Who still plays Basic D&D?

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

That's weird, the above didn't move up the board or record as the latest post--guess I'll have to give it a little bump.

Strange goings on when the boards slow down--I even saw a post where the poster was listed as having made "0" posts!

 

[Skullfyre]

Thorvald,

I should clarify,

I want the rules cyclopedia on ESD. The pile of books in front of my packed bookshelves is already too large.

I liked the clean rules of basic, weapons and combat were simple and straightforward, ability bonuses were standard across abilities, but unfortunately thieves still had crappy skills and saving throws were in wierd categories with wierd progressions.

I liked the weapon mastery rules for different reasons. I played in an campaign with weapon mastery rules, modified, expanded and tacked on to AD&D and they were great. My wizard merchant prince was a grand master of merchanting! Also I saw dragons that were masters of claw, and experts at wing buffets, as well as one that was a grand master of Feng Shui.

Regdar,

It is a lot easier to run a quick combat without miniatures in basic than in 3e. The options and complexity of combat (attacks of opportunity in particular) are very different in play styles.

send me an email.
I would be able to offer any assistance I can

 

[Geoffrey]

Geoffrey, I like some of your ideas. I never used alignment, either. One thing that interests me is your XP progression. The only get 1,2,or 3 XP per session? Is the XP chart you use different?

Thanks for your kind words. The XP chart I use is indeed very different. It looks like this:

1st level characters need this many XP: 0
2nd...5
3rd...10
4th...20
5th...30
6th...45
7th...60
8th...80
9th...100
10th...150
11th...200
12th...250
13th...300
14th...350
15th...400
16th...450
17th...500
18th...550

As you can see, it would take a player (on average) only 5 sessions to reach 3rd level; and it would take 275 sessions to reach 18th (the highest level possible). Assuming one session a week, that would be five and a half years!

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

Geoffrey--

I kind of like that chart. Do you find that the relatively fixed awards encourage more roleplaying--with the kill & collect mentality, normally an imperitive of level advancement, now more dependent upon the player's personality or his character conception?

 

[Deedlit]

Personally, I did not like basic DnD. As an elf, I was deeply offended by the level limit we were unjustly given, as well as the incredible railroading into the mage class. What about the elves of Lodoss like myself, who are more often shamans as they are magi. And I find it very unfair that we can't get raised, or learn how to raise people. Corellon Latherian would have no power in the world, and be weeping as no elves followed him, because they would suck. The lack of distinction between a cleric of different deities I also disliked, as clerics of Marfa are very different then clerics of Kardis.

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

BTW, finally got my new weapon tables and two weapon fighting rules posted now that finals are over.

Stop on by and take a look

 

[Geoffrey]

Geoffrey--

I kind of like that chart. Do you find that the relatively fixed awards encourage more roleplaying--with the kill & collect mentality, normally an imperitive of level advancement, now more dependent upon the player's personality or his character conception?

Thanks for the kind words. And your question is exactly on target. Not only does this method of experience reduce bookkeeping, but it also makes killing monsters and getting treasures *for the sake of xp* a non-issue. The players are therefore more likely to act in character, rather than take detours. ("I only need 300 more xp to rise to 11th level. Before we continue on the next stage of our quest, let's go roust a few ogres for some easy xp.")

Incidentally, I first got the idea from the old Star Frontiers game by TSR.

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

Incidentally, I first got the idea from the old Star Frontiers game by TSR.

I used to play, but I don't remember the experience system--guess I'm going to have to go and dig it out

 

[Mouseferatu]

Thanks for the kind words. And your question is exactly on target. Not only does this method of experience reduce bookkeeping, but it also makes killing monsters and getting treasures *for the sake of xp* a non-issue. The players are therefore more likely to act in character, rather than take detours. ("I only need 300 more xp to rise to 11th level. Before we continue on the next stage of our quest, let's go roust a few ogres for some easy xp.")

Incidentally, I first got the idea from the old Star Frontiers game by TSR.

I do something similar, in that I don't give XP for specific actions. Rather I give story awards, with bonuses for good ideas, problem solving, creativity, or good roleplaying. We use the chart in the book, but it amounts to the same thing--that is, a set (or at least closer to set) rate of advancement. This allows us more time to concentrate on the story and the characters.

But that doesn't require Basic D&D, of course. I play 3rd edition, and this system works just fine.

 

[Warduke]

Yep I still play it on occasion, ran through both versions of Palace of the Silver Princess last year. And my longest running campaign (15 years now) is original D&D. I haven't been able to play it that much lately, currently I'm running my one and only 3egame, a super adventure. After that I'll switch back to my 2nd ed campaigns as part of my eternal struggle to finish off a lot of old campaigns. (I currently have 26, and would be a lot happier with 2-4 but I don't want till kill them off without a "real" ending.) The fact that higher education and work is starting to take more time from everyone's available free time is also a factor. Maybe when we're all retired.