Many of the things players find new and novel were in some form already in this awesom tome. Fighter / Wizard power balance was (in my opinion) far better than later attempts.
So any chance?
Cheers,
S.
Even if it's just a paperback, perfect bound kind of thing, I'd be interested. Sure, I'd prefer a fancy cover and new art and bells and whistles or somewhere in between. What I really want is a new copy to use so my old one can take a much needed retirement. However that happens will thrill me.
While you're at it, reprint the B X CM and M modules while you're at it. I'll buy them all...even the crappy ones, and the ones I already own.
Or just make digital copies available and let me print them myself.
What I liked a lot was that it got into some things that aren't even usually discussed much - like mass combats (meaning like how to handle armies at war).
I have it with me when I DM D&D, not matter which edition, because it has so much cool stuff in it.
The D&D Rules Cyclopedia remains at the top of my list as one of my favorite D&D products of all time! It is currently pretty rare and going for insane prices. I would buy it instantly (as I did with 1st ed. reprints).
Instead of doing a reprint I wonder if WotC has thought about making portions of their back catalog available as print-on-demand products?
Do this please. I will buy it. In fact rerelease the entire D&D Classic line please!
I have been thinking about this for awhile. It seems there was quite a backlash concerning 4th Edition D&D and a great many fans disliked it (I am one of them) and left WotC and D&D for Pathfinder or other games. It appears D&D Next is retro in flavor but they are playing with fire. In trying to bring back the customers they lost with 4th Edition (and it appears to be a large number) may cause 4th Edition fans to get angry and leave.
Why not go back to the days when they had two product lines, continue the evolution of 4th Edition while releasing a more retro line called "Classic" that catered to more retro gamers and fans of 3.5 or below. Keep everyone happy!
The 4e. fans can still exsist and play their version too. And WOTC reaps the finacial windfall of regaining the entire D&D fanbase. They own the entire line anyway why not support it. Then there's no edition warring and it is truly "to each his own!" I'm ready to open my wallet!
I used to have nearly all of the old books from the 80's but lost them in a move in the early 90's. The prices OOP copies fetch are exhorbitant.
Besides, Do you see an eye patch? That's cuz I'm no pirate.. Arr. Just let me pay you for the real deal.
I too made photocopies but due to theft and moving loss, would much rather have the physical copies in my hands. ;)
then
wait till d&D next is out and then update the classic B,X etc as pdf wth the new ruleset
The PDF's you are speaking -writing of are available in all past editions of the game right now and free to download on a bunch of shared sites. They are of good quality in general and are an exact replica of the books from cover to cover. A great tool to be sure but it doesn't replace my desire for a paper book to hold in my hands and have on my shelf for years to come. I also prefer not to have laptops or P.C.'s running in my games. People have short attention spans in this modern age. I like immersive roleplaying that lasts about 5-6 hours per session. I will buy these books whether WOTC reprints them or not because I don't need their permission. Amazon has most everything you could ever want. The question still remains why wouldn't they want my and your money?
Besides, Do you see an eye patch? That's cuz I'm no pirate.. Arr. Just let me pay you for the real deal.
I suggested it as an option. No where was I suggesting they never reprint stuff. Myself, I'm probably way older than you, and happen to still have copies of much of TSR's books from the 70's and 80's, yet I still wouldn't mind quality copies for posterity's sake (and for the time when e-ink books are perfected). Amazon has most everything you could ever want if you have no qualm paying highway robbery prices, but YMMV.
Also, those pdfs really are horrible scans. Purchased some years ago to replace some FR sourcebooks that were worn out, you know, the ones with the faux beige/aged paper? Cheap scanners weren't up to the task in the late 90's.
I have OSRIC, Labrynth Lord, White Box Swords & Wizardry, 1st edition, and 2nd edition AD&D references on my shelf, but I turn to the Rules Cyclopedia, again and again as a quick, ready reference for old school gaming. It is just so nicely layed out. Virtually everything you need for a fantasy RPG minus the stuff that just boggs things down.
Err, ah, I still need to buy a back-up, and a couple copies for my 'old-codger' friends, so let me retract all of my statements here.
Misserable book. Just misserable. Don't look for it on Ebay or Amazon. It isn't worth your time (and I don't want to pay more than $150 for it).
I have an RC (you can find them if you're patient - mine was $35 on Amazon) but would gladly buy a reprint. Updating the errata and changing out at least some of the art would be awesome, but like the 1e books, a straight reprint would be more than fine.
As for the RC being a madsh-up of BECMI - well, that was the point. A single volume hardcover reference book. The optional systems - skills, weapon mastery, etc. are still just optional, so you can use as much or little as you want in your game.
