I loved that game.

 

[WayneLigon]

Well, actually the only thing that WASN'T out of the 4 basic boxes was the skill system. That one appeared first in Gazeteer 1: The Grand Duchy of Karameikos. Everything else came from one of the boxes...like those "weapon special maneuvers" was the "Weapon Specialization" from the Master's Box, if I remember correctly.

Right, but OD&D didn't have any of those things at all, which is what I was refering to.

 

[Bob]

Play by Post

Willtell - I'll email you about a play by post/email game using the Rules Cyclopedia and the old published adventure I have.

I might post in the Gamers seeking Gamers section too.

Others still welcome - just let me know.