Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
I was wondering if someone could give me a breakdown of the differences between these two products.
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OD&D(1974) vs. The Red Book - Differences?
- Thread starter Angel Tarragon
- Start date
Philotomy Jurament
First Post
One big difference is the stat/ability mods. About the most you can expect in OD&D is a +1; B/X goes up to +3. B/X uses the concept of race-as-class; OD&D has class and race separate (e.g. elves multiclass). In OD&D, magic armor and shields affect the opponent's to-hit roll, rather than your AC. In OD&D, magic sword bonuses work slighty differently, and all magic swords have Int and Alignment. OD&D doesn't detail a combat sequence; B/X does.
In the original three little books, there are only three classes (Fighting Man, Cleric, and Magic User). All classes use D6 for hit dice (with modifiers). All weapons do D6 damage. All monsters use D6 for hit dice. The XP bonuses are based off of 100XP per HD.
When you add supplements to OD&D, some of that changes. More classes, like the Thief (although even then thieves don't have the ability to find traps, just to remove them). Variable weapon damage is added. Hit dice for PCs and monsters are modified. The XP awards are modified. Ability mods. change. Et cetera. In general OD&D + Supplements starts becoming very close to 1E AD&D.
In the original three little books, there are only three classes (Fighting Man, Cleric, and Magic User). All classes use D6 for hit dice (with modifiers). All weapons do D6 damage. All monsters use D6 for hit dice. The XP bonuses are based off of 100XP per HD.
When you add supplements to OD&D, some of that changes. More classes, like the Thief (although even then thieves don't have the ability to find traps, just to remove them). Variable weapon damage is added. Hit dice for PCs and monsters are modified. The XP awards are modified. Ability mods. change. Et cetera. In general OD&D + Supplements starts becoming very close to 1E AD&D.
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Philotomy Jurament
First Post
By "red book" do you mean the 1981 Moldvay/Cook basic rules (Erol Otus art) or the 1983 Mentzer basic rules (Elmore art)? Both of those rulebooks were red. Just curious.
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
1983 book.Philotomy Jurament said:
Philotomy Jurament
First Post
The Mentzer (1983) rules tweaked the number of spells for casters and also the rate of skill increase for thieves, if I remember correctly. I'd have to look it up to make sure, though. Mentzer D&D was explicitly designed for a level range of 1-36.
Incidentally, for shorthand, it's pretty common to see:
OD&D = OD&D(1974)
OD&D+ = OD&D(1974) + Supplements
Holmes = Holmes basic
B/X = 1981 Moldvay/Cook/Marsh Basic and Expert
BECM = 1983 Mentzer Basic/Expert/Companion/Master
Incidentally, for shorthand, it's pretty common to see:
OD&D = OD&D(1974)
OD&D+ = OD&D(1974) + Supplements
Holmes = Holmes basic
B/X = 1981 Moldvay/Cook/Marsh Basic and Expert
BECM = 1983 Mentzer Basic/Expert/Companion/Master
Philotomy has a very good summary. Maybe it's too obvious to mention, but of course the Red Book basic only covers levels 1-3, in dungeon environments.
OD&D comes with limitless levels out of the box; dungeon & wilderness adventures; monster roster runs two short pages, covering kobolds to the toughest dragons; spells only go up to level 6, with very limited spell lists. As soon as you add the first supplement, spells go up to level 9, and every supplement adds more monsters & spells.
OD&D comes with limitless levels out of the box; dungeon & wilderness adventures; monster roster runs two short pages, covering kobolds to the toughest dragons; spells only go up to level 6, with very limited spell lists. As soon as you add the first supplement, spells go up to level 9, and every supplement adds more monsters & spells.
thedungeondelver
Adventurer
Delta said:
For proper outdoor play in OD&D, you need a copy of Avalon Hill's OUTDOOR SURVIVAL, though.
smootrk
First Post
For those of you who are proponents of the 'old school' games, do you think that the rules for Basic Fantasy or Labyrinths Lords are worthy updates or rehashes of the old rules? Those rules have their differences, but both seek to appeal to lovers of the older sets. Would you use either (or move fully to use the updated rules)?
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