What version of D&D is your favourite to play (expanded poll)

[JoeBlank]

A couple years ago, I would have voted 3.0 or 3.5. But playing OD&D has convinced me that the rules don't matter that much to me. The amount of fun in the game is dependent on the people playing, and to an even greater degree on the person running it.

 

[BryonD]

A couple years ago, I would have voted 3.0 or 3.5. But playing OD&D has convinced me that the rules don't matter that much to me. The amount of fun in the game is dependent on the people playing, and to an even greater degree on the person running it.

The group is certainly more important than the rules.

But, once I have a group, there are rules I prefer.

 

[XO]

Heavily Biased

For a set of rules to be favorite, the presumption must be that you actually HAVE played / tried out earlier editions...

The poll should have reflected that since many players will never actually have seen anything but the covers of 1e or 2e, or OD&D, or Basic...

 

[Griffith Dragonlake]

Historical Campaign Supplements

My all-time favourite edition is AD&D 2nd Ed. Player's & DM's Options with the Historical Campaign Supplements. However I choose to now play 3.5 for the availability of players and the option to publish via the OGL & d20 Licenses.

To-date, I have been unable to effectively recreate my customised spellcasters in 3.5. Back then all spellcasters were multiclassed and specialised. For example, a necromancer was a Wizard/Cleric with specialisation in necromancy. They used the wizard hit dice and combat tables and the best wizard/cleric saves. Spells per day were wizard + cleric. Spell list was highly customised and reflected the flavour of the class. Unlike 3.5, a 10th level necromancer was not 5/5 but somewhere around 7th or 8th in both. Scholarly spellcasting required casting from an open book, longer casting times but also longer durations. I also granted a lot of the metamagic spells as feats so that the scholarly spells were also more powerful as well as longer in duration. End result is that spellcasters did a ton of prep but not much in combat. Most players had their henchmen fight in combat. All in all, there was an Ars Magica feel to the campaign which worked out well and was appreciated.

I suppose I might be able to modify the Mystic Theurge and I should really make an effort. But man, it was sure a lot easier to play the kind of D&D I liked back then.

 

[Storm Raven]

I have played almost all the editions listed in the poll. Some, like 1e, OD&D, and 3e, I played fairly extensively.

However, I said "other", since, like several others who have posted here, my preferred edition is a hybrid between 3.0e and 3.5e.

 

[Crothian]

My all-time favourite edition is AD&D 2nd Ed. Player's & DM's Options with the Historical Campaign Supplements. However I choose to now play 3.5 for the availability of players and the option to publish via the OGL & d20 Licenses.

There are historical books for 3e and with all the options it is better then the second edition option books.

 

[diaglo]

OD&D(1974) is my ideal choice.

 

[diaglo]

Supplement I Greyhawk (1975) and since has been an Arms race.

1edADnD UA(1985) was written i believe for EGG's powergaming scions.

edit: not to mention my hat of d02 know no limits

 

[painandgreed]

My favorite, 1E with UA and large 3-ring binder of house rules. Although I am close to changing that over to 3.5 with large computer file of house rules.

 

[Psion]

However, I said "other", since, like several others who have posted here, my preferred edition is a hybrid between 3.0e and 3.5e.

Perhaps I should have posted that, then.

Though admittedly, what I pull in from 3.0 is a short list. Mainly, I keep 3.0 face/reach because I creatures are already excessively large, and attacks of opportunity already give them a zone of control, and because many creatures just don't have an aspect ratio anywhere near one. And I use 3.0 concealment, because it makes sense and makes me, the GM, the final arbiter of what is going on in the game world, not the map.

I also keep "+" DR; simple "magic" DR is too simple to overcome, though otherwise I use the 3.5 DR rules. "+" DR is typically +1 per 5 points of DR, rather than looking up the old DR.

I came up with some spell list reversions that I have decided aren't entirely worth my time (though I still think the sorcerer gets hosed by splitting up the old 1e utility spells), and though the 3.5 changes to specialist barred schools played havoc with my npcs, it's a new campaign now and not such a big deal.