Thinking like WotC... something to try?

[McTreble]

In discussing D&D Next, my group decided to conduct an experiment: return to a previous edition of D&D (For us 2e is the one; we played more 2e than anything else growing up) and play it as basic as possible. PHB, DMG, MM. Discuss. Add a new idea or concept one at a time (Class Kits, Monster Races, etc...) Discuss. Keep going.

Granted, WotC is doing this for every edition, but we don't have the time (nor are we paid to do it) so we decided on one. Maybe after this little experiment, we'll revisit 1e or Basic. (3e would be low on the list). I still run a 4e game, so there's a lot of inherent comparisons to be made.

We're all onboard for Next, at least to try... but this is giving us a new perspective, and I am very excited.

Anyone else giving this idea a throw around?

 

[delericho]

Anyone else giving this idea a throw around?

Not as such. While I admire a fair amount of the pre-3e games, I don't think I could ever bring myself to go back. Plus, my group had both 3e and 4e games ongoing prior to the announcement, and expect to continue with these until they naturally come to an end. Time permitting, we may add a 5e playtest game to the roster, although this looks somewhat unlikely.

However, I am very glad that WotC are taking the time to look at all editions in their design work, and not merely limiting themselves to their own favoured editions.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I am considering going back to 1E or AD&D if my group could handle it. We have a guy new to gaming who might like that favor more. He is finding 4E too complicated.

 

[kitsune9]

I thought of putting together a 1e game for laughs, but nothing really serious.

 

[Traveon Wyvernspur]

Haven't given it any thought to go back to earlier editions. We are currently playing PF and will definitely give "next" a try when it comes out, hopefully in the play-testing phase.

 

[Piscivorous]

In discussing D&D Next, my group decided to conduct an experiment: return to a previous edition of D&D (For us 2e is the one; we played more 2e than anything else growing up) and play it as basic as possible. PHB, DMG, MM. Discuss. Add a new idea or concept one at a time (Class Kits, Monster Races, etc...) Discuss. Keep going.

Granted, WotC is doing this for every edition, but we don't have the time (nor are we paid to do it) so we decided on one. Maybe after this little experiment, we'll revisit 1e or Basic. (3e would be low on the list). I still run a 4e game, so there's a lot of inherent comparisons to be made.

We're all onboard for Next, at least to try... but this is giving us a new perspective, and I am very excited.

Anyone else giving this idea a throw around?

My wargaming group did this for World in Flames [strategic world-wide WWII wargame] after it got blown out and overcomplicated due to expansions. Slowly fed options in until we had the game we wanted.

It's a very solid approach to getting what you want out of a game.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I could see doing this, though I probably won't due to the difficulty of getting regular games together as it is. Still, it's a good way to learn more about yourself and the hobby.

Similarly, playing games other that D&D can have that effect, especially those with dramatically different design philosophies. One thing I learned from Savage Worlds is that many of the things that I think are really cool are also obstructions. That there are many ways to have fun with a game, but they're often incompatible.