First Edition Dungeons & Dragons - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

First Edition Dungeons & Dragons

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Wildonion
Jul 07, 2005 23:25:21 Alright I know this might get me a few strange looks but can anyone point me in the direction of a download or a copy of the First Edition rule book? (Or whatever edition the Blue and Red box sets belong to.)

Thanks :D
#2
solaris
Jul 07, 2005 23:36:20 http://www.rpgnow.com has the Mentzer Basic and Expert sets.
#3
Wildonion
Jul 07, 2005 23:50:03 Thanks
#4
weasel_fierce
Jul 08, 2005 0:24:21 Mentzers sets are not the 1st edition of anything.

The red/blue sets are the 3rd edition (Moldvay) or 4th edition (Mentzer) of the basic Dungeons & Dragons rules.
#5
solaris
Jul 08, 2005 1:12:28 I'd have said the Moldvay Basic set was more of a purple...
#6
Wildonion
Jul 08, 2005 2:17:16 Is there a way to tell the difference between 3rd and 4th edition boxes?
#7
solaris
Jul 08, 2005 2:18:57 http://acaeum.com/DDIndexes/SetPages/Basic.html
#8
fzoul_chembryl
Jul 08, 2005 10:01:17 coughHackmaster!cough
#9
Wildonion
Jul 08, 2005 10:48:37 Thanks all. I now know what to look for. We have a shop called Black & Read (Red) and it sells the old editions, I wasn't sure which books I needed. So is there a difference between the first and second edition rules and are the rulebooks for 1E like the rules from the two box sets? (My players like the simplicity of the game and we play when we are short of time or are bored of 3.5)
#10
Wildonion
Jul 08, 2005 11:10:05 About hackmaster, how easy is it to learn? Is it similar to D&D? And where (besides Amazon and Ebay) could I find the two books?
#11
weasel_fierce
Jul 08, 2005 12:45:34 Hackmaster is rather complicated.

The "1st edition" you are referring to, is the Basic/Expert D&D game, which is exceptionally easy, and straightforward. Its often referred to as the simplest and clearest incarnation of D&D.

There is also AD&D1st edition, which is a mighty fine game, but more complex, and some of the rules are rather muddled. Its worth figuring out though, and the books are usually cheap. Typically 5-10 dollars a pop on ebay or amazon
#12
Elendur
Jul 08, 2005 13:04:42 Hackmaster seemed to masocistically add to the number of ad hoc rules and tables that AD&D had. (Perhaps as part of their 'parody' focus?)
I'd stick to the basic set, adding on later sets if the campaign expands.
#13
Wildonion
Jul 10, 2005 14:58:50 I looked at the Hackmaster Player's Handbook at a game store that I went to and it looks really similar to AD&D. My friends and I have talked about and we are really thinking of getting it. Also how many box sets are there? I know there are the Basic and expert sets and a third one that comes after that (For levels 11 to 20 I believe) but how many are there total?
#14
weasel_fierce
Jul 11, 2005 0:33:05 The classic D&D game is:

Basic set (levels 1-3)

Expert (4-14)

Companion (15-25, and also introduces Druids, paladins, knights and avengers. Early prestige class sort of things)

Master (26-35, and has stuff on becoming an immortal)

You may want to skip those, and get the Rules Cyclopedia. It has all of the above, some extra stuff (Mystics), and a ton of options and extra rules (weapons mastery and whatnot) Even AD&D crossover rules
#15
Wildonion
Jul 12, 2005 1:04:24 Thanks, I will look for the cyclopedia but if I can't find it I will remember the other two boxes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Wildonion Jul 07, 2005 23:25:21	Alright I know this might get me a few strange looks but can anyone point me in the direction of a download or a copy of the First Edition rule book? (Or whatever edition the Blue and Red box sets belong to.) Thanks :D
#2 solaris Jul 07, 2005 23:36:20	http://www.rpgnow.com has the Mentzer Basic and Expert sets.
#3 Wildonion Jul 07, 2005 23:50:03	Thanks
#4 weasel_fierce Jul 08, 2005 0:24:21	Mentzers sets are not the 1st edition of anything. The red/blue sets are the 3rd edition (Moldvay) or 4th edition (Mentzer) of the basic Dungeons & Dragons rules.
#5 solaris Jul 08, 2005 1:12:28	I'd have said the Moldvay Basic set was more of a purple...
#6 Wildonion Jul 08, 2005 2:17:16	Is there a way to tell the difference between 3rd and 4th edition boxes?
#7 solaris Jul 08, 2005 2:18:57	http://acaeum.com/DDIndexes/SetPages/Basic.html
#8 fzoul_chembryl Jul 08, 2005 10:01:17	coughHackmaster!cough
#9 Wildonion Jul 08, 2005 10:48:37	Thanks all. I now know what to look for. We have a shop called Black & Read (Red) and it sells the old editions, I wasn't sure which books I needed. So is there a difference between the first and second edition rules and are the rulebooks for 1E like the rules from the two box sets? (My players like the simplicity of the game and we play when we are short of time or are bored of 3.5)
#10 Wildonion Jul 08, 2005 11:10:05	About hackmaster, how easy is it to learn? Is it similar to D&D? And where (besides Amazon and Ebay) could I find the two books?
#11 weasel_fierce Jul 08, 2005 12:45:34	Hackmaster is rather complicated. The "1st edition" you are referring to, is the Basic/Expert D&D game, which is exceptionally easy, and straightforward. Its often referred to as the simplest and clearest incarnation of D&D. There is also AD&D1st edition, which is a mighty fine game, but more complex, and some of the rules are rather muddled. Its worth figuring out though, and the books are usually cheap. Typically 5-10 dollars a pop on ebay or amazon
#12 Elendur Jul 08, 2005 13:04:42	Hackmaster seemed to masocistically add to the number of ad hoc rules and tables that AD&D had. (Perhaps as part of their 'parody' focus?) I'd stick to the basic set, adding on later sets if the campaign expands.
#13 Wildonion Jul 10, 2005 14:58:50	I looked at the Hackmaster Player's Handbook at a game store that I went to and it looks really similar to AD&D. My friends and I have talked about and we are really thinking of getting it. Also how many box sets are there? I know there are the Basic and expert sets and a third one that comes after that (For levels 11 to 20 I believe) but how many are there total?
#14 weasel_fierce Jul 11, 2005 0:33:05	The classic D&D game is: Basic set (levels 1-3) Expert (4-14) Companion (15-25, and also introduces Druids, paladins, knights and avengers. Early prestige class sort of things) Master (26-35, and has stuff on becoming an immortal) You may want to skip those, and get the Rules Cyclopedia. It has all of the above, some extra stuff (Mystics), and a ton of options and extra rules (weapons mastery and whatnot) Even AD&D crossover rules
#15 Wildonion Jul 12, 2005 1:04:24	Thanks, I will look for the cyclopedia but if I can't find it I will remember the other two boxes.