Post/Author/DateTime	Post
KneedAdvice 01-30-04, 10:36 AM	My son just got taught how to play, and I thought I would get him the books he needs. Since I don't know anything about the game I got him (on ebay) 1) Official Advanced D&D handbook (1978), 2) Advanced D&D "Dragon Lance, Dragons of Desolation" (1984), 3) D&D Players Manual (1983), 4) D&D Dungeon Masters Rule Book (1984). Then, after further research I found he needed a Monster Manual and found out there are much later versions of the books I got him. So I got him the Version 3.5 Monster Manual. My questions are: Are the Players Manual and Dungeon Masters Rule book I purchased OK for today's games? Or do you need the 3.5 version? What is the difference between D&D and Advanced D&D? What is the "Dragon Lance, Dragons of Desolation" book? Is it rules, or just a story? I haven't gotten them in the mail yet. They are a suprise for his birthday, and I would like to get it right. Thanks!
Bump 01-30-04, 10:50 AM	Oh man! I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it sounds like you've got three different versions of the game. Yes, they are all... "good", but they weren't designed to go together without extra work to make the game play smoothly. The first one sounds like the AD&D Player's Handbook. The Other Player's Handbook and The Dungeon Master's guide sound like they might be from the boxed sets. Dragonlance is a game world. That is probably a "module".. .A game that needs some preperation to play. Personally, I'd return all that stuff or see if a collector wants to get them. For a complete set of D&D books (Core rules that you need, at any rate) all you need is this: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndcore/966480000 The gift set contains all three books your son needs. Sorry. (Don't let that MSRP listed there scare you. There are places that sell it for less.)
airhead 01-30-04, 12:02 PM	Unless he is the DM (Dungeon Master), all your son needs is the Player's Handbook ($25-30) at your local gaming store. If his friends are playing version 3.5, then that is what he needs. Quick rundown: 1 person is the Dungeon Master (DM) - this person has the info on the area (traps, monsters, bad guys, good guys, etc.). Think of him as the computer in a computer game. This person needs a monster manual, players handbook and a dm's guide. The rest of the people are players that play a character (Player Character or PC). All they need is a players handbook (ok to borrow for a while) dice, pencil, paper and imagination. They are the adventurers/explorers for this world. The AD&D (advanced) stuff was from the 80's and is not easily compatible with the current version - sell them on ebay - you should break about even - or hang on to them for fun. The monster manual should be traded for a PHB (Player's Handbook) if you only have one book. Knowing the monsters is cool, but not a must. Shout if you need any more help.
Ssussunriyh 01-30-04, 12:40 PM	Originally posted by KneedAdvice: 1) Official Advanced D&D handbook (1978) This is the Player's Handbook from First Edition AD&D, which was an expanded rules version of Basic D&D. 2) Advanced D&D "Dragon Lance, Dragons of Desolation" (1984) DragonLance is a specific campaign setting "world" (other examples include Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms.) 3) D&D Players Manual (1983), 4) D&D Dungeon Masters Rule Book (1984). These books are also 1E. Then came Second Edition AD&D, a different version of the rules, which is similar to 1E but not entirely compatible with it. D&D Third Edition (3E, or 3.0) came out in 2000, and did away with the "Advanced" title, since there was no "Basic" version anymore. It introduced a totally new set of rules, based on the D20 system. the Version 3.5 Monster Manual D&D 3.5 is the current version. It is somewhat altered from 3.0 based on playtesting and customer feedback. But while it is possible to convert stats from one version of the rules to another, you can't play the game with such a mixed set of rulebooks. It would be like an engineer trying to design a piece of machinery by using alternating Standard and Metric measurements. EDIT: got my Editions and dates mixed up in the original post...
KneedAdvice 01-30-04, 04:41 PM	Thanks for the input. I should have come here first. I will have to show my son this site. The game looks like a lot of fun with endless possibilities and scenerios to manufacture.
Kaya Kenobi 01-30-04, 06:24 PM	Originally posted by KneedAdvice Thanks for the input. I should have come here first. I will have to show my son this site. The game looks like a lot of fun with endless possibilities and scenerios to manufacture. I personally like 2e ADnD, but the learning curve is a bit harsh. I like 3e because it is smoother than the other 2 editions..
Sweet Steph 01-30-04, 08:49 PM	Originally posted by KneedAdvice The game looks like a lot of fun with endless possibilities and scenerios to manufacture. Truer things could not be said about D&D. It's a shame that not all parents are as open to roleplaying as you seem to be. I'm sure that your son will have a fine time, and you may want to get in on the game as well. =)
cwslyclgh 01-31-04, 04:14 AM	since 2e didn;t come out until 89, it would be very hard for Dragons of Desolation (the third DL module) and 3) D&D Players Manual (1983), 4) D&D Dungeon Masters Rule Book (1984). to be 2e... they are in fact later printings of the 1e PHB (the blue wizard cover) and DMG (the man openeing the doors cover)... the older PHB will have the cover with the group of adventurers and the big statue.
Ssussunriyh 01-31-04, 12:28 PM	Originally posted by cwslyclgh since 2e didn't come out until 89... :whatsthis Huh. You're right. Well, they say that the memory is the second thing to go when you start to get old...:rolleyes:
Zendu 01-31-04, 07:45 PM	boy i love showing up to late to help, i am surprised no one called her(him?) an idiot, or went way to technical into the descriptions
arcady 01-31-04, 10:48 PM	Actually all the books you bought are 1st edition except for the 3.5 Monster Manual. Second Edition dates to 89. Several of the books you ordered are considered collector items by the 'serious gamer crowd'. If there's a Gamekeeper or WotC store in your metro area you can check it out - they're closing their stores and thus the books are going very cheap there. He will need the 3.5 Player's Handbook. The 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide is a good buy also but not needed to play. However if he desires to DM he will want the three core 3.5 books: 3.5 Player's Handbook 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide 3.5 Monster Manual Make absolutely sure it says 3.5 on it before you buy it, I've seen a few retailers trying to pass older books off on people like yourself - parents and others buying gifts... I believe Borders and Barnes and Noble stocks these as well. Since you're ok with online ordering there's also frpgames.com for the big discounts. I would personally recommend getting him the set he would need to DM, and then encouraging such. My own mother did so in 82 around my 11th birthday - citing advice she'd recieved that it was good for a child's imagination. By becoming a DM early on in my play experience, and at a young age, I learned how to be a leader among my friends rather than follower, and learned to love study and speaking in front of groups. I'd say it helped me with almost every academic skill I had to master growing up, though it has also put me into a certain subculture seen as a bit geeky by society at large. That said, you'd be suprised at exactly which adults out there are gamers, chances are you know several of them without knowing it's their hobby. Most of us are by no means as geeky as the stereotype claims. :)
Kaya Kenobi 02-01-04, 12:31 AM	Originally posted by Zendu boy i love showing up to late to help, i am surprised no one called her(him?) an idiot, or went way to technical into the descriptions I know the feeling... Don't you hate it when you're called an idiot or when someone comes up with all sorts of terminology and screws you up?