Classic D&D - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Classic D&D

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Mar 18, 2007 2:38:29 Man. I totally went to a garage sale today. And they had an oldschool box of the starter set of AD&D, but it was incomplete. After leaving and looking at everything, it turns out the original D&D was in there, copyrighted 1979.
man. that ruled. I looked at the fold-out DM thing (forgive me) and it just...seems very simple compared to v3.5.
#2
solaris
Mar 18, 2007 2:50:58 That's not original D&D. Original D&D was published in 1974. Still, nice find
#3
zombiegleemax
Mar 18, 2007 3:33:09 naw, it was like a reissue from 79, I think. I'll take pics.
thanks.

I think the D&D artwork that came out in the 80's was way cooler than now.
i
#4
zombiegleemax
Mar 18, 2007 3:41:39
I think the D&D artwork that came out in the 80's was way cooler than now.
i

Amen. The game had such a different feel. It really was a wonderful, magical feel to it too.

Don't get me wrong, 3.X is really great...but still, they lost something, and they haven't gotten it back yet.
#5
zombiegleemax
Mar 18, 2007 4:03:20 i totally agree! you guys are great. even the second edition had cooler artwork. looking at the charecter sheets that the game came with; yeah.
i mean...the picture of "Kerwyn" in the Player's Handbook (core rulebook 1, the only one I have, ha ha) just...has everything that sucks about the new d&d written all over it. maybe the fact that it doesn't look too fantastic.
#6
havard
Mar 18, 2007 6:20:03
i totally agree! you guys are great. even the second edition had cooler artwork. looking at the charecter sheets that the game came with; yeah.
i mean...the picture of "Kerwyn" in the Player's Handbook (core rulebook 1, the only one I have, ha ha) just...has everything that sucks about the new d&d written all over it. maybe the fact that it doesn't look too fantastic.

Erm, have you seen the Jem-88 blue illustrations from the 2E PHB? Not nice...

Havard
#7
zombiegleemax
Mar 18, 2007 7:01:56 i believe I have not; Could you link it?
#8
Clangador
Mar 18, 2007 13:38:51
Erm, have you seen the Jem-88 blue illustrations from the 2E PHB? Not nice...

Havard

I agree. The 2e artwork is absolutely atrocious. It's got nothing on 1e.
#9
solaris
Mar 18, 2007 14:35:32
naw, it was like a reissue from 79, I think.

You could be right -- according to
http://acaeum.com/ddindexes/rulebooks.html they were still printing the sixth edition ("Original Collector's Edition") in 1979. I thought they stopped when Basic came out in '77.
#10
Clangador
Mar 18, 2007 14:58:57
You could be right -- according to
http://acaeum.com/ddindexes/rulebooks.html they were still printing the sixth edition ("Original Collector's Edition") in 1979. I thought they stopped when Basic came out in '77.

Nope. You don't stop printing something that is still selling. ;)
#11
havard
Mar 18, 2007 16:22:20
I agree. The 2e artwork is absolutely atrocious. It's got nothing on 1e.

Speaking of 2e Blue art. Any of it available online?

Havard
#12
Clangador
Mar 18, 2007 16:56:48
Speaking of 2e Blue art. Any of it available online?

Havard

What? No 2e books around Harvard's lair?

Give me your addy and I'll send you my 2e PHB for free!
#13
geekazoid
Mar 18, 2007 21:24:02
Amen. The game had such a different feel. It really was a wonderful, magical feel to it too. Don't get me wrong, 3.X is really great...but still, they lost something, and they haven't gotten it back yet.

I think its because we are so old now, we can't possibly relive the excitement of being 9 years old. I miss those caves of chaos something fierce! "OMFG!!! I found a +1 short sword!"
#14
zombiegleemax
Mar 19, 2007 1:01:37 the oldschool fantasy feel rules...
i'm sure some artwork on 2nd ed sucked. But idk, it appears like that charecter is wearing a "medieval biker jacket."
kind of like what that kid wore on the Eragon film.

artwork plays a big part of it...sort of like album covers.
#15
havard
Mar 19, 2007 9:07:13
What? No 2e books around Harvard's lair?

Give me your addy and I'll send you my 2e PHB for free!

Someone stole my 2e PHB.

I'll PM you

Havard
#16
zarathemad
Mar 26, 2007 22:47:56 oddly there is a pituer of a "Gypsy Bard" in the bards hand book wich is almost identical to the 3ed Wheel of time supalamnt for a Tu'athan. Not supiseing if you know the Tu'athen. But some what ammusing.
#17
varl
Mar 26, 2007 23:32:41 I like 1e and 2e art. It's easels above d20 art imo, but then, art is very subjective and beholder-esque, and not worth condemnation of an edition because of its eye candy.
#18
Hugin
Mar 30, 2007 9:49:03 I tend to like the older art better myself as well. I even enjoyed the B&W pics as they gave an 'ages past' feel. I guess the reason I'm not big fun of most of the newer art is the 'modern' look to it.

