What's the Difference? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What's the Difference?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
peacereaper
Mar 27, 2008 17:08:33 I recently found the 1st Edition "Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure Game Basic Rulebook" at a flea market for 3 bucks. However, it came in the Expert Set box. What are all of these different rule sets?

Within the box was the rulebook described above, and an adventure booklet. I looked at the cover of it, and it said "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons." What's the difference between the rule set I purchased and the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game? I've noticed this alot in the Previous Edition downloads section of the DnD website. It seems that there are only a few of the original DnD game.

So, here are my questions:

1.) What's the difference between the Basic rulebook and all of the other sets of rules that advance the rules, like the expert set?

2.) What's the difference between the original DnD and Advanced DnD?

3.) Are there any good first edition adventure downloads out there?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
#2
werral
Mar 27, 2008 17:58:16 1. The Basic book covered levels 1-3 and dungeon adventures, Expert the next few levels and wilderness adventures, so it went up to Immortal where you became a divine being. All of this (except Imortal is complied in a book called the Rules Cyclopedia.

2. AD&D was more, you know, advanced. We used to look down on people who played basic D&D (though looking back I think that was stupid. D&D basic had lots of really coold stuff - the first Prestige classes, Immortal Rules, War maching for resolving huge battles with a couple of tables.

3. You could start here:

http://knights-n-knaves.com
#3
mock26
Mar 27, 2008 18:35:14 In Basic D&D dwarf, elf, and halfling were a combination of race and class. If you were human you could select any class, but, for example, if you were an elf you were automatically a fighter/mage (if I remember correclty).
#4
peacereaper
Mar 27, 2008 20:06:16 I checked out Knights-n-Knaves, and it led me to the OSRIC (Old School Reference And Index Compilation). I have no idea what this is. Is it DnD? And if so, what edition is it? It looks pretty interesting, but I'm just not sure what it's for.
#5
peacereaper
Mar 27, 2008 20:31:02 Ok, I just did some research, and I got the message that the OSRIC is like a system reference document for AD&D 1st edition. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Unless...unless I'm wrong. So is this really what it is? Can I finally run the adventures on the Wizard's website?

Once again, any help would be deeply appreciated.
#6
handsome_stranger
Mar 27, 2008 22:18:39
Ok, I just did some research, and I got the message that the OSRIC is like a system reference document for AD&D 1st edition. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Unless...unless I'm wrong. So is this really what it is? Can I finally run the adventures on the Wizard's website?

Once again, any help would be deeply appreciated.

OSRIC isn't really intended to be a genuine game system, rather it's a way to use the D20 OGL to legally publish adventures for a good system. The underlying assumption is that you have AD&D rulebooks of your own.

That said, you could use it as an AD&D SRD.
#7
peacereaper
Mar 27, 2008 22:23:52
OSRIC isn't really intended to be a genuine game system, rather it's a way to use the D20 OGL to legally publish adventures for a good system. The underlying assumption is that you have AD&D rulebooks of your own.

That said, you could use it as an AD&D SRD.

Yeah, I kinda got that when I looked more into it. I mean, I can do some stuff with it, but it won't be as great as the real thing. I was mainly looking for the differences between the two systems (DnD and Advanced DnD), and wheter or not I should try and find the ADnD game somewhere.

By looking at the OSRIC, I think I'll hunt for ADnD.
#8
werral
Mar 28, 2008 9:09:20 Glad I could help. Have fun with your game!
#9
peacereaper
Mar 28, 2008 10:55:37 Yes, my bretheren. First Edition will be ressurrected, and with it a new age of peace and tranquility! Together, we shall form the 1E Avengers!!!
#10
peacereaper
Mar 28, 2008 10:59:00 Oh, and I have another question:

When most people talk about 1E, are they mainly talking about AD&D? That seems the case on most sites and in most discussions.
#11
werral
Mar 28, 2008 11:16:28 Yes, nowadays the old basic D&D is called OD&D whereas it used to be called D&D (now 3E is D&D).
#12
handsome_stranger
Mar 28, 2008 11:21:56
Yes, nowadays the old basic D&D is called OD&D whereas it used to be called D&D (now 3E is D&D).

Quibble. In some circles OD&D means the original 3 books, while the BECMI/RC is called BD&D.

