Retro Clones

[Dyson Logos]

It depends what you are looking for. If you are hunting for the White Box set I'll agree with that. But 1e AD&D books I always see at the local used books stores. When I went last week I stopped counting when I found a dozen of the PHBs. I've found and bought three copies of the Rules Cyclopedia so while that's rarer it is out there. And I know at Origins in a month I'll see plenty of the old D&D stuff for sale.

True, but it still isn't easy to equip a group with a set of Moldvay Basic and Expert rules books. While I appreciate the Rules Cyclopedia (immensely), I really wish they hadn't nerfed the thief so badly in it.

/EDITION WAR

 

[ggroy]

My long time game over the years was a hacked up combination of Moldvay B/X + 1st ed AD&D player's handbook, until I stopped playing altogether for a number of years. These days whenever I visit old friends back in the old town, we sometimes get together and play a marathon game over a long weekend using Labyrinth Lord. Most of the other guys' copies of Moldvay and/or the 1st ed AD&D books were thrown out a long time ago, typically during spring cleaning at their parents' homes many many years ago.

 

[Crothian]

True, but it still isn't easy to equip a group with a set of Moldvay Basic and Expert rules books.

Then you go back to gaming like we did back then. One guy had a copy of the books and we made photo copies of stuff for everyone else.

 

[ggroy]

Then you go back to gaming like we did back then. One guy had a copy of the books and we made photo copies of stuff for everyone else.

Sometimes we used photocopies of the attack tables from the 1e AD&D DM guide whenever we reached higher levels (ie. over 14), until we inadvertently lost all our copies of it. Though by that time, we all largely stopped playing D&D for the most part and were into other things (ie. rock concerts, marijuana, etc ...).

 

[Chainsaw]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Very helpful.

 

[jdrakeh]

It depends what you are looking for.

Well, it depends on a lot of things, ranging from what specific book you're looking for to what condition you want it in and what you're willing to spend (frex, many Holmes-era box sets in good shape go for about $50 currently).

If you are hunting for the White Box set I'll agree with that. But 1e AD&D books I always see at the local used books stores. When I went last week I stopped counting when I found a dozen of the PHBs. I've found and bought three copies of the Rules Cyclopedia so while that's rarer it is out there.

I think the key pronoun in all of those instances is "I" My own experience that the supply of older edition books have become pretty obscure here (Colorado Springs/Pueblo) — and really, that's the only area I'm concerned with, as it's where I live and game.

And I know at Origins in a month I'll see plenty of the old D&D stuff for sale.

As far as holding up Origins as the most likely place to have older edition books. . . well, that goes to enforce my original point. It's not like Origins is the local book store. If you must go to a once annual convention to find certain products, those products are pretty freaking obscure.

 

[Desdichado]

Well, keep in mind that Crothian lives in Columbus, or nearabouts. Origins is his local bookstore. Or, at least his local once-a-year book fair.

 

[Crothian]

Well, it depends on a lot of things, ranging from what specific book you;'re looking for to what condition you want it in.... and really, that's the only area I'm concerned with.

It also depends on how badly someone wants them and not just what that person is willing to pay. I have bought older books for people on EN World who have asked. In this day and age it is pretty easy to find books in other areas, buy them, and have them mailed. If someone is not willing to do that then it looks to me that that person just doesn't really want the books.

 

[jdrakeh]

It is true that BFRPG is much less of a clone than LL, but it is still way, way closer to B/X than to 3x.

I guess we just have to agree to disagree. Using the 1d20 +/- mods versus DC mechanic from the 3x SRD for most task resolution and combat really places it closer to the SRD end of the spectrum for me. It pays crazy homage to B/X for certain but, mechanically, it cleaves very closely to the 3x SRD (the notable exceptions being multiple XP advancement tracks and theif skills).

 

[ancientvaults]

With the retro-clone movement there is little need to use your old gaming material. Brand new books with additional material and a lot of rules being clarified and expanded upon in a concise manner? Plus, I prefer to keep my original books in decent condition. Playing with the original material is quaint, but a bit unnecessary anymore. With supporting magazines and even a group, TARGA, that promotes traditional gaming, anyone who wants to game in the "old school" manner can take the plunge for free via the retro-clones that provide free core rules.