Hwy, while you're at it, reprints of the Gazeteers and B1-9: In Search of Adventure would let me round out my collection. Now THOSE are ridiculous expensive on ebay/Amazon...
There really isn't much else to say about it. If you print it, they will buy...
I'd be on that in a heartbeat. Add in the Immortals Set, but not Wrath of the Immortals, and I'd be a very happy bunny.
Even mentzer himself has said he's not fond of the book that took his edition and mashed it into one, making you use all the rules.
Not quite. The whole setup is Guidelines Not Rules, whether in BECMI or the RC. But I thought Aaron brought in several 2e bits (like Skills) which had not been integrated fully or properly. I spent years working out that complete D&D BECMI system, and didn't (and don't) appreciate some of the RC changes and additions that were in conflict with it.
Also, the RC essentially made the BECMI game world mandatory. Although Bruce Heard did a fabulous job coordinating all the gazetteers and such, I think the setting should not be bundled with the core rule book (just as no setting was bundled with the Advanced rules). That choice should be left entirely to the users.
To be fair, I would assume that both Allston and Heard were obeying Orders From Above regarding the inclusion of 2e bits and the setting.
FM
But thanks for spelling the name right, Bloodlust. ;>
My weekly group still plays RC rulesset D&D. I have one copy of the actual book, and have printed/bound a few copies from the PDF from when it was available. These are nice, but I can almost guarantee that every player in my group would pick up a copy if it were available new. Hell, I'd buy at least two.
Wizards, I'll be frank. You haven't gotten a single penny from me (aside from the PDF purchase) since you took over from TSR. If you re-release the RC (and going out on a limb here, either re-released other classic D&D stuff, or started publishing new content for that rules set) you will have gained me as a life-long customer.
I'll be frank.
Hey, that's MY job.
I'll be frank.
Hey, that's MY job.
Either that, or the whole line of BECMI boxed sets would be fantastic.
-Havard
As stated earlier, it's the best 'complete game' book ever made.
GP
I miss some of the things that the Rules Cyclopedia omits as a D&D (minus the 'A') product, but this book is one of the most nicely indexed, organized, easiest to read rules products (IMO) ever to be produced by TSR. Possibly because it is the distilled result of so many box set incarnations.
It is a shame that BECMI is made up of boxed sets. From what I can tell they are much less economical to reprint than a regular book. I think the loose binder format of 2nd Edition's MC products is why that edition hasn't got covered by WotC's reprint machine yet.
I have OSRIC, Labrynth Lord, White Box Swords & Wizardry, 1st edition, and 2nd edition AD&D references on my shelf, but I turn to the Rules Cyclopedia, again and again as a quick, ready reference for old school gaming. It is just so nicely layed out. Virtually everything you need for a fantasy RPG minus the stuff that just boggs things down.
You have OSRIC, LL and S&W, but have you tried Dark Dungeons, from Gratis Games? From what I am told anyone that likes the RC and BECMI will like Dark Dungeons.
Well, when I say "anyone", I'm not going to include Frank in that, as I don't think anyone ever asked his opinion on the system yet.
Even mentzer himself has said he's not fond of the book that took his edition and mashed it into one, making you use all the rules.
Not quite. The whole setup is Guidelines Not Rules, whether in BECMI or the RC. But I thought Aaron brought in several 2e bits (like Skills) which had not been integrated fully or properly. I spent years working out that complete D&D BECMI system, and didn't (and don't) appreciate some of the RC changes and additions that were in conflict with it.
I have wondered if you ever thought about what could have followed up B/X and BECMI to be the third (forth?) version of the classic rules. It went from two bits to five bits. Would you have compacted it into a single book or added even more installments (i.e. BECMI + KS) and kept it so that later bits (either boxed sets or books) were optional modules that could be bolted on?
Also, the RC essentially made the BECMI game world mandatory. Although Bruce Heard did a fabulous job coordinating all the gazetteers and such, I think the setting should not be bundled with the core rule book (just as no setting was bundled with the Advanced rules). That choice should be left entirely to the users.
To be fair, I would assume that both Allston and Heard were obeying Orders From Above regarding the inclusion of 2e bits and the setting.
That is something I'd want from gaming too (take note D&D Next designers). I personally think that campaign settings are the interesting things and that rule systems are there to help the settings come to life.
If D&D is for players, I should be able to take a setting like Mystara, and plug it into AD&D, 3rd Edition, 4th Edition or D&D Next and still have it "feel" like Mystara. The job of a game engine (either RC or anything else) is to facilitate things for the GM and get out of the way of the storytelling.
