What's your favourite version or variation of D&D?

[C4]

The Complete 4th Edition is my first long-term contribution to the D&D community, and my favorite rpg.

Naturally, 4e is my second choice.

 

[Paraxis]

Essentials 4th edition is my personal favorite, I like 13th Age and Next when I want a little more free form style of play. One of my favorite memories is a long time Rules Cyclopedia campaign so that deserves an honorable mention as well.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I think if I had to choose one to cover all my D&D I would go with 3.5. It is the most robust system and the most amenable to house rules. I do like the old time feel and have been doing a lot of 1E and 2E recently, but they would not be my only choice.

Right now I play 1E, 2E, 3.5E and 4E.

Not bad.

 

[MoonSong]

2e, definitely 2e, the only way I could enjoy it more is on a variation that totally removed level limits, racial class limits and combos and it included a houseruled version of the sorcerer.

 

[Lalato]

Arcana Unearthed/Evolved. The variations within the classes were great. It made it really fun to design your own. The setting was fun too.

 

[sheadunne]

To run: Becmi

To play: 3.5e

To read: 2e

To remember: 1e

 

[pemerton]

My favourite version of D&D is 4e.

I haven't read or played 13th Age, but my guess is that I might like it.

B/X D&D. Run by the book, it creates a fantastic, suspenseful dungeon/wilderness exploration game. But the system is light enough to build on and expand into high fantasy adventure.

I'm a huge admirer of Moldvay Basic (I've got nothing against X, but overall I don't think it's quite as good). But personally I find a bit of a gap between its mechanics, and its aspirations towards high fantasy - especially because of 1st level hp totals and its "dead at zero" rule. So I can't list it as a favourite version.

Also, as best I remember, you never finished your Moldvay thread - chapter 8 on GMing advice didn't get covered, did it? I think that's one of the strongest points of Moldvay Basic, and something later versions of D&D could have built on much more than they did.

 

[billd91]

Pathfinder, hands down. My second favorite would be 2e. I'm intrigued by Next and think it's got a lot of potential.

 

[samursus]

Favorite? Probably BECMI, with second place going to whatever currently has the D&D logo, at this point, Next. I have a lot if nostalgic memories of BECMI but I love trying new things!

 

[Dwimmerlied]

My favourite is 3.x for its customisability, and the principle of one set of rules for all things. I'd strongly consider pathfinder, because from what I've seen, they have great production values- the quality of most of their stuff that I have seen is far greater than the quality of wotc stuff; the only reason I haven't tried it is because there's just not enough time. I'm very intrigued by some of the basic assumptions of older editions.