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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="S'mon" data-source="post: 4517619" data-attributes="member: 463">Basid D&D (Moldvay 1981 set or Mentzer 1983 set) only covers the 1st 3 levels of play.  Labyrinth Lord is basically the same game (within the limits of what copyright & the OGL allow) but covers a full 20 levels or so, allowing for long-running campaigns, powerful magic etc.  I would recommend that you get both that Basic set and a copy of Labyrinth Lord.  Basic has slightly different Experience Point tables and in Basic Clerics don't get a spell at 1st level, those are the only real differences as far as I know.There are lots of adventures and other resources useable for both of these on Dragonsfoot - dragonsfoot.org - the 'Basic' modules are 100% compatible, the AD&D ones 99% (AD&D has more character classes).Personally I think there's plenty enough complexity in Basic/LL, but there are plenty of expansions available if eg you want a defined Skills system rather than attribute checks.If you like more complex games, 3.5e D&D is good, and with its Skills system I think it's less combat-centric than 4e.  Also, in 3.5e creating 1st level characters using just the Player's Handbook is quite easy, much easier than in 4e (IMO).  What 3.5e does have is escalating complexity, especially over about 10th level it can become a chore I find.  4e's curve is much flatter.  In 3.5e statting out NPCs and special monsters is a huge pain IMO, but the DMG gives sample NPC stats for all classes & levels, and you can stick to monsters straight out of the Monster Manual, of which there are hundreds, including some 'advanced' versions.   If 4e doesn't appeal to you, I'd get that Basic set (Mentzer Basic is the best introductory set ever published IMO), download Labyrinth Lord or Basic Fantasy, and see if they look like what you want.  If you want more complexity, get the 3.5e Players' Handbook.  I am currently actually running a game using 3.5e PHB for PCs and Basic stats for the monsters (flipping Armour Class so it goes up from 10 instead of down from 9), and you could try that, but if you like 3.5e it's worth getting the DMG and MM too.Edit: Re miniatures - I never found any need for minis with Basic/LL/AD&D etc.  3e/3.5e D&D and 4e D&D are minis focused and benefit from use of a battlemat and miniatures.  3e is just about useable without, if you run a low-combat campaign.  If you don't like minis I would recommend against either 3.5e or (especially) 4e D&D.Basic/LL etc actually reward avoidance of combat, which is highly lethal at low levels.  In the standard mode of play, avoiding the monsters and getting the treasure by stealth, trickery etc is the best route to success.</blockquote>

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