On a personal note, I can honestly say it never occurs to me that the alleged 3e might be meant by "D&D." :P
#13
peacereaper
Mar 28, 2008 11:58:34 No, no, I meant that is AD&D (not the original 1E) referred to as 1st Edition. I meant that instead of people meaning the original D&D game with the basic rules, do they mean Advanced Dungeons and Dragons when they talk about first edition?
#14
werral
Mar 28, 2008 12:27:22 Yes it is. AD&D went through 2 editions - 1E (AD&D) then 2E -more politically correct - (no demons/devils, harlot encounter tables and whatnot) and heading more into concept of DM as storyteller rather than DM as challenger. When TSR made 2E AD&D was succesful so they were quite conservative initially (they went wild with the splats). Then Wizards made 3E and scrapped the difference between AD&D and D&D - this because TSR had flopped and D&D/AD&D weren't making money - making one game meant one market, rather then two (because AD&D players tended not to buy D&D stuff and vice versa). Since their edition was made when AD&D wasn't doing well they were more radical and much, much more market savvy - they had their own Magic game to draw on.

The D&D edition you picked up is not exactly the first ever, it's one of the later Basic D&Ds (which got called "basic" after AD&D came out see).

I think you can look on Wikipedia to get this kind of info too if you wanna get "in depth".
#15
peacereaper
Mar 28, 2008 13:10:52 I checked Wiki, but it wasn't much help. But I really meant, when people say "Back in First Edition...", do they mean AD&D usually, or just the basic game?
#16
agathokles
Mar 28, 2008 14:20:01
I checked Wiki, but it wasn't much help. But I really meant, when people say "Back in First Edition...", do they mean AD&D usually, or just the basic game?

Generally, AD&D. That's because OD&D had 5 different editions, but these are never mentioned by number, since (a) it would lead to confusion with WotC-era editions, (b) such numbers never appeared on the actual books, (c) the rule sets are all quite similar and (d) it's much easier to distinguish them by the ruleset writer/compiler -- in order, Gygax & Arneson, Holmes, Moldvay & Cook, Mentzer ("BECMI"), and Allston ("RC").

GP
#17
peacereaper
Mar 28, 2008 14:24:22 Ok, thank you. I get it now. So in general, when people say 1st edition, they're probably talking about AD&D. Thanks.

Does anyone know of any place that might still have AD&D rulebooks for sale? I found the basic rules at a flea-market, but I haven't been able to find any other old products.
#18
agathokles
Mar 28, 2008 15:03:55
Ok, thank you. I get it now. So in general, when people say 1st edition, they're probably talking about AD&D. Thanks.

Does anyone know of any place that might still have AD&D rulebooks for sale? I found the basic rules at a flea-market, but I haven't been able to find any other old products.

If you need paper copies, you might want to check on ebay or the like. If electronic copies fit your needs, you can buy ESDs of most of the OOP stuff from several online stores (Paizo and RPGNow, for example).

G.
#19
peacereaper
Mar 28, 2008 15:23:10
If you need paper copies, you might want to check on ebay or the like. If electronic copies fit your needs, you can buy ESDs of most of the OOP stuff from several online stores (Paizo and RPGNow, for example).

G.

Sorry, I'm not to savvy of abbreviations. Could you, like, tell me what ESD and OOP mean? Electronic-System-Document? Original-Open-Post? Sorry.
#20
etarnon
Mar 29, 2008 0:37:27 OOP = Out of Print.

ESD is a file format, If I recall.

Look on Ebay for 1st Edition AD&D. Yes, 1e means AD&D 1st Edition.

2e Means AD&D 2nd edition, which has it's own "black book" revision.

OD&D means Original D&D, which sort of covers the BLue Book old old early 70's version, and also the red box . Masters, Companions, Immortals sets.

I have all of those, all versions, I'm a collector.

I'm damn tempted to scan the covers of what I have and put it on my website to show you, because i have all of it. I'll look around to see what i can find to help you out.

The people that are collectors and players of it, cause they played back then know it, all of this, by heart.

I can definitely see where someone trying to figure out which was what when could get totally confused.

I'll get back to this thread in a few days. Someone who has played them can say, Yes, that is X from the Cover Art. The interior text / names / descriptions can be misleading, because... a lot of them didn't follow any sort of naming sequence or plan when they were developed, named different things the same, and had differing names for stuff within the same system.
#21
werral
Mar 29, 2008 5:42:50 There's also the very first ever edition (not sure what people call it) where there are hobbits balrogs and other stuff that they later took out because the Tolkien estate sued them.
#22
agathokles
Mar 29, 2008 17:21:05
ESD is a file format, If I recall.

