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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Philotomy Jurament" data-source="post: 5041679" data-attributes="member: 20854">I don't know if 1e generates more heated discussions than 3e or 4e, but I suspect it does generate more contentiousness than the other TSR editions.I think that's definitely a factor.  I currently play OD&D, but I still consider AD&D to be the de facto standard that defines "this is D&D."  If someone said, "tell me what you think of when I say D&D," my answer would be 1e AD&D.AD&D might also be more prone to contentiousness because of the way its written.  One of its goals was to codify and expand the rules to make it more consistent (compared to wild and wooly OD&D) for tournament play and for PCs moving from campaign to campaign.  So it includes a lot more details and rules.  But, Gary's approach still assumed a high degree of referee judgment, and—for one reason or another—some things were left somewhat ambiguous or open to interpretation.  So you have rules that clearly cover such-and-such, but exactly how it works or why it works that way might be subject to interpretation.  That can spark arguments.Contrast that with OD&D, which has such broad lacunae in the rules that it's obvious that the referee will make the call, there, and there is no by the book or right way.  There's little point arguing, in that case.  Or contrast it with B/X, which, like AD&D, fills in those OD&D holes, but does it in a simpler and more straightforward manner.  (I think of B/X as the "you can just sit yer ass down and play it like it is" edition of D&D.)  I suppose 2e is kind of like B/X, in that respect, since it's clarifying and removing a lot of the need for DM interpretation and rulings on the rules.  Now, some might say that this clearly means the 1e rules weren't very good rules, because they were not as clear and unambiguous as the B/X or 2e rules.  I think that depends on what you're looking for out of your rule set.  Personally, I like the style and approach used in 1e AD&D more than I like the style and approach of B/X or 2e.  Some of the ambiguities in 1e might be bugs, and some of them might be features, but overall I find the 1e rules to be a much better fit (and more inspiring) for my approach to the game.</blockquote>

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