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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MerricB" data-source="post: 1912067" data-attributes="member: 3586">OD&D (original boxed set)* Three classes: Fighting-Man, Cleric and Magic-User* Four Races: Human, Dwarf, Elf and Hobbit (Halfling)* Three alignments: Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic* Ability scores had very little effect. (bonus to XP earnt, Dex gave bonus to hit with missiles; Con gave bonus to HP).* Hit points for everyone based on d6. (1st level Fighter had 1d6+1; a Lord had 9d6+3, etc).* Combat damage is d6 for all creatures and weapons.* Combat attack is d20, high is good - table-based, AC vs. character level* Armour Class from 9 (no armour) to 2 (plate + shield)* Saving throws are d20, high is good - table-based.* Magic-Users: 1st through 6th level spells.* Clerics: 1st through 5th level spells.* Monster Hit Dice: d6* XP tables differ for each class, and are exponential until "name" level.* XP awards are 100 XP/monster Hit Dice.Supplement I: GreyhawkThe first movement towards AD&D.* Ability score bonuses expanded drastically; Exceptional strength added. Strength for opening doors - d6, low is good. Constitution for surviving resurration - d%, low is good.* Hit points now use different dies (d4 for Wizards and Thieves, d6 for Clerics, d8 for Fighting Men)* New classes: Paladin and Thief* Thief abilities (e.g. Move Silently, Pick Pockets) are % based, low is good, except for hear noise (d6, low is good)* Combat Damage different dice changed for different weapons (d4 dagger; d8 sword); also two damage codes: vs. Small/Medium and vs. Large* Magic-Users gain 7th-9th level spells* Clerics gain 6th-7th level spells* Monster Hit Dice: d8* Monster XP awards are based on table - Hit Dice base, plus special awards for special abilities.* Very low level limits for demi-humansSupplement II: Blackmoor* New classes: Monk and Assassin* Optional damage hit systemSupplement III: Eldritch Wizardry* Psionics introduced (trade off class abilities for psionic ability)* Alternative initiative system introduced - requires tracking of segments, very complicated.Advanced Dungeons and Dragons* combines most of the advancements of the previous releases (including material from The Strategic Review, such as the Illusionist, Ranger and Bard)* New combat rules - although attacking and saves are the same, drastically new initiative system. Basically comparing d6s, but much, much more complicated. And it doesn't hang together...* Surprise determined by d6 rolls (low indicates surprise, but a 2 represents more surprise than a 1!)* Hit dice for characters changed: Fighters d10, clerics d8, thieves d6, magic-user d4* Monster spell resistance: % roll, low indicates it works. (Calculation very odd: a 55% spell resistance was against a 11th level MU; +/-5% for each level difference...)* Unarmed combat rules that include d%... I think. * Psionic rules (just bonus abilities, no balancing factor).* Nine Alignments* d% monster reaction table* d% morale system (low good; on failure, consult table for difference between roll and morale score)* Armour Class 10=no armour; 2=plate + shield* Low level limits for demi-humans, slightly adjusted for high ability scoresDungeons and Dragons, Basic Set (Holmes)* Based on original D&D + Greyhawk supplement.* Uses original ability score system with a small amount of Greyhawk additions.* Uses Greyhawk hit dice.* Initiative is based on Highest Dex goes first* Turn Undead: 2d6; high is good (based on table)* Monster Hit Dice: d8* Five Alignments: LG, CG, TN, LE, CE* 2d6 monster reaction table* AC 9 to 2.Dungeons and Dragons, Basic Set (Moldvay)* First of the classic basic editions* New ability score bonus system (13-15=+1; 16-17=+2; 18=+3) consistent for most classes* Uses Greyhawk hit dice* Three Alignments: Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic* AC 9 to 2* Initiative based on a d6 system.* Races as classes - Fighter, Cleric, Magic-User, Thief, Dwarf, Elf, HalflingUnearthed Arcana (AD&D)* Added Cavalier, Barbarian and Thief-Acrobat (incredible bonuses for Cav and Barb balanced by role-playing penalties)* New unarmed combat system, along with disarming rules (based on saving throws)Dungeoneer's Survival Guide (AD&D)* For the first time in a rulebook for AD&D, the idea of rolling a d20 vs an ability score (low is better) was presented. (OA may have technically been first; and the idea had been floated in Dragon Magazine).* Non-Weapon Proficiencies added. Basically, d20 vs. Ability Score (with modifiers)Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd edition* Major revisions to the combat system to make it clearer* Initiative and Surprise based on d10 and much simpler* New Unarmed Attack system (simpler, but not much better)* Non-Weapon Proficiencies integrated into the main rules.There's a bunch more, but along with John's summary, that should give you an idea of the early editions.Cheers!</blockquote>

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