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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Johnnie Freedom!" data-source="post: 1806434" data-attributes="member: 18723">Long story short: I've been gaming off and on since the old days.   I started with Earl Otus' red box basic set (didn't we all?) and dabbled a bit with AD&D 1e.  Blah blah blah.  Time passes and 3.0 comes out.  When it does, I return to gaming (more a coincidence than anything; I didn't "leave because of Vampire and 2e" or something like that.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> ).I find myself in the position of someone who wants to like 3.0/3.5 but keeps finding it difficult.  Here's what I don't like:FeatsDetailed tactical combat rulesPrestige classesToo rules heavy Gigantic stat blocks for NPCs/monsters, especially at higher levelsI've been wondering a lot lately if perhaps I would prefer an older version of (A)D&D.  Something more rules-lite, faster moving, something where character stats and progression (new feats, prestige classes, skills, etc.) isn't such a huge factor.Now I know the first suggestion that many of you will make is Castles & Crusades, but I'm avoiding C&C.  The main reason is name recognition.  I frequently try to recruit new players and I like having the D&D "brand" to do so.  I don't want to have to say "Come play Castles & Crusades.  It's...uh...just like D&D!" Frankly, I'm also a bit attached to the D&D brand.  It moves me on some level.  "Castles & Crusades" just doesn't do it.  And, with all respect to the *real* old timers, I'm not into OD&D either. As I see it, here's the options:(1) Take up AD&D 1e.(2) Take up AD&D 2e.(3) Take up Rules Cyclopedia D&D.A few comments on these options...For one thing, I don't remember AD&D 1e at all.  I was in grade 6 when I played it, and we played it for only a session or two.  I know Basic/Expert D&D fairly well (what became Rules Cyclopedia), but to be honest, I'm not crazy about it. Although I like how rules-lite it is and how much nostalgia is attached to it (for me), I hate the "races as classes thing."  Seems too limiting.What worries me about *all* of these options is that I'm not sure how many players are out there for these versions of the game. I'd hate to find my "dream" version of D&D and then not find anyone to play with me!  :\ Also, I love Planescape and Ravenloft (2e Ravenloft).  I have a TON of stuff for these settings.  That's one of the reasons I've thought of AD&D 2e.Oh, and BTW, I'm not bothered by the illogical/cobbled together/whathaveyou nature of the mechanics of the earlier editions.  In some ways, I almost like it that way...3.0/3.5 almost feels a little too polished and slick...I've heard the "videogame" analogy before, and that almost seems to fit.  Strictly IMHO, of course.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> Anyway, if you're still reading, thanks for following this ramble.  I'd appreciate any advice or encouragement any of you can offer.  I'm actually a bit discouraged, to tell you the truth.  I'm going through a "gaming identity crisis" or something, as stupid as that sounds, and I need to find my way.Any advice?</blockquote>

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