It was interesting to see that D&D Next is going to allow for three types of arcane spellcasting, but I would ask if it is going to be able to do what RC or BECMI does (not necessarily the same way). For one thing is D&D Next going to shoehorn GMs into Jeff Grubb's Great Wheel or Frank Mentzer's BECMI cosmology...or facilitate both (somehow).
I'll be frank.
Hey, that's MY job.
Aw. I wanted to be Frank too?
Also, the RC essentially made the BECMI game world mandatory. Although Bruce Heard did a fabulous job coordinating all the gazetteers and such, I think the setting should not be bundled with the core rule book (just as no setting was bundled with the Advanced rules).
I disagree here. 3rd ed and beyond are set in Greyhawk. there are no gazeteer info but deities etc... all aim at Greyhawk. Do I play greyhawk no never really liked the setting. do I play Mystare Yes but that is a personal preference. in 3rd I play a generic world or Mystara depending on my group.
Back to the topic at hand. If they put another RC out I woud be quick to buy at least 2 copies as these are the easist rules to bring a new person into our beloved Hobby
Also, the RC essentially made the BECMI game world mandatory. Although Bruce Heard did a fabulous job coordinating all the gazetteers and such, I think the setting should not be bundled with the core rule book (just as no setting was bundled with the Advanced rules).
I disagree here. 3rd ed and beyond are set in Greyhawk. there are no gazeteer info but deities etc... all aim at Greyhawk. Do I play greyhawk no never really liked the setting. do I play Mystare Yes but that is a personal preference. in 3rd I play a generic world or Mystara depending on my group.
There was a Greyhawk-lite element in 3rd Edition's PHB (just as there was a Mystara element to RC), but Frank wasn't saying that the two were not combined elsewhere. He was saying that the rules and settings should not be combined. Maybe he also thinks that the inclusion of GH-lite elements in the 3e core is also mistake.
In fact, I know some Greyhawk fans that don't totally appreciate the GH-lite thing. There are some things in core 3e rulebooks that are either not supposed to be part of the World of Greyhawk or are out-and-out parts of Forgotten Realms or other campaign settings. There inclusion in 3e corebooks and the "core = Greyhawk" thing that everyone thought was going on is a bit confusing. (An example of my own confusion with GH-lite is a monster called the equiceph, that was included as an undead critter in the GH subsetting bundled with Chainmail and then reused as a living critter - with no origin story - in 3e's Miniatures handbook. Miniatures Handbook was core. So does that mean it can be found wandering the Flanaess?) I think the same sort of confusion happens if you bundle BECMI and Mystara into a single package. If you actually tie the two together, it makes the BECMI rules into "setting information" and that stops them being "optional".
I think it is better for settings to springboard off of rules and for setting designers to add in some new rules to make the setting feel unique. I also feel strongly that settings should be able to exercise that concept of rules being guidelines and be able to turn off sections of the rules that clash with the vision of the setting. A key area, where Mystara is concerned is the concept of gods. Gods are fundimental to almost every edition of D&D...but not to Mystara. But to use Mystara with another set of rules (other than BECMI) all you need to do is switch of the idea of deities and reboot that concept as Immortals. Job done, the setting wins and D&D is doing the job it is supposed to. It is a little harder to do that with 3e Greyhawk, as you need to analyise the rules to see if all the embedded-stuff is really suppose to be there.
One thing I do like about 3e, is that it has an SRD (something I'd love to retroactivly be created for the RC/BECMI era). The SRD has not got Greyhawk-lite in it and if you want to run a 3rd Edition Mystara campaign it might be easier to take the SRD and Mystarar conversions and mix and match them to build a bespoke "Mystara PHB".
. Bought a well-used copy on ebay last year. Would love a brand new reprint. Would also love it if they reprinted the D&D Gazetteers, even if it was a boxed set for $$$, I would be very tempted to buy it just to have it. DM'd a game with it for several years back in the 90s and came up with a lot of house rules and custom classes and monsters, lost all that too but it is never too late to start over.Hey WotC, I've got a fist full of dollars I want to give you. Take my money dammit!
It's nice to see Mr. Mentzer on here. BECMI is still the most fun edition to play, there's just something about it that captures the true spirit of D&D in my opinion.
I'm looking for this book a long time. It's one of the best of best D&D book ever published.
PDF and printed version please.
I have 2 copies of the original RC, but I would certainly buy 3-4 reprints of this for myself and my brothers. I can't throw my money at this hard enough...
If I recall, the Immortal box took players past 30th level. It would be interesting to see all the BECMI rules.
