If you can find a group that plays a pre-3.0 version of D&D or Retroclone would you:

[Korgoth]

As for the nostalgia thing, well, I do think that's a factor.

I'm sorry if I misread part of your post. It's when you go off on this "nostalgia" BS that I get so p!ssed I can't even see straight.

It's an insult, and a false statement as well. I was barely dry from my career as a fetus when my favorite edition of D&D came out. I was 2 when Empire of the Petal Throne came out. I never played those editions when I started gaming. So how can I have nostalgia for something that I didn't even try until I was in my 30s?

I quit 3.0 & 3.5, even though I played in several campaigns and also ran a campaign, because I think it is not a very good game. I spent a lot of time looking into the matter, and I have concluded that OD&D '74 is the best version of the game. There's no nostalgia involved in that. I tried 4E for several sessions and I thought it sucked. There's no nostalgia involved in that either... I was just bored to tears.

"Nostalgia" is a word that people use to dismiss Old School gaming because they're offended that somebody doesn't like the latest Venti Decaf D&D with Whipped Cream put out by WOTC. Well, learn to live with the fact that I tried it and I don't like it. Man up and move on and quit cryin'.

You like 4E? More power to you... play it and have fun. I hope you have so much fun with it that you're glad to be alive and every second feels like you're running through a meadow of flowers with Scarlett Johansson at your side. But don't arrogantly dismiss my appreciation for a different system. This is what I don't get about 4E fans... they act like planet Earth will EXPLODE if someone, somewhere, doesn't have an orgasm every time 4E is mentioned. It's just a stupid nerd game, just like my favorite game is also a stupid nerd game. So how about I don't insult your intelligence for liking your stupid nerd game, and you don't insult my intelligence for liking my stupid nerd game? I don't throw around the term "4on", so why don't you lay off on the "nostalgia" crap?

 

[Eridanis]

Korgoth and Cadfan have been banned from this thread. If anyone would like longer vacations from the boards in general, please feel free to continue ignoring moderator warnings.

 

[Bumbles]

Ah well, never mind then.

 

[La Bete]

I'm playing in (and running) several 4e campaigns.

Recently, to fill a slot left by a GM who is away for a couple of months, I pitched a D&D Rules Cyclopedia game at the group (I'd seen the book on ebay, and have been meaning to pick it up for a while).

Response was positive, and we had a blast, however I would say that a big reason for me for suggesting the game (and some of the enjoyment) was definitely nostalgia. That said, the game was an amazingly refreshing change of pace.

Probably not my choice for something long-term, but for a one-shot/short game? Definitely.

(on a bit of a tangent, I'm not big on the retro-clones, as the older stuff is pretty easily available.)

 

[ExploderWizard]

I would be happy to play or run an OD&D, Basic D&D, 1E or retro clone game if I could find an interested group.

 

[kitsune9]

I was wondering today if lack of groups to play with is holding back the growth pace somewhat...older as in pre-3.0

Well, if Pathfinder isn't considered a retroclone, then I would play a retro or older edition just for old time's sake if there was one going on, but I wouldn't make it a campaign or any long-term committment.

 

[Knightfall]

While I haven't asked my gaming friends if they'd want to play in a older edition game, it is something I'd be really interested in participating in as a player. I could DM a 2e game, I guess, but I serously doubt I'd get them to join such a game.

I'd really like to run a BECMI game at some point. However, I need a copy of the D&D Rules Cyclopedia first.

 

[Lanefan]

If I wasn't already playing 3 games a week, I'd be asking "where do I sign up?"; so I voted "long-haul".

That said, what we play has been modified enough from the original 1e it's based on that it might as well almost be its own system now; if it was, it'd be in the retro-clone group.

I'd also think long and hard before playing in a 2e game or a non-fantasy game (e.g. Traveller).

Lan-"a good campaign should be designed to last the rest of the DM's life"-efan

 

[Grimstaff]

Currently playing long-term Swords & Wizardry.

I came back to old-school gaming after years of running 3E with old-school mods (via Necro, Goodman, etc), and getting increasingly frustrated with the prep time to design my own stuff and watching the players get increasingly frustrated with combat length, rules congestion. It started as one-off's of B/X or 1E, or C&C to ward off burn-out, and eventually we just stuck with Swords & Wizardry. It seems to be the most customizable of the RCs, and is easy to use with new-school conventions like ascending AC, BaB, and so on.

Viva le renaissance!

 

[Raven Crowking]

I'd be interested in seeing someone really break down what it was about their view of "old school" gaming that was fun, and what rules facilitated it and what didn't. And then seeing them create a game that distinctively catered to that style of play. It might be totally incompatible with someone else's vision of old school gaming, but I'm ok with that.

Have you looked at what I'm doing with RCFG?

It isn't intended to be either fully old school or fully modern, but a fusion of what (IMHO) the best parts are of each.

YMMV widely, of course, from mine on what the best parts of each are.

(In playtests, I can run 1e, 2e, and 3e adventures converted on the fly, as well as material from retro clones. 4e material requires slightly more conversion work.)

RC