I'm considering dropping Pathfinder to return to D&D 2e.

[zonetrooper1]

I've been into Pathfinder for a little while now and I'm just not getting it. I played a mix or AD&D 1st and 2nd ed forever and I love the raw and grittiness of it. Every time we sit down to play Pathfinder I keep feeling like something is missing. Like Pathfinder is just too polished or standardized for my taste.

I have a wealth of 2e stuff and there is even more material for it that I haven't played yet.

I am open for opinions and suggestions.

 

[mattcolville]

I've been into Pathfinder for a little while now and I'm just not getting it. I played a mix or AD&D 1st and 2nd ed forever and I love the raw and grittiness of it. Every time we sit down to play Pathfinder I keep feeling like something is missing. Like Pathfinder is just too polished or standardized for my taste.

I have a wealth of 2e stuff and there is even more material for it that I haven't played yet.

I am open for opinions and suggestions.

I suggest AD&D or AD&D2.

 

[zonetrooper1]

I suggest AD&D or AD&D2.

I am really leaning that way. If I can get my guys to go for it I might just go back to it. I play a blend of the two. Do you distinguish between 1st and 2nd?

 

[Dice4Hire]

I think there is a pretty big distinction, and it would be hard form e to define exactly what 2E would be fore a game if I were to run it again.

I think with 2E you need to be clear with the players about what you are including and not including.

Maybe better to have a skull session beforehand, to settle that out.

I know if a DM told me we were playing '2E' I would not have a good idea of what was in or not in the game.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Play what you wanna play, man.

 

[Edgewood]

If it's fun and everyone has buy in then go for it. Nothing wrong with switching things up a bit and going back to the tried and true as long as your players are on board.

 

[Korgoth]

There's nothing wrong with 2E. I mean, there are some options that I would avoid including, and I think it plays best when limited to the core books... but yeah, it's fine. I like the concept of the 2E PHB for the base rules and the 1E monster books for the critters. 1E had awesome monster books.

 

[kitsune9]

Since you got a wealth of 2e stuff, time to put it to good use!

 

[rounser]

Whatever TSR-compatible system you choose, I'd recommend what I'd consider "D&D's greatest hits" compilations:

Priest Spell Compendiums 1-3
Wizard Spell Compendiums 1-4
Encyclopedia Magica 1-4
Hacklopedia of Beasts 1-8 & Monster Matrix

That, right there is thousands of spells and millions of monsters and magic items. After you have these books, plus a retroclone or older edition of your choice, you've pretty much got the distilled essence of 30 years of creativity. Just ignore the goofier or unbalanced components and you're good to go, multiple lifetimes of possibility there.

 

[zonetrooper1]

Whatever TSR-compatible system you choose, I'd recommend what I'd consider "D&D's greatest hits" compilations:

Priest Spell Compendiums 1-3
Wizard Spell Compendiums 1-4
Encyclopedia Magica 1-4
Hacklopedia of Beasts 1-8 & Monster Matrix

That, right there is thousands of spells and millions of monsters and magic items. After you have these books, plus a retroclone or older edition of your choice, you've pretty much got the distilled essence of 30 years of creativity. Just ignore the goofier or unbalanced components and you're good to go, multiple lifetimes of possibility there.

Boy, you guys are really making me want to do this. It's funny you should mention the hacklopedias. I've always wanted to play hackmaster, I'm a big fan of KODT and I have a dwarven rogue named knuckles, but I've been told it is more of a goof on old school; role-playing and that has always put me off it.