Does the Rules Cyclopedia include character builds and monsters or is it more like the "Rules Compendium" for 4E Essentials?
If I recall, the Immortal box took players past 30th level. It would be interesting to see all the BECMI rules.
The Master's boxset took players to level 36, and included the immortals quests.
I would buy a premium special ed RC as well. But I still want the 2E core books first.
Unlike the 4E Rules Compendium, the old Rules Cyclopedia was a complete game including character creation, DM guidelines and rules, monsters, and even some basic setting information on the Known World (aka Mystara).
I agree it would be nice to reprint the Rules Cyclopedia and the Wrath of Immortals.
Does the Rules Cyclopedia include character builds and monsters or is it more like the "Rules Compendium" for 4E Essentials? If I recall, the Immortal box took players past 30th level. It would be interesting to see all the BECMI rules.
BECMI (mostly compiled into the RC) is the complete game, levels 1-36 (the RedBox Basic, Expert, Companion, and Master sets). The RC is (famously) the only edition of the game that has all the rules in one book -- and at about 300 pages it's not even a big book. The RC did add a skill system not found in the original game, and left out a few helpful but noncritical bits. It contains routes to immortality but nothing on the immortals themselves.
Beyond level 36 lies either the original Immortals set (if you want D&D-based superbeings who rarely interact with mortals, a separate game really) or the Wrath of the Immortals boxed set (in which mortals and immortals beat on each other a lot). I prefer the former, in part because it takes the game to a new level instead of replaying the same-old but on superhero steroids.
I guess I just do not understand the world. Why would WoTC not want to publish this game again? This should be D&D Next: Rules Cyclopedia + additional books that you can add to that BECMI foundation which would give players whatever suits their gaming style: AD&D, 3.5 or 4th. Do that, and - TahDah! - you've united the D&D gaming community!
They've reprinted 1E books and they are going to reprint 2E books. Why not the Rules Cyclopedia? I say YES!
And as far as uniting the gaming community? Yeah, not gonna happen. That genie isn't ever going back in the bottle.
However, the Rules Cyclopedia is hard to find for under $70, making a reprint viable for anyone and actually cheaper than a second hand copy of the original. That makes it a great freakin' idea.
God, how I wish they would re-print this. I've got my old copy but it's hard to run a table of six or seven out of one rulebook so I've switched to Labyrinth Lord. If it was available on ebay for less than human organ prices I'd pick up two more.
Yes, that is why I switched over to Labyrinth Lord as well. Having to rely on increasingly rarer, costlier and more fragile books in play, was starting to become less of an option. A reprint would be most welcome.
That being said, I'm fairly certain that either the Rules Cyclopedia, or a grand boxset containing all the BECMI booklets will be reissued before 5e is released. It will not only make the players of the system happy, but help push the upcoming pdf sales when they are out, as IMO while many are okay with e-versions of the books, dead-tree product of the core rules is still preferred.
Please consider doing this!
There's still the original going for a rather high price in the second hand market, but I always like supporting a company that does something I like.
Only thing I'd like more is a Dragonlance 5th Age reprint.
Do want.
OR
A premium box containing all the softcover, saddle-stapeled books from the BECMI sets. Oooo! How cool would that be?
Steve
Everyone here knows that you can get the 1981 Basic and Expert rulebooks as PDFs now from DnDClassics.com, right?
Steve
Yeah, but I think everyone's stoked on the 1991 version. I know I'd love to see the BECMI edition most of all.
And on another note, looks like my wish was (almost) granted. Now if only they'll do this to Mentzer's stuff.
And on another note, looks like my wish was (almost) granted. Now if only they'll do this to Mentzer's stuff.
That new boxed set is for the original 1974 D&D, not the basic edition. The Rules Cyclopedia edition is very different from the 1974 version.
Steve Winters, send the message to the WotC bosses, we want a reprint of the Rules Cyclopedia. Awesome book, one of the best books in the history of D&D. The only thing better would be a hardbound collection of BECMI (the art in those booklets was my favorite D&D art of all time)
And on another note, looks like my wish was (almost) granted. Now if only they'll do this to Mentzer's stuff.
That new boxed set is for the original 1974 D&D, not the basic edition. The Rules Cyclopedia edition is very different from the 1974 version.
Totally! That's why I said my wish was "almost" granted
. I think a treatment like this of all the BECMI sets would be rad!I'll settle for a Rules Cyclopedia, though
. .This is a must buy book for me. I want all of the other reprints simply for collecting them, but the RC is a book I will USE. Please, please, please, please.....
