TarionzCousin
Second Most Angelic Devil Ever
Is there a new D&D-esque game that is essentially 2E with some improvements?
A simplification of the math. AC that goes in one direction. Free pizza.What kind of improvements are you looking for?
I have played the original Hackmaster and it was explicitly based off of 1E AD&D.Castles & Crusades is still probably the closest recreation of AD&D 2nd edition and does simplify the math (i.e. AC going up like 3.x).
Hackmaster Basic is newer than C&C and IMO well worth checking out if you are looking for innovation. It keeps many AD&D 2nd edition core features like the six attributes, race/class split with the four base classes and uses d20 mechanics but makes many (crunchy) changes to character development, combat and spell options. Also, while Kenzer & Co still play up their "hardcore old school" attitude, the parody elements of previous editions of Hackmaster have been tuned way down.