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D&D Older Editions
What Do You prefer 1E vs 2E
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<blockquote data-quote="Snarf Zagyg" data-source="post: 9194511" data-attributes="member: 7023840"><p>I think that what I am thinking of, and what [USER=6807784]@Shardstone[/USER] was discussing, speaks to a slightly different issue.</p><p></p><p>Roughly boiled down, it's the idea that form follows function. There are people that prefer that the rules of the game be ... well, game rules. That they are clear and precise. That they aren't "readable" so much as they are rules- you'll see people that prefer, for example, the use of "keywords" to "natural language." And that's certainly a valid preference!</p><p></p><p>On the other hand, there are those who view the early 1e material in a more holistic sense- in terms of being "rule books" they weren't particularly good. But in terms of inviting people to delve into them, in terms of evoking a particular fantastical mindset, they were amazing. They were not just rulebooks, but mysterious tomes with intermixed snippets of lore, hooks for adventures, and laden with atmosphere. The books themselves were calls to adventure.</p><p></p><p>It's a fine line to draw; but I know, for example, that I've gone back to the original (1e) PHB and especially the DMG time and time again, but have only looked to the 2e versions of same when I needed to do some research into a 2e rule. That's not to say that Zeb Cook didn't make a better ruleset in terms of the rules; but simply that in the process of clarification and usability, he also stripped some of the inspiration and fantastical mystery out of it as well.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Snarf Zagyg, post: 9194511, member: 7023840"] I think that what I am thinking of, and what [USER=6807784]@Shardstone[/USER] was discussing, speaks to a slightly different issue. Roughly boiled down, it's the idea that form follows function. There are people that prefer that the rules of the game be ... well, game rules. That they are clear and precise. That they aren't "readable" so much as they are rules- you'll see people that prefer, for example, the use of "keywords" to "natural language." And that's certainly a valid preference! On the other hand, there are those who view the early 1e material in a more holistic sense- in terms of being "rule books" they weren't particularly good. But in terms of inviting people to delve into them, in terms of evoking a particular fantastical mindset, they were amazing. They were not just rulebooks, but mysterious tomes with intermixed snippets of lore, hooks for adventures, and laden with atmosphere. The books themselves were calls to adventure. It's a fine line to draw; but I know, for example, that I've gone back to the original (1e) PHB and especially the DMG time and time again, but have only looked to the 2e versions of same when I needed to do some research into a 2e rule. That's not to say that Zeb Cook didn't make a better ruleset in terms of the rules; but simply that in the process of clarification and usability, he also stripped some of the inspiration and fantastical mystery out of it as well. [/QUOTE]
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