8 pages of requests and a cameo appearance by the living legend Frank Mentzer being ignored by the team at WOTC? Man I guess I have to say it again "WTF wotc"? The Rules Cyclopedia is worth reprinting. (If you print it they will buy). As opposed to Next which at this point only seeks to be an immitator of D&D.
Keep in mind WotC plans their release schedule a year in advance. Even if they realized the RC would be great at the time of the first post it'd be many months before we saw the book.
That's the kind of content we need more of. We need the best of those monsters in 5e. And the best way to do that is raise awareness via a reprinting.
My group will buy 5 copies.
One of the best D & D books ever . . .
I started with Basic, and later moved-on to 2e. I want a hard copy for myself, but it's completely overpriced on Ebay.
Please WotC, reprint this!
Interesting side note: my old high school group, back in the early 90s, used to convert the immortal quest & rules (found in both the Master & Immortals boxes, respectively) to our 2e games. While it was a bit overpowred, it was incredible fun, and good memories and laughs are still shared amongst us.
GIVE US THE RULES CYCLOPEDIA YESTERDAY ALREADY!
I'd like to rejoin the chorus begging WotC to reprint this amazing book. Check out the prices on ebay and you'll see that there is a high demand for this book (or a reprint of the BECMI set, either would be fine. Beggars can't be choosers!)
I'm willing to bet we see both. A reprint of BECMI, likely as a gift set with 1 to 2 modules apiece at a fair price (Probably a December release). A reprint of Rules Cyclopedia.
We'll find out in about 6 weeks though, the schedule runs out soon.
I've looked into buying it on Amazon a few times but its
hard to find someone who is selling a copy at a reasonable
price and willing to ship to Australia.
(rimshot)
Thank you, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.
(Thank goodness I still have mine, it's a great book of the first version of D&D I played.)
I constantly regret having sold mine.
But, it did go for quite a bit on eBay and helped me through a financial squeeze. Le sigh.
I just bought each box from Basic to Master, and would still buy a Rules Cyclopedia in a heartbeat.
Amen!
My copy is falling apart. I would buy two reprints if possible!
-Havard
www.dndclassics.com/product/17171/D%26D-...
Looks to be a better scan than the old PDF.
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!!!
( I'm very happy with it. )
But, I'm guessing this spells doom for ever seeing th R C in print.
I still would purchase a copy of the R C if it gets re-printed.
So, I purchased my PDF . . .
( I'm very happy with it. )
Is the PDF OCR, bookmarked, text-selectable, etc.?
I was considering buying it, but I want to make sure I can copy/paste pieces of it to create hand-outs.
cheers!
"
|hc D&D® Cyclopedia is as accurate a name
you could want for this book. A "cyclopedia"
is an encyclopedia, and this book is an
encyclopedia of all major D&D game rules.
This book is intended to be a reference volume
for those who already play the D&D game.
'Vbu'll find it much more convenient to look up a
specific rule here than in earlier versions of the
game. Just about everything appearing in the
boxed sets is here—but in a more convenient format.
For example, all the game's spells are in one
place, and all the details of creating a fighterclass
character are in one location.
However, though this book is aimed at the experienced
user, it is possible to learn to play the
D&D game from these pages. The Cyclopedia.
lacks many of the examples and the patient explanation
you'll find in the DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS® boxed sets, but you can still learn
to play from these rules."
-Havard
Make it happen already!!!!
Make it happen already!!!!
While I would say everyone here wants it—it is not going to happen. The chances for BECMI to get a grand reprint has also been quashed now that they are selling PDFs of that version too. Don't get me wrong: I am glad they are offering these nice PDFs and I have bought both the Rules Cyclopedia and the Red Box. But the one premium reprint that would have been totally amazing would have been the Rules Cyclopedia. It has to be a more rare book then those that have been reprinted. But now that it is digital it is totally unlikely to be in print.
The first official fifth edition product is coming out in less than 30 days. The first adventure module a week later. The reprints are likely to be done with the over the top and expensive OD&D one.
While I would say everyone here wants it—it is not going to happen. The chances for BECMI to get a grand reprint has also been quashed now that they are selling PDFs of that version too. Don't get me wrong: I am glad they are offering these nice PDFs and I have bought both the Rules Cyclopedia and the Red Box. But the one premium reprint that would have been totally amazing would have been the Rules Cyclopedia. It has to be a more rare book then those that have been reprinted. But now that it is digital it is totally unlikely to be in print.
The first official fifth edition product is coming out in less than 30 days. The first adventure module a week later. The reprints are likely to be done with the over the top and expensive OD&D one.
I expect that you are correct, but hope otherwise.