No, it's just the way WotC calls the .pdf versions of their out of print books.
It probably derives from this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_software_distribution
Even though it is software only in the broadest sense.

G.
#23
agathokles
Mar 29, 2008 17:25:33
I'm damn tempted to scan the covers of what I have and put it on my website to show you, because i have all of it. I'll look around to see what i can find to help you out.

The Acaeum ( http://www.acaeum.com/ ) has cover scans and information about most of them (1e and OD&D).

GP
#24
peacereaper
Mar 30, 2008 17:45:29 Alright, thanks everyone. I'm going to try and find some of those OOP 1E books, but not on ebay though (some bad experiences have forced me to never trust it again, I.E. Ho-Shi-Minh showing up on my doorstep instead of my rice). But I bet I can find it at a shop I live near.

Thanks again.
#25
stonebeard
Mar 30, 2008 18:31:54 ESD=Electronically Scanned Document

the usual format is .pdf but other formats exist though I've never seen any other used for gaming material.
#26
gawain_viii
Apr 03, 2008 18:42:56 Let's see if I can help. In 1974, the original D&D game came out as an optional expansion to Chainmail's wargame. This is what is called "original" or "old" D&D (OD&D).

In 1978, the D&D rules were simplified (now a game by itself, not a chainmail expansion) to the "Basic" and "Expert" rulebooks, edited by Tom Moldvay. This is known as "Basic" D&D.

Between 1978 and 1981, Advanced D&D was released. The simplifications that were added to BD&D were removed (almost reverting back to OD&D) and expanded out to 20th level. (Later called 1st Ed.)

In 1981, Basic D&D was re-edited, simplified (again), and expanded out to 36th level. This is series had several sets: Basic, Expert, Compantion, Master, and Immortal rules. This was later called BECMI or Classic D&D. The "Basic" set was re-released in 1983, but was essentially the same as the 1981 edit.

During the 80's both AD&D and "classic" D&D were published at the same time.

In 1987, AD&D 2nd edition was released. 1e was cancelled. Classic D&D continued.

In 1991, BECMI was replaced with the Rules Cyclopedia--which was nearly identical to BECMI, and is considered part of the Classic rules-set.

In 1995, the D&D Basic game was released, intended as an introduction to the RC, replacing the earlier BECMI boxed sets. This set only went out to 5th level, thereafter you could use the RC out to 36. This had no changes in the actual rules, and so is still considered part of the Classic game.

In 1999, after WotC bought TSR, 2nd edition was re-printed. Several optional rules and errata which had been released during the 2e years were now part of the core 2e books. Although WotC/TSR claimed this was not a new edition, the words "2nd Edition" were removed from the name. After the announcement of 3rd Ed, this version was later called 2.5 Ed.

Then in 2000, WotC dropped the TSR label and released 3e/d20. Three years later came 3.5.

Now... with that bit of history out of the way... on to the original question: what are the differences between D&D and AD&D?

In the end, Advanced is just that, advanced. More rules. More options. More realism, more book-keeping. Basic/Clasic was simpler. The rules were more suggestive in nature. The DM, not the rulebook, was the final arbirtator of events. There were not dozens of options for you to choose from, the character was determined by how he was role-played, not by his statistics and proficiencies.

Now, admittedly, I am biased towards the Classic rules, but I hope I have been clinical in my descriptions. I do not intend to say that Classic is any better or worse than Advanced... only different.

With that said, while the simpler rules of Basic/Classic D&D had limited options ("Elf" was a class, equivelant to Ftr/Wiz)--this is normally the main argument AGAINST playing Basic/Classic D&D--nowhere in the rules does it prohibit gamers from inventing new classes, weapons, spells, or any of the other options that, at the time, supposedly made AD&D a better game. Many invented classes such as an Elven Thief or a Dwarven Cleric eventually made it into published D&D material. But, as they were part of the "Gazetteer" series, thus being setting specific, many Basic/Classic (and the majority of Advanced) players never knew about them.

I hope this all helps,
Roger
#27
peacereaper
Apr 03, 2008 19:10:19 Thanks. I have one more question:

My group is not exactly what you'd call "veteran gamers." We've only been playing since 2005, but we know our way around the rules. I'm considering having a small 1E campaign. Should we, as players with decent knowledge of the rules, go for AD&D, or stick with the Basic BECMI that I already have?
#28
gawain_viii
Apr 03, 2008 19:50:22 PeaceReaper,

That's all a matter of personal preference. On one side, switching to a different game might be kinda fun, seeing things a little differently. On the other hand, you've already got all the rules you need--so why waste the time and effort picking up and re-learning all those new rules?

