What did I play?

[Li Shenron]

A few years ago, around 1995, I have been playing D&D for the first time with some friends. I would like to know which version of the game it was, I don't even know if it was old D&D or AD&D, I have started really playing only with 3ed.

The game was in a boxed set: a rulebook of 70 pages circa IIRC, softcover with a good picture of an attacking Red Dragon, black&white interior with spare artwork; introductory adventure instructions for the DM; a cardboard dungeon map; a set of dice; paper counters for PCs and monsters. It was an Italian edition (editor EG), so it might have looked very different from the original package, and the description could be unuseful.

Now the rules: I am trying to get from them which version of the game it was... Names can differ because they are translated from Italian by me.

- abilities were rolled 3d6, in order and no adjustments; bonuses were non-linear: 9 to 12 = +0, 13 to 15 = +1, 16 to 17 = +2, 18 = +3

- the classes were Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, Rogue, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling (obviously no distinction between class and race); every class had prerequisites, such as min Strength for Ftr

- alignment concerned only Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic, and there were a Lawful and a Chaotic languages

- PCs could go up to level 5, and each level granted a "nick-title", such as Wizard 1 = "Apprentice", Wizard 2 = "Scholar", Wizard 3 = "Sorcerer"... (just e.g.); the level limit suggests me it was a starting package only

- usage of weapons/armors was very restrictive, i.e. no proficiency = no use at all

- there were no rules about non-weapon proficiencies or skills

- IIRC, hp were Ftr=8, Cle=6, Rog=4, Wiz=4, Elf=8, Dwa=8, Hal=6 (or similar), always rolled randomly

- attack rolls used THAC0, and AC was "the lower-the better"

- saving throws were divided into 5-6 groups, like "ST vs poison and death ray", "ST vs spells", "ST vs wands and staves", "ST vs paralysis and sleep"... Each class had a progression for each, Wis bonus to all, and again "the lower-the better"

- more about classes: Ftr could use any weapon; Cle had turn undead; Rog had abilities rolled with % (Climb walls, Move Silently, Hide in Shadows, Open Locks...), he could spread among them some extra % per level; Wiz could use ONLY dagger; Elf was the raw sum of all Ftr + Wiz abilities

- there was Infravision

- IIRC Cle & Wiz CAST 1 spell/day at level 1 and KNEW 1 spell ONLY; I even think they could not choose the known spell but they had to roll randomly

- the many monsters in the book had fixed XP for each; I remember for sure some monsters that I have never seen in 3ed, or I have seen them very different, such as Giant Crocodyle (about colossal size, maybe the highest XP of all), Bronze Golem (liquid fire instead of blood, splash damage to everybody when they hit it), Necrospectre, Displacer Panther, Yellow ? Amoeba

I can recall much more, but the post is becoming too long.

Any help appreciated!!!!

 

[arwink]

Original DnD, more commonly known as basic DnD because the red books covered level's one to three and came in a box called the basic set.

The lack of classes on elf, dwarf or halflings are a dead giveaway

 

[kengar]

Sounds like the "Basic" boxed set of D&D. There were 4 "boxes" for that game Red (Basic), Blue (Expert), Turquoise -I think- (Companion?) & Black (Master). Would that be OD&D, D&D, or 1st ed.?

The player book probably had something at the top of the cover that said "READ THIS FIRST"

 

[francisca]

I think it is TSR #1070, one of the later incarnations of the original D&D (if you can still call it that).

Here is a link:

http://www.rpgunited.com/products/tsr1070.html


It was also available in a smaller box than the one shown.

 

[Li Shenron]

Thank you Francisca!!!! It is exactly that one

So was it a 1993 re-edition of original D&D, was it somehow different in the rules or only in the presentation & material included?

 

[bluegriffon]

1993 edition of Basic D&D

The 1993 edition of the the Basic D&D game was alot more easier to understand than the previous 5 box sets. It came with the stand-up of the characters and monsters, a map board that the DM could use with the stand ups, introduced the THAC0 mechanic. The plan was to get your feet wet (so to speak) with this set, than go out and buy the Rules Cyclopedia which expanded the rules. Also this edition introduced a new setting, Thunder Rift, since TSR had plans at that time to make Mystara (The Known World) into a AD&D 2nd Edition campaing setting.