If you play OED&D/retroclones, this questionnaire is for you

[miscreationist]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. I'm looking to play in a new campaign
2. I'm looking to run in a new campaign

Currently, I am prepping a campaign and I am looking to play in a new campaign as well.

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

1. 3E D&D
2. 4E D&D

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 3E
2. I'm not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious
3. I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
4. I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

I like much of 3e, but I am looking for a more rules light experience.

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 4E
2. I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
3. I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E
4. I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

So far, I find 4e to be easy to run, but a pain to play.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
2. I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
3. I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
4. I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

That sums it up pretty well for me.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

1. From a D&D related forum
2. From the retroclone publisher's website

 

[the Jester]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm working on my own version- what I'm calling "DnD Jazz Edition," taking the best of each edition and smashing them into a pot pie of joyous rpg stuff.

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

I've played every edition from Basic on up to 4e, and am currently running 4e.

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

NA

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

I still play 4E

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
I want to speed the game up a lot more- I want the pcs to be able to go through an encounter that is appropriately challenging in 15-30 minutes, not 60-120 minutes!

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I'm an ENWorld frequent flyer.

 

[Ulrick]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm looking to run in a new campaign.

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

3E D&D

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

I was not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious

4. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

I am unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
I am unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E


4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game


5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I already owned my older books
From a D&D related forum
From the retroclone publisher's website


I cut my teeth on AD&D 1st Edition. Played 2nd Edition throughout the 90s. I started looking back to AD&D and Basic D&D during third edition, because DMing became a chore and I wanted a simpler system that didn't focus so much on rules and power, but on story.

About a year ago, just before 4e came out, I ran a 1st Edition AD&D game. It was blast to run. The players, for the most part, liked it too, despite some of its quirks.

I'd love to run a OD&D campaign because of its simplicity. You just sat down and played the game without having to keep track of a lot of rules. The DM can easily tailor the game to his style of play.

 

[Jack Daniel]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm running an established campaign as a DM

The game started at level 1, and now the players are 36th and Immortal.


2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

3E D&D.

I started with OD&D in the mid-90s, but then my group switched to AD&D 2nd edition, and we converted to 3rd edition when that came out.


3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach

Specifically, the game was bloated. Too many spells, items, feats, monsters, prestige classes, base classes, etc. 2nd edition isn't much better than 3rd in this regard, but OD&D is very concise.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?
I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics

But don't ever confuse the rules themselves with any kind of "feel." I detest swords & sorcery, although I'm certainly partial to pulp high fantasy. I seriously freaking loathe all those grognard types who think that I'm playing OD&D "wrong" if it doesn't feel like Conan or Elric or Gray Mouser or whoever-the-crap they used to read back before I was born.


5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I already owned my older books.

Classic Set, Rules Cyclopedia, Wrath of the Immortals. All you need.

 

[Mephistopheles]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
2. I'm running an established campaign as a DM
3. I'm looking to play in a new campaign
4. I'm looking to run in a new campaign

2 I'm running an established campaign as a DM. (1E ToEE loosely, a lot of improv.)

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

1. I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D
2. 3E D&D
3. 4E D&D
4. I was playing something other than D&D

2,3 3E and 4E. (used to run a 3E campaign, still playing 4E as a player)

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 3E
2. I'm not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious
3. My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
4. I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
5. I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 3E
6. I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

4 3E: Too much mechanical prep, too much time spent on mechanics during play.

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 4E
2. I'm not looking to replace 4E with original edition, just curious
3. My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
4. I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
5. I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E
6. I like the GSL and wanted to play games that use it

1 4E: I still play, although feeling the "too much time spent on mechanics" vibe of 3E.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. It was recommended by a friend
2. It was what my game group is playing
3. I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
4. I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
5. I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
6. I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
7. I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

3,4,5 Fond memories of 1E, played it again and had just as much fun as remembered.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

1. It was recommended by a friend
2. It is what my game group is playing
3. I already owned my older books
4. From a blog
5. From a D&D related forum
6. From the retroclone publisher's website

3 Own the books and used to play.

 

[Lanefan]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
2. I'm running an established campaign as a DM
3. I'm looking to play in a new campaign
4. I'm looking to run in a new campaign

I'm playing in one old-edition campaign and running another.

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

1. I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D
2. 3E D&D
3. 4E D&D
4. I was playing something other than D&D

I've always been playing/running old-edition D+D, even during a several-year branch into playing in a modified 3e campaign.

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 3E
2. I'm not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious
3. My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
4. I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
5. I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 3E
6. I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

None of the above. I bailed on 3e (after a 7-year run) mostly due to annoyance with the rules and mechanics, but the old-edition games long pre-dated 3e and are still going.

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 4E
2. I'm not looking to replace 4E with original edition, just curious
3. My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
4. I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
5. I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E
6. I like the GSL and wanted to play games that use it

I have not played 4e.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. It was recommended by a friend
2. It was what my game group is playing
3. I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
4. I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
5. I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
6. I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
7. I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

It was the only option available when I started playing in the early 1980's.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

1. It was recommended by a friend
2. It is what my game group is playing
3. I already owned my older books
4. From a blog
5. From a D&D related forum
6. From the retroclone publisher's website

Recommended by numerous friends.

Lanefan

 

[Mercutio01]

I left the answers I think fit me.

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?
I'm looking to play in a new campaign
I'm looking to run in a new campaign

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?
3E D&D
4E D&D

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?
I still play 3E
I'm not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious
I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?
I still play 4E
I'm not looking to replace 4E with original edition, just curious
I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast marketed 4E - particularly as regards the digital tools.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?
I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?
From a blog
From a D&D related forum
From the retroclone publisher's website


And even though no one asked specific games, I'm particularly taken by Mazes and Minotaurs.

 

[Kunimatyu]

(Quick sidenote, Choggy)

Are the "retroclones"/OD&D really more or less "pulp" or "Sword and Sorcery" than modern D&D? Are they more or less pulp/S&S than something like Savage Worlds?

Don't feel like you have to answer it now, but I hear the OSR people advance this claim a lot, but I'm not sure on its accuracy.

 

[Chgowiz]

@Kunimatyu - That's a topic for another thread. I'd like to keep this thread focused on the poll. Thanks.

 

[Raven Crowking]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
   [*]I'm running an established campaign as a DM
2. I'm looking to play in a new campaign
   [*]I'm looking to run in a new campaign

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

1. I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D
2. 3E D&D
3. 4E D&D
4. I was playing something other than D&D

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 3E
2. I'm not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious
3. My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
4. I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
5. I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 3E
6. I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

1. I still play 4E
2. I'm not looking to replace 4E with original edition, just curious
3. My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
   [*]I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
   [*]I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E
4. I like the GSL and wanted to play games that use it
   [*]I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

1. It was recommended by a friend
2. It was what my game group is playing
3. I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
   [*]I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
   [*]I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
   [*]I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
4. I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

1. It was recommended by a friend
2. It is what my game group is playing
3. I already owned my older books
4. From a blog
   [*]From a D&D related forum
5. From the retroclone publisher's website

RC