I am new to D&D, and have picked up OD&D, or the "Red Box" Basic Set to start with. I know it may sound odd. A person new to D&D starting with a 20 year old set... I choose this because it looked simple, and I have heard alot of good stuff about it. Can anyone maybe direct me to some sites about it? I have found Dragonsfoot, which is a wonderful resource, and I am using alot of thier stuff and converting some AD&D things. I was just wondering if I could find some more sites and addons for it... Thanks.
Dragonsfoot is the best I've found for classic D&D.
There's the ODDGuild Yahoo Group. It's moved around a couple times, so I don't know which one is currently active.
There's my web site. It's in a bit of a rough shape right now since it's just a backup of a site I'd created on another hosting service. Ideally I'll eventually migrate/update all that content to here.
& I don't know how many may be broken these days, but I have a bunch of links there to other sites.
The Dragonsfoot Classic D&D forum is, IMHO, the best starting point.
There's the ODDGuild Yahoo Group. It's moved around a couple times, so I don't know which one is currently active.
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/ODDguild/ is the current active incarnation. I'll second the notion that Dragonsfoot's Classic D&D forum is a great place to visit.
I am new to D&D, and have picked up OD&D, or the "Red Box" Basic Set to start with.
As mentioned earlier, the Red Box isn't generally considered OD&D, but Classic D&D. Here's a breakdown I posted recently on the ODDGuild yahoo group:
In a nutshell I think most folks would agree with:
OD&D:
Men & Magic
Monsters & Treasure
Underworld & Wilderness Adventures
(Being the 3 volumes of the D&D game as first published by TSR)
Greyhawk
Blackmoor
Eldritch Wizardry
Gods, Demi-Gods, & Heroes
Swords & Spells (And it's predecessor, Chainmail)
(Being expansion volumes for the above rulebooks}
OD&D/Classic (depending on who you ask)
Basic Set (Eric Holmes editor edition)
Classic D&D:
Basic, Expert sets (Moldvay/Cook or Mentzer editor editions)
Companion, Master, Immortal sets
Rules Cyclopedia
RC era "basic" sets/boardgames
While essentially the same game in all of these versions, the OD&D
system has noteworthy differences in the way class/race combos work,
initiative systems, weapon damage, etc. The difference is similar in
nature, though not as profound, as the difference between Classic D&D
and AD&D 1st edition. The Holmes basic set is sort of a stepping stone
from OD&D to either Classic or AD&D1, so it has a vague place in the
breakdown.
Also note that Chainmail, as most know, is a stand alone set of rules
for single figure = single unit fantasy miniatures gaming, which
eventually evolved into D&D. Swords & Spells was the adaptation of
Chainmail into a miniatures rules expansion for D&D, but viewed by
some as being of dubious quality and not really found in many
conversations by OD&D/Classic fans anymore.
try the general area you can't miss his name.
Also note that Chainmail, as most know, is a stand alone set of rules
for single figure = single unit fantasy miniatures gaming, which
eventually evolved into D&D.
Just to nitpick: Chainmail is primarily a set of rules for (historical medieval) 1:20 gaming. Each figure represents 20 men. It included two supplements. One covered fantasy units. The other, Man-to-man, covered the 1:1 scale. (& the man-to-man rules didn't directly include anything fantasy.)
&--FWIW--while Chainmail certainly had some influence on D&D, Arneson claims to have abandoned using Chainmail for his Blackmoor campaign quite early on, & Gygax says he never used Chainmail for Greyhawk. Based on what I've read by Arneson, Schick, Mornard, Gygax, & Wesely; I think Wesely's Braunsteins & Megarry's Dungeon influenced D&D more. (Although it wasn't published until after D&D, Dungeon pre-dated it & was demostrated to Gygax & the Lake Geneva crowd along with Blackmoor.)
For reference I refer to the BASIC/EXPERT SETs "teen D&D" because 14 year olds were their intended market and its more clarifying to know.
Frankly, theres no reason not to use the "demonic covered" 1970's hardbacks for all D&D games. They're durable, convenient, cover quite a lot of variables and unlike later editions they were intended with adults in mind almost exclusively.
I would like to see a petition for a 1970's restoration put up on this site. Is that possible? Like a way to get the old D&D back?
Or is that asking too much?
Is that possible? Like a way to get the old D&D back?
Get it back? If you no longer have your books, then a petition on WotC's website isn't going to help you much; try second-hand bookstores, or eBay.
I say aye!
I know I'd buy a replica PLAYERS HANDBOOK and the other Gygax era hardocers.
How about a UA with good binding?
Can't get that on EBay!
;)
THE FOLLOWING IS OPINION:
Frankly, theres no reason not to use the "demonic covered" 1970's hardbacks for all D&D games.
Unless you want to be able to have your characters advance to 36th level and beyond, in which case Mentzer is your friend
Havard
How about a UA with good binding?
Can't get that on EBay!
Ain't that the truth!
I guess the closest you can come is to buy the PDF version & get a print shop to give it a decent binding.
Or maybe buy a second copy second-hand & get a print shop to rebind it.
Unless you want to be able to have your characters advance to 36th level and beyond, in which case Mentzer is your friend
Or, if, like me, you find the Mentzer edition just fine without adding AD&D material.
I've played every edition except 3.5 (it came out after my flirtation with 3.0 ended), these days I simply enjoy Mentzer's Classic edition most, and that's what's important, right? I honestly couldn't care less whether WotC ever recognizes the game as ever having existed again.
However, for D&D itself, I would also back up those who are saying the Rules Compendium (the one for D&D, not the new one coming out for 3.5), as it is the best of the best rulebooks for Classic D&D I've ever come across. (Though nothing really comes close to adding or resembling OD&D, which came before the redbox...the blue box...or basic/expert even)
Something that easily flows into Classic D&D is Castles and Crusades. I know I've used the Classic D&D rules whilst using the classes and weapons of C&C along with their Siege system, and it flows pretty seamlessly if one wants it to. C&C just adding options to the D&D rules. That's also on Dragons foot though, but it is another venue for an expansion of Classic rules from the Red Box if one is looking for such a thing.
However, for D&D itself, I would also back up those who are saying the Rules Compendium (the one for D&D, not the new one coming out for 3.5), as it is the best of the best rulebooks for Classic D&D I've ever come across. (Though nothing really comes close to adding or resembling OD&D, which came before the redbox...the blue box...or basic/expert even)
Its called the Rules Cyclopedia, but I agree with you on that. I was a little disappointed with C&C as it is too much of a retro'ed d20 game when I would much rather have liked to see a D20 game trying to capture the simplicity of Classic D&D instead of its quirks. For the quirks I can just go play actual Classic.
I like the Sieged Classic D&D I have seen at some website though, basically adding the D20 mechanic and C&C skill system to RC D&D.
Havard
I like the Sieged Classic D&D I have seen at some website though, basically adding the D20 mechanic and C&C skill system to RC D&D.
That sounds interesting. Any idea where you saw it? It's not Basic Fantasy or Labyrinth Lord, is it?
1. The official Advanced D&D players hand book by Gary Gygax
2. The Official Advanced D&D Dungeon Masters Guide by Gary Gygax
3. The Official Advanced D&D Wilderness Survival Guide by Kim Mohan
4. The TRS Dungeon & Dragons Fantasy Adventure Game Basic Set w/ minatures
If anyone is interested or can tell me about what to sell them for let me know please!