But, in the end, what do you and your players WANT to play?
#29
redwizard
Apr 03, 2008 20:19:43 PeaceReaper, you're always welcome to sit in one night with some of us forumites who are doing a 1st edition game over on OpenRPG. I am running it with about 6-8 others who post here regularly. Check out the thread Does Anyone Still Play 1st Edition to see what we're doing. It may give you a better idea what 1st Edition plays like.
#30
peacereaper
Apr 05, 2008 22:06:23 Ok. I'll check it out sometime.
#31
etarnon
Apr 10, 2008 3:39:29 Yep, that game is lots of fun, I'm a witness.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 peacereaper Mar 27, 2008 17:08:33	I recently found the 1st Edition "Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure Game Basic Rulebook" at a flea market for 3 bucks. However, it came in the Expert Set box. What are all of these different rule sets? Within the box was the rulebook described above, and an adventure booklet. I looked at the cover of it, and it said "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons." What's the difference between the rule set I purchased and the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game? I've noticed this alot in the Previous Edition downloads section of the DnD website. It seems that there are only a few of the original DnD game. So, here are my questions: 1.) What's the difference between the Basic rulebook and all of the other sets of rules that advance the rules, like the expert set? 2.) What's the difference between the original DnD and Advanced DnD? 3.) Are there any good first edition adventure downloads out there? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
#2 werral Mar 27, 2008 17:58:16	1. The Basic book covered levels 1-3 and dungeon adventures, Expert the next few levels and wilderness adventures, so it went up to Immortal where you became a divine being. All of this (except Imortal is complied in a book called the Rules Cyclopedia. 2. AD&D was more, you know, advanced. We used to look down on people who played basic D&D (though looking back I think that was stupid. D&D basic had lots of really coold stuff - the first Prestige classes, Immortal Rules, War maching for resolving huge battles with a couple of tables. 3. You could start here: http://knights-n-knaves.com
#3 mock26 Mar 27, 2008 18:35:14	In Basic D&D dwarf, elf, and halfling were a combination of race and class. If you were human you could select any class, but, for example, if you were an elf you were automatically a fighter/mage (if I remember correclty).
#4 peacereaper Mar 27, 2008 20:06:16	I checked out Knights-n-Knaves, and it led me to the OSRIC (Old School Reference And Index Compilation). I have no idea what this is. Is it DnD? And if so, what edition is it? It looks pretty interesting, but I'm just not sure what it's for.
#5 peacereaper Mar 27, 2008 20:31:02	Ok, I just did some research, and I got the message that the OSRIC is like a system reference document for AD&D 1st edition. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Unless...unless I'm wrong. So is this really what it is? Can I finally run the adventures on the Wizard's website? Once again, any help would be deeply appreciated.
#6 handsome_stranger Mar 27, 2008 22:18:39	Ok, I just did some research, and I got the message that the OSRIC is like a system reference document for AD&D 1st edition. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Unless...unless I'm wrong. So is this really what it is? Can I finally run the adventures on the Wizard's website? Once again, any help would be deeply appreciated. OSRIC isn't really intended to be a genuine game system, rather it's a way to use the D20 OGL to legally publish adventures for a good system. The underlying assumption is that you have AD&D rulebooks of your own. That said, you could use it as an AD&D SRD.
#7 peacereaper Mar 27, 2008 22:23:52	OSRIC isn't really intended to be a genuine game system, rather it's a way to use the D20 OGL to legally publish adventures for a good system. The underlying assumption is that you have AD&D rulebooks of your own. That said, you could use it as an AD&D SRD. Yeah, I kinda got that when I looked more into it. I mean, I can do some stuff with it, but it won't be as great as the real thing. I was mainly looking for the differences between the two systems (DnD and Advanced DnD), and wheter or not I should try and find the ADnD game somewhere. By looking at the OSRIC, I think I'll hunt for ADnD.
#8 werral Mar 28, 2008 9:09:20	Glad I could help. Have fun with your game!
#9 peacereaper Mar 28, 2008 10:55:37	Yes, my bretheren. First Edition will be ressurrected, and with it a new age of peace and tranquility! Together, we shall form the 1E Avengers!!!
#10 peacereaper Mar 28, 2008 10:59:00	Oh, and I have another question: When most people talk about 1E, are they mainly talking about AD&D? That seems the case on most sites and in most discussions.