...but then, I've also been spending a lot of time thinking that TSR axed the wrong D&D in the early nineties.
While I would say everyone here wants it—it is not going to happen. The chances for BECMI to get a grand reprint has also been quashed now that they are selling PDFs of that version too. Don't get me wrong: I am glad they are offering these nice PDFs and I have bought both the Rules Cyclopedia and the Red Box. But the one premium reprint that would have been totally amazing would have been the Rules Cyclopedia. It has to be a more rare book then those that have been reprinted. But now that it is digital it is totally unlikely to be in print.
The first official fifth edition product is coming out in less than 30 days. The first adventure module a week later. The reprints are likely to be done with the over the top and expensive OD&D one.
I expect that you are correct, but hope otherwise.
...but then, I've also been spending a lot of time thinking that TSR axed the wrong D&D in the early nineties.
I actually disagree, I strongly suspect we're nowhere near finished.
Around 2008, WOTC made drastic changes to both the Mtg and D&D product lines. Mtg's changes included: Premium reprints of OOP material, Active support for all of it's variants (Including one it had never sanctioned before, EDH), and revisiting older "Settings" which were highly popular. Mtg has increased in popularity dramatically, and nowhere is that more evident than with Modern Masters, which started out at $150/box for preorders and by release day was selling briskly at $300/box.
WOTC is simply applying that experience to D&D. You can see it in the design goal of 5th edition, and the Premium rereleases. They're not going to stop. They're going to continue to release product ranging from old modules to books like Rules Compendium which are in high demand, it's the "Premium" tactic for the D&D line.
Sorry for the nitpick
-Havard
That's all we need: "We listened to you, guyz! We reprinted the Rules Compendium, just like you asked!"
The latest Rules Compendium is still available and still in print. I don't think there is any confusion.
One of the rarest rulebooks is the D&D Rules Cyclopedia which a lot of people would buy even if just to read. I bought one when it was new only to read it out of curiosity. And recently with the whole 5E retrograde thing going on I am seriously considering playing it. So I would definately buy a premium reprint of it and I have already bought the PDF. I don't think it will happen at this point but I am still a potential customer.
I hope you guys are right. I really want to see this book reprinted. But please guys, the book is called the D&D Rules Cyclopedia. The Rules Compendium is a different book, part of the Essentials line (actually there was a 3.5 one of those too).
Sorry for the nitpick
-Havard
That's what I get when I type up things dead-tired.
Yes, I meant the Rules Cyclopedia!
No lie it never sells for less than 60 dollars anymore.
Except for pretty much always, including at the time that I am posting (there are 4 used offerings on Amazon under $60).
Otherwise, yes, your point is very much good - the book is so sought after that people have, on more than one occassion, put a $500+ price tag on it (though I am not sure that those sold at that price, and may have instead reduced to a more reasonable price before selling... as most people I hear mention they bought one recently say they paid $20-$30 for it).
www.gratisgames.webspace.virginmedia.com...
On the other hand, a large motivation for the reprints was to have a quick and easy stream of products they could release to soak up time while they were working on D&D Next. Now that 5th edition is (presumably) going to be released in a year or less, they may not wish to distract potential buyers too much with alternate edition options.
Reprinting one of the most popular RPG books of all time within a few months of your new "this must sell well or we're screwed" product might not be a wise move, and I think they would know that.
-Havard
I own two original copies of the Rules Cyclopedia and would purchase at least one copy of a reprint in a heartbeat. Please produce this.
I own two copies also. One I use, and the other I have in safe keeping and in 100% mint condition.
I love, and still use, this edition of the rules more than any other flavor of D&D. I get a fair amount of use out of the 3.5 SRD through the various retro clone flavors, but, I have purchased the 1st Edition DMG, Players Handbook, and Monster Manual when you guys reprinted them (even though I still own the originals I got back in middle school!) and I _will_ purchase this when you guys make a decision to reprint it! ;)
At the very least, it would be nice to hear someone official acknowledge this thread.
Even something as generic as "we hear you, but we're focusing on D&D Next right now so we'll have to look into it later" would be very, very nice.
As it is, I'm just forced to assume that they don't give a damn about customer requests.
I just payed $90 total on eBay so I could once again own a copy of the Rules Cyclopedia and the Creature Catalog. I would most certainly buy a reprint of the RC! Such a fun game. I also would like to see them reprint GAZ 1-14, with a huge poster map of the Known World. I would gladly pay $50-$70 for that!
