Im getting OD&D on friday..What can I expect?

[DungeonMaester]

Its very tempting to get that one for it is only 5 dollars, but only going up to third level is a big turn-off. Whats up with this one?

---Rusty

 

[Mistwell]

The ability score mods quoted by diaglo include Supplement I: Greyhawk, which added to hit and damage bonuses/penalties for strength, AC bonuses for Dex, and increased the hp bonus for high Con scores. None of those were present in the original boxed-set rules (which is what I was quoting from).

Diaglo quoted WHAT?!?

Where is he. I demand an apology!

And then I will negrep him on Circvs Maximvs for apologizing!

 

[thedungeondelver]

Its very tempting to get that one for it is only 5 dollars, but only going up to third level is a big turn-off. Whats up with this one?

---Rusty

Same deal; the rules were tightened up in a few areas but it still only covers levels 1-3. J. Eric Holmes' basic DUNGEONS & DRAGONS rules were the "gateway" to ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS although the Tom Moldvay/Dave Cook edited EXPERT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS rules could be used in conjunction with the Holmes' edition to cover levels 4+.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Its very tempting to get that one for it is only 5 dollars, but only going up to third level is a big turn-off. Whats up with this one?

That's the Mentzer basic set. It also does levels 1-3. It's not as OD&D-ish as the Holmes set. Here's a brief rundown on classic D&D, grouped by similarity:

OD&D
Holmes Basic

B/X (Moldvay/Cook/Marsh Basic and Expert sets)
BECMI (Mentzer Basic/Expert/Companion/Masters/Immortals sets)
RC (Rules Cyclopedia -- Mentzer edited and compiled)

B/X has been called the "sit yer butt down and play" edition. It handles levels 1-14, is reasonably well organized, has classic era art (Erol Otus, etc), and is highly regarded. It moved away from Holmes in some areas: stat bonus were expanded, the alignment rules were simplified, more detailed encumberance rules were added, magic weapon rules changed slightly, rules for covering cursed items were added, damage by weapon rules were added, initiative rules were changed, etc.

BECMI/RC is an edit and expansion of B/X that handles levels 1-36. The Mentzer basic set is very introductory, and is written with youngsters in mind, so you may find it a little annoying in tone. The later Mentzer sets introduce lots of optional rules like Weapons Mastery, mass combat, etc. The Immortals rules are really kind of a "game beyond" D&D, IMO.

 

[DungeonMaester]

Same deal; the rules were tightened up in a few areas but it still only covers levels 1-3. J. Eric Holmes' basic DUNGEONS & DRAGONS rules were the "gateway" to ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS although the Tom Moldvay/Dave Cook edited EXPERT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS rules could be used in conjunction with the Holmes' edition to cover levels 4+.

Bummer man.

What it the nearest thing I could buy in PDF form that is OD&D which will go above four levels?

---Rusty

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

What it the nearest thing I could buy in PDF form that is OD&D which will go above four levels?

The Rules Cyclopedia. It covers levels 1-36. An excellent deal. However, it's the least OD&D-like of the classic D&D versions, IMO.

If you want something close to OD&D, go with the Holmes rules that T. Foster linked to. For the higher levels, ask Meepo about his expanded Holmes house-rules in that Dragonsfoot thread I linked, earlier.

 

[DungeonMaester]

Ive looked through the site, and compared notes on the two. it looks like the only way to recreate OD&D is by buying B/E set. Is this close to accurate?

---Rusty

 

[an_idol_mind]

If you're looking to recreate oD&D, I'd recommend buying the Holmes set and then expanding it with the Cook Expert rules. That will give you 14 levels of play in a system that is reasonably close to the original.

 

[DungeonMaester]

The Rules Cyclopedia. It covers levels 1-36. An excellent deal. However, it's the least OD&D-like of the classic D&D versions, IMO.

If you want something close to OD&D, go with the Holmes rules that T. Foster linked to. For the higher levels, ask Meepo about his expanded Holmes house-rules in that Dragonsfoot thread I linked, earlier.

Why is it the least oD&D in your opinion?
How does buying B/X Stack up to a OD&D campaign?
How Does this fit into the oD&D spectrum?

Thanks.

---Rusty

 

[DungeonMaester]

That's the Mentzer basic set. It also does levels 1-3. It's not as OD&D-ish as the Holmes set. Here's a brief rundown on classic D&D, grouped by similarity:

OD&D
Holmes Basic

B/X (Moldvay/Cook/Marsh Basic and Expert sets)
BECMI (Mentzer Basic/Expert/Companion/Masters/Immortals sets)
RC (Rules Cyclopedia -- Mentzer edited and compiled)

B/X has been called the "sit yer butt down and play" edition. It handles levels 1-14, is reasonably well organized, has classic era art (Erol Otus, etc), and is highly regarded. It moved away from Holmes in some areas: stat bonus were expanded, the alignment rules were simplified, more detailed encumberance rules were added, magic weapon rules changed slightly, rules for covering cursed items were added, damage by weapon rules were added, initiative rules were changed, etc.

BECMI/RC is an edit and expansion of B/X that handles levels 1-36. The Mentzer basic set is very introductory, and is written with youngsters in mind, so you may find it a little annoying in tone. The later Mentzer sets introduce lots of optional rules like Weapons Mastery, mass combat, etc. The Immortals rules are really kind of a "game beyond" D&D, IMO.

It may because it is 10pm, and I am at a coffee shop 30 miles out of town, and druged up on caffine, but I have a hard time undertanding how all this books fall from being oD&D.

While I don't understand it all, I think it is like 3.x of the first D&D game. Each one has the same characters, but the rules differ from each one? Although each one offers a new set of 'rules' how do they fall from being oD&Dish?

---Rusty