#11 werral Mar 28, 2008 11:16:28	Yes, nowadays the old basic D&D is called OD&D whereas it used to be called D&D (now 3E is D&D).
#12 handsome_stranger Mar 28, 2008 11:21:56	Yes, nowadays the old basic D&D is called OD&D whereas it used to be called D&D (now 3E is D&D). Quibble. In some circles OD&D means the original 3 books, while the BECMI/RC is called BD&D. On a personal note, I can honestly say it never occurs to me that the alleged 3e might be meant by "D&D." :P
#13 peacereaper Mar 28, 2008 11:58:34	No, no, I meant that is AD&D (not the original 1E) referred to as 1st Edition. I meant that instead of people meaning the original D&D game with the basic rules, do they mean Advanced Dungeons and Dragons when they talk about first edition?
#14 werral Mar 28, 2008 12:27:22	Yes it is. AD&D went through 2 editions - 1E (AD&D) then 2E -more politically correct - (no demons/devils, harlot encounter tables and whatnot) and heading more into concept of DM as storyteller rather than DM as challenger. When TSR made 2E AD&D was succesful so they were quite conservative initially (they went wild with the splats). Then Wizards made 3E and scrapped the difference between AD&D and D&D - this because TSR had flopped and D&D/AD&D weren't making money - making one game meant one market, rather then two (because AD&D players tended not to buy D&D stuff and vice versa). Since their edition was made when AD&D wasn't doing well they were more radical and much, much more market savvy - they had their own Magic game to draw on. The D&D edition you picked up is not exactly the first ever, it's one of the later Basic D&Ds (which got called "basic" after AD&D came out see). I think you can look on Wikipedia to get this kind of info too if you wanna get "in depth".
#15 peacereaper Mar 28, 2008 13:10:52	I checked Wiki, but it wasn't much help. But I really meant, when people say "Back in First Edition...", do they mean AD&D usually, or just the basic game?
#16 agathokles Mar 28, 2008 14:20:01	I checked Wiki, but it wasn't much help. But I really meant, when people say "Back in First Edition...", do they mean AD&D usually, or just the basic game? Generally, AD&D. That's because OD&D had 5 different editions, but these are never mentioned by number, since (a) it would lead to confusion with WotC-era editions, (b) such numbers never appeared on the actual books, (c) the rule sets are all quite similar and (d) it's much easier to distinguish them by the ruleset writer/compiler -- in order, Gygax & Arneson, Holmes, Moldvay & Cook, Mentzer ("BECMI"), and Allston ("RC"). GP
#17 peacereaper Mar 28, 2008 14:24:22	Ok, thank you. I get it now. So in general, when people say 1st edition, they're probably talking about AD&D. Thanks. Does anyone know of any place that might still have AD&D rulebooks for sale? I found the basic rules at a flea-market, but I haven't been able to find any other old products.
#18 agathokles Mar 28, 2008 15:03:55	Ok, thank you. I get it now. So in general, when people say 1st edition, they're probably talking about AD&D. Thanks. Does anyone know of any place that might still have AD&D rulebooks for sale? I found the basic rules at a flea-market, but I haven't been able to find any other old products. If you need paper copies, you might want to check on ebay or the like. If electronic copies fit your needs, you can buy ESDs of most of the OOP stuff from several online stores (Paizo and RPGNow, for example). G.
#19 peacereaper Mar 28, 2008 15:23:10	If you need paper copies, you might want to check on ebay or the like. If electronic copies fit your needs, you can buy ESDs of most of the OOP stuff from several online stores (Paizo and RPGNow, for example). G. Sorry, I'm not to savvy of abbreviations. Could you, like, tell me what ESD and OOP mean? Electronic-System-Document? Original-Open-Post? Sorry.
#20 etarnon Mar 29, 2008 0:37:27	OOP = Out of Print. ESD is a file format, If I recall. Look on Ebay for 1st Edition AD&D. Yes, 1e means AD&D 1st Edition. 2e Means AD&D 2nd edition, which has it's own "black book" revision. OD&D means Original D&D, which sort of covers the BLue Book old old early 70's version, and also the red box . Masters, Companions, Immortals sets. I have all of those, all versions, I'm a collector. I'm damn tempted to scan the covers of what I have and put it on my website to show you, because i have all of it. I'll look around to see what i can find to help you out. The people that are collectors and players of it, cause they played back then know it, all of this, by heart. I can definitely see where someone trying to figure out which was what when could get totally confused. I'll get back to this thread in a few days. Someone who has played them can say, Yes, that is X from the Cover Art. The interior text / names / descriptions can be misleading, because... a lot of them didn't follow any sort of naming sequence or plan when they were developed, named different things the same, and had differing names for stuff within the same system.
