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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rogueattorney" data-source="post: 5047720" data-attributes="member: 17551">The rules differences between the two basic sets are completely negligible.  Many sections of the Moldvay rules are copied word-for-word in the Mentzer rules.The presentation between the two is radically different.  I prefer Moldvay's more concise, traditional, straight-forward presentation.  It's easier to reference in game play.  Mentzer's tutorial style of presentation, while nice for a first-time learner, makes using the rules as a reference harder and doubles the page count of the rules.I also much prefer the pot-purri of Otus/Willingham/Roslof/DSL/Dee strangeness to Elmore's fantasy Norman Rockwell art.As the actual rules are essentially identical, whether you use one or the other isn't going to make much difference.There are some significant differences between the 1981 and 1983 Expert rule books, however.  The 1983 rulebook is geared toward characters proceeding on towards levels in the 20's and 30's, while the 1981 rulebook basically tops out player powers - saving throws, character abilities, spells, etc. - in the teens.  As one who never got a game much past 15th level, the 1981 scale makes more sense to me.EDIT - Also, I should add, the 1981 boxed set came with B2 Keep on the Borderland, while the 1983 boxed set, with its expanded page count, did not.  To me, that makes the 1981 set much superior to the 1983 set in terms of game value.  Curiously, both the 1981 and 1983 Expert sets contained X1 Isle of Dread.</blockquote>

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