Everything has spikes or blades or needle-sharp fangs or muscles on top of the muscles that have muscles on them; they don't seem to get it that not everything that can kill you looks like it's from the abyss. It just seems over-the-top to me and losses the effect. Art is definitely subjective though.
#19
havard
Mar 30, 2007 13:28:18
I tend to like the older art better myself as well. I even enjoyed the B&W pics as they gave an 'ages past' feel. I guess the reason I'm not big fun of most of the newer art is the 'modern' look to it.

Everything has spikes or blades or needle-sharp fangs or muscles on top of the muscles that have muscles on them; they don't seem to get it that not everything that can kill you looks like it's from the abyss. It just seems over-the-top to me and losses the effect. Art is definitely subjective though.

Comments on the art of the various editions tend to become very generalized though.

The Elmore and Easley B/W art of the Classic D&D rulebooks was awesome. The hand-drawn illo's of the original set are cute, but hardly qualified as art.

I love the color illustrations of the 3E core rules. It is some of the best RPG art out there. Still, color does not make art good. In later products 3E art quality has dropped. IMO they would have been better off by turning to B/W than to lower the quality of the color art.

I don't care much for the 3E Core book covers. I miss the old days when Elmore grazed the covers with a new Dragon on each cover.

Havard
#20
vrykolas2k
Mar 30, 2007 18:15:54
Amen. The game had such a different feel. It really was a wonderful, magical feel to it too.

Don't get me wrong, 3.X is really great...but still, they lost something, and they haven't gotten it back yet.

They never will.
They're reaching for the dollar.
It's like being on stage, and accidentally drop something. You reach to pick it up, the audience laughs, who knows why. You do the same thing again the next night, no-one laughs... they just think you're a clutz.
I learned a valuable lesson in that play; WotC won't lose the lesson, because they're getting the dollars... for now.
#21
tallforadwarf
Mar 31, 2007 3:11:21 I was lucky enough to pick up the Red Box recently. Heh heh, Touchberry the halfling.
Although the names haven't got any better, 3.0 - a Gnome called Flitchbatter. Don't americans know what that means in Europe!?!
;)
I have to agree on the old artwork, I love it. The new stuff all seems very anime. Ah well.

