DarkCrisis
Reeks of Jedi
Preface: I'm not here to poopoo on 5th ed. I like playing it, I just got real real tired of DMing it.
So I’ve been having my group play an AD&D 2E campaign. 3 of the 5 of the players have only ever played 5th ed when it came to D&D.
The 2 youngest 14 and 16 are really liking it.
The youngest is playing the Thief. She always plays that sneaky stabby guy in whatever we play.
Whe I first told her that when sneaking you either are or you are not. There is no chance to see you. She said ”It should always be like this!” I agreed.
The older kid is playing a Fighter (as he usually does) and he told me he really likes that combat comes down to AC instead of HP. He likes that he can turn the tide of battle in a swing or two of his axe. He feels more “useful.” He likes that it was more deadly. And I agreed, to much HP/healing etc bogs it all down.
Of course getting used to the way “skills” work and how saves work and of course THAC0 (which i just convert to modern AC in my head anyways) is an ongoing process but they’ve mostly got it down. Not to mention stuff like have 3/2 attacks.
The other person who has only played 5th may have the hardest adjustment due always playing Druids and the drop in power to AD&D can be a bit off putting. So I gave her character a magic ring so she can shapechange into an animal and back once per day and a magic staff.
But so far for a group that’s played mostly 5th Ed since we got together a few years ago, it’s been a big success. They have even learned to search for secret doors and be more cautious. That sense of fear and danger, that’s the best part! It’s an adventure not just obstacles to roll over. It’s been amazing seeing them go from just brazen kick in the door super heroes to using scouting and listening etc because they know assaulting a cult filled dungeon should actually be dangerous. And everyone keeps having “hero moments” which rarely seemed to pop up in 5E aside from "how do you want to do this" when killing a boss.
A Harpy charmed 4/5 of the party and it was down to the Cleric/Wizard. Remember this was one save period not fail 3 times and get repeat saves each turn. The C/W used his one arcane spell per day to fry her, made a few charm saves himself and finished her with his mace to her face. Clutch moment.
And I have found a renewed passion for DMing D&D. It has been missing a long time.
AD&D is always will be D&D to me. It just feels more like an actual adventure. IMO.
Now I’m not trying to say one edition is better than the other. If you are having fun that’s what’s important.
I will simply say, maybe branch out and try the older Ed’s. If you feel you want a tad more danger and a lower power level.
There a few good 0E, Basic, 1E, 2E clones out there. Try one of those. “For Gold and Glory” is one book and has everything you need in it and is my go to when playing 2E (along side the original books as well for more monsters etc). Or “OSRIC” for 1E. These clones format the old systems into a more modern RPG book. OSRIC was a big help to understand 1E for me.
Speaking of ”all in one book” the original “Rules Cyclopedia” which covers BECMI era is great all on its own.
Most of these clones (and Rules Cyc) can be printed off DrivethruRPG for cheap. The clones I mentioned PDFs are generally free.
Edit: Kid who plays the fighter told me today he likes that its one save and not multiple saves like in 5th ed because it mean's that your single roll/save means more.
So I’ve been having my group play an AD&D 2E campaign. 3 of the 5 of the players have only ever played 5th ed when it came to D&D.
The 2 youngest 14 and 16 are really liking it.
The youngest is playing the Thief. She always plays that sneaky stabby guy in whatever we play.
Whe I first told her that when sneaking you either are or you are not. There is no chance to see you. She said ”It should always be like this!” I agreed.
The older kid is playing a Fighter (as he usually does) and he told me he really likes that combat comes down to AC instead of HP. He likes that he can turn the tide of battle in a swing or two of his axe. He feels more “useful.” He likes that it was more deadly. And I agreed, to much HP/healing etc bogs it all down.
Of course getting used to the way “skills” work and how saves work and of course THAC0 (which i just convert to modern AC in my head anyways) is an ongoing process but they’ve mostly got it down. Not to mention stuff like have 3/2 attacks.
The other person who has only played 5th may have the hardest adjustment due always playing Druids and the drop in power to AD&D can be a bit off putting. So I gave her character a magic ring so she can shapechange into an animal and back once per day and a magic staff.
But so far for a group that’s played mostly 5th Ed since we got together a few years ago, it’s been a big success. They have even learned to search for secret doors and be more cautious. That sense of fear and danger, that’s the best part! It’s an adventure not just obstacles to roll over. It’s been amazing seeing them go from just brazen kick in the door super heroes to using scouting and listening etc because they know assaulting a cult filled dungeon should actually be dangerous. And everyone keeps having “hero moments” which rarely seemed to pop up in 5E aside from "how do you want to do this" when killing a boss.
A Harpy charmed 4/5 of the party and it was down to the Cleric/Wizard. Remember this was one save period not fail 3 times and get repeat saves each turn. The C/W used his one arcane spell per day to fry her, made a few charm saves himself and finished her with his mace to her face. Clutch moment.
And I have found a renewed passion for DMing D&D. It has been missing a long time.
AD&D is always will be D&D to me. It just feels more like an actual adventure. IMO.
Now I’m not trying to say one edition is better than the other. If you are having fun that’s what’s important.
I will simply say, maybe branch out and try the older Ed’s. If you feel you want a tad more danger and a lower power level.
There a few good 0E, Basic, 1E, 2E clones out there. Try one of those. “For Gold and Glory” is one book and has everything you need in it and is my go to when playing 2E (along side the original books as well for more monsters etc). Or “OSRIC” for 1E. These clones format the old systems into a more modern RPG book. OSRIC was a big help to understand 1E for me.
Speaking of ”all in one book” the original “Rules Cyclopedia” which covers BECMI era is great all on its own.
Most of these clones (and Rules Cyc) can be printed off DrivethruRPG for cheap. The clones I mentioned PDFs are generally free.
Edit: Kid who plays the fighter told me today he likes that its one save and not multiple saves like in 5th ed because it mean's that your single roll/save means more.
Last edited:
