Is the AD&D 1E Revival here to stay?
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Xyanthon
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Well, I'm glad that there is new 1e stuff being made again. I like pretty much all of the editions but 1e AD&D is my favorite. I think that there is nothing nostalgic about it for me. The later editions just have a different way they present fantasy. Much like how there is a different feel within the fantasy fiction genre (i.e. Michael Moorcock is very different from Tolkien which is very different from China Meiville which is different from Neil Gaiman which is different from George RR Martin.....) I like them all, there is just some that I prefer more than others. So 1e just feels more like what I prefer when I want a fantasy game. C&C Goodman Games, Necromancer are all cool, but they still don't quite capture the feel of the older edition to my satisfaction.
Aus_Snow
First Post
To me, 1e will always score the 'bizarre' point. Actually, it heads the lineup for that debatable honour. And I've seen some pretty wacky RPGs - most of them though, were just trying to be wacky. Or worse.
But that byzantine quality is actually something I like about 1st ed: the rambling text, the sprawling rules base, the occasional random bouts of sheer inconsistency. Hm, and the quirky artwork, alternating between truly atmospheric and mind-bogglingly daft.
I'll always have a soft spot for it, even if I never end up playing it again. Enough good memories will stay with me, either way.
OD&D, I've read. Blech. Didn't appeal. RC D&D (BECMI) though, I'm fond of too.
Back firmly on topic, I haven't seen this "revival" in the world outside of the internet. Of course, it might well be happening in other places - that's a given. But yeah, I in fact know a number of oldskoolers who've fairly recently turned to that which they despised only a year or 6 ago - 3e. That, or other d20 things. I've seen more movement in that direction than in any other, and none in the opposite direction at all. Meh, I dunno. Beats me.
But that byzantine quality is actually something I like about 1st ed: the rambling text, the sprawling rules base, the occasional random bouts of sheer inconsistency. Hm, and the quirky artwork, alternating between truly atmospheric and mind-bogglingly daft.
I'll always have a soft spot for it, even if I never end up playing it again. Enough good memories will stay with me, either way.
OD&D, I've read. Blech. Didn't appeal. RC D&D (BECMI) though, I'm fond of too.
Back firmly on topic, I haven't seen this "revival" in the world outside of the internet. Of course, it might well be happening in other places - that's a given. But yeah, I in fact know a number of oldskoolers who've fairly recently turned to that which they despised only a year or 6 ago - 3e. That, or other d20 things. I've seen more movement in that direction than in any other, and none in the opposite direction at all. Meh, I dunno. Beats me.
Particle_Man
Explorer
diaglo said:
Diaglo, why don't you do it yourself? I'd be interested if you made a pdf supplement. The existence of Osric shows how it is possible without getting sued. Or you can just stay "rules absent" and do something that works with many versions of rules.
CRGreathouse
Community Supporter
Particle_Man said:
I know several people in the business who are staying away from Osric because of legal issues -- essentially, they're waiting to see how WotC/Hasbro reacts and/or how much they sue for.
Philotomy Jurament
First Post
Much as you indicate, I find that much of the appeal of 1E is in its presentation and feel, for me. As far as rules go, I prefer B/X, BECMI, or OD&D. OD&D is a curious beast. The rulebooks, themselves, are underwhelming; the appeal of OD&D is the ability to fashion the game into anything (and exactly) what you want. If I were to run OD&D, today, I'd probably end up using B/X encounter/combat rules, allow separate races/classes (like AD&D), and generally treat it is as "D&D cafeteria" where I take what I like, and leave the rest. (Actually, that sounds a lot like my current C&C game...)Aus_Snow said:
Probably, the market is small enough that the Internet is mainly where it would manifest. I know I order pretty much all of my "old-school" products direct from the source, over the Internet. My FLGS doesn't stock much RPG material, and what they do stock is mostly 3E D&D. (I do, however, spend quite a bit on board games, there -- I'm sure they're always happy to see me walk in.)Aus_Snow said:
I'm not much of an evangelist, though. I converted my main group from 3E to C&C, and have been introducing C&C and BECMI to my son and nephew. I also started a second C&C game with a different group. (They were mostly playing RoleMaster, before.) That's it, though. My FLGS has asked me to come run some RPGs that "aren't 3E," but it's difficult for me to do that, since my wife plays, too, and we have four children. We'd have to find a sitter, and if we're going to do that, she'd probably rather go to the ballet, or dancing, or something. Although, come to think of it, I haven't asked her -- that's worth a shot. (Whew, going off on quite a tangent, there...)
As for the possibility of moving back to 3E: I doubt I'll ever make 3E my main game, again, but I won't rule out one-shots or maybe something longer, someday. I'm not a member of the "one system to rule them all" crowd. I prefer old-school systems and style, but I think 3E has its own set of charms. If I ever run anything big in 3E, again, it will probably be Ptolus, which strikes me as "quintessential 3E."
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Gundark
Explorer
diaglo said:OD&D(1974) is the only true game. All the other editions are just poor imitations of the real thing.
In all seriousness how do you keep getting away with such statements? I thought "edition wars" was a no-no. I've have had my hand slapped by a mod for an "edition wars" comment the mod thought I was making. Funny thing was I wasn't even making an edition wars comment (and IMHO I thought the mod was taking a big stretch with the interpretation ). I guess I felt that it was pretty unfair. Maybe I caught him/her on a bad day (I don't even remember who it was now).
okay rant over
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PapersAndPaychecks
First Post
CRGreathouse said:
How would they know how WotC/Hasbro reacted? Are these people expecting me to post my private correspondence on a public forum or something?
Suffice it to say that WotC have reacted, and OSRIC remains available.
Originally Posted by Aus_Snow
Back firmly on topic, I haven't seen this "revival" in the world outside of the internet.
There are alot of people who don't mess with geek forums though, that just play at home and hit places like ebay. Of the 50 or so D&D players I know (about 2/3 3E, 1/3 AD&D) only 2 post online and maybe 3 more regularly lurk Enworld, DF etc. The other 45 could have a revival and we wouldn't know about it here. WOTC says there are 5 million active D&D/OOP D&D players out there, and this site and others have only a few 1000 posters and lurkers. So, there could be a "revival" out there, and we wouldn't know about it.
Its like poker. I play it once a month with a group of friends...have for years, but none of us (to my knowledge) has ever visited a poker forum.
EDITED- Moved Con to con discussion.
Back firmly on topic, I haven't seen this "revival" in the world outside of the internet.
There are alot of people who don't mess with geek forums though, that just play at home and hit places like ebay. Of the 50 or so D&D players I know (about 2/3 3E, 1/3 AD&D) only 2 post online and maybe 3 more regularly lurk Enworld, DF etc. The other 45 could have a revival and we wouldn't know about it here. WOTC says there are 5 million active D&D/OOP D&D players out there, and this site and others have only a few 1000 posters and lurkers. So, there could be a "revival" out there, and we wouldn't know about it.
Its like poker. I play it once a month with a group of friends...have for years, but none of us (to my knowledge) has ever visited a poker forum.
EDITED- Moved Con to con discussion.
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