I'm not sure if this is the right place to have this, but since we are talking about the old Rules Cyclopedia, I posted this in another thread, and no one has responded. Maybe you guys can help me. (sorry for the long post)
This one will be very long, so everyone please bare with me. I just turned 37. When I was 13, I mowed all the lawns in my neighborhood and then took that money and bought the Rules Cyclopedia. My buddies and I back then, played the snot outta that book!! When all the older kids in our school found out we were playing "Basic" D&D, they would make remarks like: "yea ..... that's cool ...... but it's not Advanced." So I kept mowing lawns and shortly owned the 2nd Edition PHB, DMG, and the first 2 Monsterous Compendiums. We converted our characters up to 2nd Edition, and then I just stopped using the Rules Cyclopedia. So I sold it. Dumb move.
All these years later, my old buddies, (now in their 30's like me,) are all saying: "3rd edition is awesome, but we should just play an old basic D&D game! Role up some characters and just start beating on stuff like we used to!" So of course, I jumped on eBay and found a beautiful, near flawless, copy of the Rules Cyclopedia, an excellent copy of The Creature Catalog, (I didn't know they had that monster book when I was 13,) and started paying the outrageous prices to get some of the old GAZ series of modules for the Known World. (I think a great idea for Wizards would be to release a full compendium of the GAZ1-14, with a HUGE poster map. I would gladly pay $50-$70 for that. Kind of like what they did with the re-release of Against the Giants.) I haven't been this excited to play D&D in long, long, time! I read, and re-read, through my RC and CC like I did when I was a teenager! Now with the internet, I started looking to see if Dragon Magazine had ever released anything on a Barbarian class for "Basic" D&D. If I read my info right, they did early on, and an earlier version of the "Original" D&D had the Barbarian. But when they re-did the box sets into the BECMI era, they left out the Barbarian and finally put him into the Unearthed Arcana book. I did find a cool version of a "Basic" D&D-style Barbarian for Sword & Sorcery. I put my own touch on him, and am asking for all of you to chime in and tell me what you think. Did I miss something? Should I do more? Should I do less? Here is my take on the Barbarian for BECMI D&D. The original outline comes from:
ode2bd.blogspot.com/2009/11/bx-s-barbarian-class.html
BECMI Barbarian
Prime Requisite: Strength - 13-15=+5% to Experience earned/16-18=+10% to Experience earned
Barbarians roll on the attack charts of Fighters and the saving throw charts of Dwarves
Restrictions: Barbarians use a 1d10 to determine their hit points. Barbarians may use any type of armor (except plate and suit,) and may use shields (except Tower and Walled.) They may use any type of melee or thrown weapons but do not use missile weapons. A barbarian character must have a minimum Constitution score of 9.
Special Abilities: Barbarians are used to surviving in the wilderness and are able to forage, discover the correct direction if they become lost, and spot traps and snares in the wild one-third of the time (a roll of 1 or 2 on 1d6.) Because of a Barbarian's upbringing and natural behavior, they can fight with one weapon in each hand, but only with a -2 penalty to the second weapon's attack roll. When a Barbarian fights this way, they do not receive 3 attacks/round because of high levels. At the beginning of play, Barbarians gain the Lance Attack and Set Spear vs. Charge attacks.
When Barbarians reach 9th level, they become known as a Barbarian Lord, build a stronghold and attempt to establish a clan. The stronghold will be located in the wilderness.The Barbarian Lord may only use barbarian warriors, but specialists and retainers of other classes may be offered other positions.
