The truth about THAC0

[Stalker0]

Tell me if I'm wrong, I only played 2e for a short time.

2e way is slower than 3e because you have to obtain information from the DM before you can determine if you suceeded.

In 2e...you rolled and got your attacks. The dm then told you the AC. You then checked your thaco to see if you hit.

In 3e....you roll and add up your number, and then just tell the dm what your attack is when your ready. The dm then determines if you hit based on the AC.

 

[Crothian]

For us it worked the same way

second edition Player: I rolled and hit an AC 3, DM tells if it is a hit

third edition player: I rolled a 13 (which is AC 13), DM tells if it is a hit

 

[ThirdWizard]

For us it worked the same way

second edition Player: I rolled and hit an AC 3, DM tells if it is a hit

third edition player: I rolled a 13 (which is AC 13), DM tells if it is a hit

That's how I always did it.

EDIT: One thing that really got exasperating in 2ED was the iterative attacks. I'm talking to you 3/2.

 

[Torm]

As others have said, it really isn't a matter of the math being any harder or more extensive once you understand it, it is a matter of it being easier to understand, the 3E way.

That's why I expect that if there is a 4th Edition, they will drop the attribute scores themselves in favor of using just the current attribute MODIFIERS with 5 added to them, and 5 added to any check DCs. There's an unnecessary set of numbers in the way we do it now.

 

[Lars Porsenna]

I agree, while mechanically similar, the fact that 1e/2e required the subtraction of negative numbers was very confusing. I've never been very good at math, and the day I passed my final math class in college was a very happy day for me. I used to pre-determine all my numbers and use the little "grid" on the flipside of the 2e character sheet to list them. It would make combat much easier and quicker for me. Now, in 3e, there's no requirement for that; just roll and add. Sure, subtracting negative numbers is not that challenging (it just means you add together the absolute value of the 2nd number), but to do it on the fly was never easy for me...

Damon.

 

[weasel fierce]

You can just deduct the roll from your THAC0. Thats the AC you hit, and you can announce that. Same way as in 3.x

 

[Turjan]

I haven't had that much exposure to AD&D 2E, but THAC0 was never a problem for me. I agree that the current system might be a bit more intuitive, but I'm definitely not among those people who sighed with relief when THAC0 was gone. For me, it was more or less a non-issue.

 

[billd91]

You can just deduct the roll from your THAC0. Thats the AC you hit, and you can announce that. Same way as in 3.x

Yes, we know this. The issue for a great many players was that subtracting large numbers from low THAC0s was problematic compared to adding things up in 3E versions. Personally, while I never had a problem with THAC0 (then again, I majored in math), I knew plenty of people who did, so it really was a breath of fresh air to turn the operation around.

 

[Akrasia]

Pre-3e versions of D&D definitely helped to improve the math abilities of young lads and lasses more than 3e. Sometimes it is good to make 'nonintuitive' calculations.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Pre-3e versions of D&D definitely helped to improve the math abilities of young lads and lasses more than 3e. Sometimes it is good to make 'nonintuitive' calculations.

You want games that teach math, there are quite few games better suited to this than 0e/1e/2e d&d.