Just got Basic D&D!!

[Mouseferatu]

So I was at Half Price Books last weekend when I came across the rulebook--not the whole boxed set, unfortunately--for D&D Basic.

This is the old red booklet, with the Erol Otus cover with the green dragon and the spear-wielder, not the later red box with the rules divided into two separate books.

It wasn't in great shape, but it was only $4.95, and since I used to have it many years ago, I decided...

...say it with me...

It must be mine!!

Anyway, I've read through it. There was some great nostalgia value in doing so. And I'll admit, there's a certain appeal to so simple a system.

That said, however, it made me realize just how much better a game (IMHO, of course) 3E is than any of the older versions. Elves and dwarves as classes? Only three alignments? All weapons doing the same damage? (Sure, it's got optional rules for daggers and battleaxes doing different damage, but that's just it: they're optional, not assumed.) And above all else, alignment languages, possibly the most ludicrous concept ever to appear in the covers of an RPG. (Again, IMO.)

I'm very glad I got this. I may even borrow ideas from it, at least in terms of feel, trying to regain some of that wonder from days past. But having now seen it again, for the first time in years, I can only reaffirm 3E all the way. Give me more consistent and well-developed rules. Give me more in-depth characters. Give me a good selection of classes, skills, races, magic, equipment. Give me options.

Even if the game is about 20 times more complex.

 

[MerricB]

That's the set I learnt D&D from. I do think that it is excellent in how the rules are laid out and explained - better than anything before or since, in many ways!

Cheers!

 

[Mouseferatu]

That's the set I learnt D&D from.

Same here. In fact, I didn't know there were any other versions for a while. And when my father first bought me the AD&D PHB, I didn't realize it was only book out of a set, and couldn't figure out why there were no monsters...

 

[johnsemlak]

Ahhhh, memories.

Wait, all weapons do the same damage, I dont' remember that.

scrambles to get his copy of the Basic D&D rulebook

Mmmm, you know, I never knew that, I think. I think we always used the variable weapon damage table. Interesting.

 

[Mark]

Pretty cool, Ari.

When can we expect to see your first release under the d4/6/8/10/12/20/100 System License?

 

[Eternalknight]

Pretty cool, Ari.

When can we expect to see your first release under the d4/6/8/10/12/20/100 System License?

LOL

 

[Ruined]

Wow, I had forgotten all about the alignment languages.

"You hear a voice whisper in the shadows. Do any of you speak Lawful Evil?"

 

[Mark]

DM to Cleric: Do you speak Neutral Good?

Thief (interupting): I speak Neutral well!

Bada-bum

 

[Harlock]

Wow, I had forgotten all about the alignment languages.

"You hear a voice whisper in the shadows. Do any of you speak Lawful Evil?"

Alignment in Dungeons and Dragons had only one aspect in this version. You could choose to be lawful (implied good), neutral (implied not as good, but not bad), or chaotic (implied evil). Mouseferatu, I picked up a Basic, and Expert Rulebook with b2 Keep on the Borderlands and x1 Isle of dread off of e-bay in a (beat up) basic box with an original set of dice with crayon still in baggie. The books were all in mint condition. I ended up paying $13.50 US and that included shipping and handling charges. Adventures often sell on there for 3 - 8 bucks depending on which ones they are. Worth a look see if you're feeling really nostalgiac. I loved those sets myself... Ah, I even loved alignment languages and especially loved the demihumans being classes. "My Halfling is level 8, I guess it's time to retire." Ahh, the good old days.

 

[Voadam]

I too grew up with this one.

Since it only covered levels 1-3 a friend of mine thought the higher levels each had the same xp cost when he extrapolated out for his fighter who got past 3rd level.

The art is second to none in there, very evocative.