1- 0 - 1d10 - Barbarian
2 - 2200 - 2d10 - Barbarian
3 - 4400 - 3d10 - Barbarian
4 - 8800 - 4d10 - Barbarian
5 - 17000 - 5d10 - Barbarian
6 - 35000 - 6d10 - Barbarian
7 - 70000 - 7d10 - Barbarian
8 - 140000 - 8d10 - Barbarian
9 - 270000 - 9d10 - Barbarian Lord
10 - 400000 - 9d10+3*
11 - 530000 - 9d10+6
12# - 660000 - 9d10+9
13 - 800000 - 9d10+12
14 - 940000 - 9d10+15
15 - 1080000 - 9d10+18
16 - 1220000 - 9d10+21
17 - 1360000 - 9d10+24
18 - 1500000 - 9d10+27
19 - 1640000 - 9d10+30
20 - 1780000 - 9d10+33
21 - 1920000 - 9d10+36
22 - 2060000 - 9d10+39
23 - 2200000 - 9d10+42
24## - 2340000 - 9d10+45
25 - 2480000 - 9d10+48
26 - 2620000 - 9d10+51
27 - 2760000 - 9d10+54
28 - 2900000 - 9d10+57
29 - 3040000 - 9d10+60
30 - 3180000 - 9d10+63
31 - 3320000 - 9d10+66
32 - 3460000 - 9d10+69
33 - 3600000 - 9d10+72
34 - 3740000 - 9d10+75
35 - 3880000 - 9d10+78
36 - 4020000 - 9d10+81
*=Constitution adjustments no longer apply
#=2 attacks/round ...... ##=3 attacks/round
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I decided not to give the Barbarian 4 attacks per round like the Fighter. I figured with the most hit points possible in the game (198,) I had to give him some severe restrictions. Plus to me, a person that gets 4 attacks/round would need some intense training for that. Barbarians (IMO) do not have that amount of patience. That's also why Barbarians cannot wear plate, suit armors, or use a walled or tower shields. It just don't see Conan (Arnold version ..... don't forget I'm 37,) in huge restricting armors. Imagine Arnold in knightly suit armor? Yea .... that's not right. I lowered the penalty on the duel wield, because to me, Barbarians would learn something like that pretty much from birth. LOL! According to the Rules Cyclopedia, it seems to me like if you use the weapon specialization rules, let's say your Barbarian uses duel wield. You use a Long Sword in your main-hand, and a dagger in your off-hand. Now with your specialization, you get your dagger up to +2 to attack roles. When you duel wield, now your dagger in the off-hand does not have a penalty. However, if the dagger is in the main hand, it receives a +2 to attack roles, but now the sword, (which is in the off-hand,) now receives the -2 penalty. I may have that rule wrong, but that's the way I read it. I thought about attempting rage powers, but then I figured that would make this version of the class to ..... Advanced. Let me know what you all think. Please keep in mind, this is the very first time I have tried to do my own class. Not really my own, but hopefully it doesn't unbalance my BECMI D&D campaign
Never gonna happen, because it's the one book EVERYBODY wants and WoTC knows it and it would out shine NEXT. LoL.
This book is essentially the Holy Grail of Dungeons and Dragons. Please reprint. K thnx.
I'm surprised they haven't reprinted this great book! Why?
No idea. I would love to get my hands on a reprint copy.
I wonder what the reprint cover would look like?
-Havard
I wonder if there is a way to get them to simply let us crowd fund a limited run of certain books. Whatever the price is to print, say X of copies, a minimium order qty, we figure out how to get them made. I know they want to make money on further editions evolving into what is popular now. But they're missing out on an opportunity for their current players to re-buy old books. Wizards has to understand, we love 1st Ed, the Red Box, etc. not because we hate Wizards or fear change. We just like what we have and want to continue on that path. Take our money and let us replace these books.
I always treated other editions of D&D like I treated Ultimate Spider-Man, or Star Trek: TNG. It's just another. No more, no less, but I have my favorite.
We're not asking you to crank them out every year, or even print modules, just print the classics every couple-dozen years, even video games do that.
Post a quick survey asking two simple questions: Would you buy a reprint? How much would you pay?
Buying a re-print doesn't hurt 4e, I wasn't going to buy it anyway, it's not for me.
I'm older now, I played this in my teens. It is the perfect edition for me to use. It is familiar and nostalgic, its rules are simple enough to resolve things quickly, without 4 pages of character sheet, and without calculus and smartphone apps. I don't mean to dig newer editions, I just don't have need for the complication. My group leans nostalgic anyway, and I don't have the patience or time to run 1st ed. I need a hardcover.
I don’t know why, but for some reason it appears as if WotC does not want a product to be both print and PDF. It is obvious some people don’t want physical books and some who don’t want PDFs.
The D&D Rules Cyclopedia is up on DriveThruRPG so I am guessing they won’t reprint it. I am a PDF person and still waiting on them to put the PDFs up of the books they have reprinted.
You mentioned drivethrurpg and it had me looking. They say they have been able to negotiate reprinting material for some of their publishers. They sell the Rules Cyclopedia and even the box sets on pdf. The faq simply says to contact them with a book and publisher and they'll try. I would hope the more the merrier.
Contacting takes a few seconds, mercifully no login crap required, it's basically an email.
http://support.drivethrurpg.com/anonymous_requests/new
Hopefully they're listening.
It may not be likely, but it's worth a shot. Takes maybe 5 seconds.
miribus wrote:
Let's do it with my vote!
It would be Wizards reprints all materials from the basic D&D ('83 version by Frank Mentzer) in their original version. I'll buy all handbooks and adventure modules.
Funny that you all would mention this. In my retro review video series I'm going over old D&D and leading into the Gazeteer and rules cyclopedia overview! Check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-mLHG_cGuc