Peace,
tfad

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Mar 18, 2007 2:38:29	Man. I totally went to a garage sale today. And they had an oldschool box of the starter set of AD&D, but it was incomplete. After leaving and looking at everything, it turns out the original D&D was in there, copyrighted 1979. man. that ruled. I looked at the fold-out DM thing (forgive me) and it just...seems very simple compared to v3.5.
#2 solaris Mar 18, 2007 2:50:58	That's not original D&D. Original D&D was published in 1974. Still, nice find
#3 zombiegleemax Mar 18, 2007 3:33:09	naw, it was like a reissue from 79, I think. I'll take pics. thanks. I think the D&D artwork that came out in the 80's was way cooler than now. i
#4 zombiegleemax Mar 18, 2007 3:41:39	I think the D&D artwork that came out in the 80's was way cooler than now. i Amen. The game had such a different feel. It really was a wonderful, magical feel to it too. Don't get me wrong, 3.X is really great...but still, they lost something, and they haven't gotten it back yet.
#5 zombiegleemax Mar 18, 2007 4:03:20	i totally agree! you guys are great. even the second edition had cooler artwork. looking at the charecter sheets that the game came with; yeah. i mean...the picture of "Kerwyn" in the Player's Handbook (core rulebook 1, the only one I have, ha ha) just...has everything that sucks about the new d&d written all over it. maybe the fact that it doesn't look too fantastic.
#6 havard Mar 18, 2007 6:20:03	i totally agree! you guys are great. even the second edition had cooler artwork. looking at the charecter sheets that the game came with; yeah. i mean...the picture of "Kerwyn" in the Player's Handbook (core rulebook 1, the only one I have, ha ha) just...has everything that sucks about the new d&d written all over it. maybe the fact that it doesn't look too fantastic. Erm, have you seen the Jem-88 blue illustrations from the 2E PHB? Not nice... Havard
#7 zombiegleemax Mar 18, 2007 7:01:56	i believe I have not; Could you link it?
#8 Clangador Mar 18, 2007 13:38:51	Erm, have you seen the Jem-88 blue illustrations from the 2E PHB? Not nice... Havard I agree. The 2e artwork is absolutely atrocious. It's got nothing on 1e.
#9 solaris Mar 18, 2007 14:35:32	naw, it was like a reissue from 79, I think. You could be right -- according to http://acaeum.com/ddindexes/rulebooks.html they were still printing the sixth edition ("Original Collector's Edition") in 1979. I thought they stopped when Basic came out in '77.
#10 Clangador Mar 18, 2007 14:58:57	You could be right -- according to http://acaeum.com/ddindexes/rulebooks.html they were still printing the sixth edition ("Original Collector's Edition") in 1979. I thought they stopped when Basic came out in '77. Nope. You don't stop printing something that is still selling. ;)
#11 havard Mar 18, 2007 16:22:20	I agree. The 2e artwork is absolutely atrocious. It's got nothing on 1e. Speaking of 2e Blue art. Any of it available online? Havard
#12 Clangador Mar 18, 2007 16:56:48	Speaking of 2e Blue art. Any of it available online? Havard What? No 2e books around Harvard's lair? Give me your addy and I'll send you my 2e PHB for free!
#13 geekazoid Mar 18, 2007 21:24:02	Amen. The game had such a different feel. It really was a wonderful, magical feel to it too. Don't get me wrong, 3.X is really great...but still, they lost something, and they haven't gotten it back yet. I think its because we are so old now, we can't possibly relive the excitement of being 9 years old. I miss those caves of chaos something fierce! "OMFG!!! I found a +1 short sword!"
#14 zombiegleemax Mar 19, 2007 1:01:37	the oldschool fantasy feel rules... i'm sure some artwork on 2nd ed sucked. But idk, it appears like that charecter is wearing a "medieval biker jacket." kind of like what that kid wore on the Eragon film. artwork plays a big part of it...sort of like album covers.
#15 havard Mar 19, 2007 9:07:13	What? No 2e books around Harvard's lair? Give me your addy and I'll send you my 2e PHB for free! Someone stole my 2e PHB. I'll PM you Havard
#16 zarathemad Mar 26, 2007 22:47:56	oddly there is a pituer of a "Gypsy Bard" in the bards hand book wich is almost identical to the 3ed Wheel of time supalamnt for a Tu'athan. Not supiseing if you know the Tu'athen. But some what ammusing.
#17 varl Mar 26, 2007 23:32:41	I like 1e and 2e art. It's easels above d20 art imo, but then, art is very subjective and beholder-esque, and not worth condemnation of an edition because of its eye candy.
#18 Hugin Mar 30, 2007 9:49:03	I tend to like the older art better myself as well. I even enjoyed the B&W pics as they gave an 'ages past' feel. I guess the reason I'm not big fun of most of the newer art is the 'modern' look to it. Everything has spikes or blades or needle-sharp fangs or muscles on top of the muscles that have muscles on them; they don't seem to get it that not everything that can kill you looks like it's from the abyss. It just seems over-the-top to me and losses the effect. Art is definitely subjective though.
#19 havard Mar 30, 2007 13:28:18	I tend to like the older art better myself as well. I even enjoyed the B&W pics as they gave an 'ages past' feel. I guess the reason I'm not big fun of most of the newer art is the 'modern' look to it. Everything has spikes or blades or needle-sharp fangs or muscles on top of the muscles that have muscles on them; they don't seem to get it that not everything that can kill you looks like it's from the abyss. It just seems over-the-top to me and losses the effect. Art is definitely subjective though. Comments on the art of the various editions tend to become very generalized though. The Elmore and Easley B/W art of the Classic D&D rulebooks was awesome. The hand-drawn illo's of the original set are cute, but hardly qualified as art. I love the color illustrations of the 3E core rules. It is some of the best RPG art out there. Still, color does not make art good. In later products 3E art quality has dropped. IMO they would have been better off by turning to B/W than to lower the quality of the color art. I don't care much for the 3E Core book covers. I miss the old days when Elmore grazed the covers with a new Dragon on each cover. Havard
#20 vrykolas2k Mar 30, 2007 18:15:54	Amen. The game had such a different feel. It really was a wonderful, magical feel to it too. Don't get me wrong, 3.X is really great...but still, they lost something, and they haven't gotten it back yet. They never will. They're reaching for the dollar. It's like being on stage, and accidentally drop something. You reach to pick it up, the audience laughs, who knows why. You do the same thing again the next night, no-one laughs... they just think you're a clutz. I learned a valuable lesson in that play; WotC won't lose the lesson, because they're getting the dollars... for now.
#21 tallforadwarf Mar 31, 2007 3:11:21	I was lucky enough to pick up the Red Box recently. Heh heh, Touchberry the halfling. Although the names haven't got any better, 3.0 - a Gnome called Flitchbatter. Don't americans know what that means in Europe!?! ;) I have to agree on the old artwork, I love it. The new stuff all seems very anime. Ah well. Peace, tfad