#21 werral Mar 29, 2008 5:42:50	There's also the very first ever edition (not sure what people call it) where there are hobbits balrogs and other stuff that they later took out because the Tolkien estate sued them.
#22 agathokles Mar 29, 2008 17:21:05	ESD is a file format, If I recall. No, it's just the way WotC calls the .pdf versions of their out of print books. It probably derives from this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_software_distribution Even though it is software only in the broadest sense. G.
#23 agathokles Mar 29, 2008 17:25:33	I'm damn tempted to scan the covers of what I have and put it on my website to show you, because i have all of it. I'll look around to see what i can find to help you out. The Acaeum ( http://www.acaeum.com/ ) has cover scans and information about most of them (1e and OD&D). GP
#24 peacereaper Mar 30, 2008 17:45:29	Alright, thanks everyone. I'm going to try and find some of those OOP 1E books, but not on ebay though (some bad experiences have forced me to never trust it again, I.E. Ho-Shi-Minh showing up on my doorstep instead of my rice). But I bet I can find it at a shop I live near. Thanks again.
#25 stonebeard Mar 30, 2008 18:31:54	ESD=Electronically Scanned Document the usual format is .pdf but other formats exist though I've never seen any other used for gaming material.
#26 gawain_viii Apr 03, 2008 18:42:56	Let's see if I can help. In 1974, the original D&D game came out as an optional expansion to Chainmail's wargame. This is what is called "original" or "old" D&D (OD&D). In 1978, the D&D rules were simplified (now a game by itself, not a chainmail expansion) to the "Basic" and "Expert" rulebooks, edited by Tom Moldvay. This is known as "Basic" D&D. Between 1978 and 1981, Advanced D&D was released. The simplifications that were added to BD&D were removed (almost reverting back to OD&D) and expanded out to 20th level. (Later called 1st Ed.) In 1981, Basic D&D was re-edited, simplified (again), and expanded out to 36th level. This is series had several sets: Basic, Expert, Compantion, Master, and Immortal rules. This was later called BECMI or Classic D&D. The "Basic" set was re-released in 1983, but was essentially the same as the 1981 edit. During the 80's both AD&D and "classic" D&D were published at the same time. In 1987, AD&D 2nd edition was released. 1e was cancelled. Classic D&D continued. In 1991, BECMI was replaced with the Rules Cyclopedia--which was nearly identical to BECMI, and is considered part of the Classic rules-set. In 1995, the D&D Basic game was released, intended as an introduction to the RC, replacing the earlier BECMI boxed sets. This set only went out to 5th level, thereafter you could use the RC out to 36. This had no changes in the actual rules, and so is still considered part of the Classic game. In 1999, after WotC bought TSR, 2nd edition was re-printed. Several optional rules and errata which had been released during the 2e years were now part of the core 2e books. Although WotC/TSR claimed this was not a new edition, the words "2nd Edition" were removed from the name. After the announcement of 3rd Ed, this version was later called 2.5 Ed. Then in 2000, WotC dropped the TSR label and released 3e/d20. Three years later came 3.5. Now... with that bit of history out of the way... on to the original question: what are the differences between D&D and AD&D? In the end, Advanced is just that, advanced. More rules. More options. More realism, more book-keeping. Basic/Clasic was simpler. The rules were more suggestive in nature. The DM, not the rulebook, was the final arbirtator of events. There were not dozens of options for you to choose from, the character was determined by how he was role-played, not by his statistics and proficiencies. Now, admittedly, I am biased towards the Classic rules, but I hope I have been clinical in my descriptions. I do not intend to say that Classic is any better or worse than Advanced... only different. With that said, while the simpler rules of Basic/Classic D&D had limited options ("Elf" was a class, equivelant to Ftr/Wiz)--this is normally the main argument AGAINST playing Basic/Classic D&D--nowhere in the rules does it prohibit gamers from inventing new classes, weapons, spells, or any of the other options that, at the time, supposedly made AD&D a better game. Many invented classes such as an Elven Thief or a Dwarven Cleric eventually made it into published D&D material. But, as they were part of the "Gazetteer" series, thus being setting specific, many Basic/Classic (and the majority of Advanced) players never knew about them. I hope this all helps, Roger
#27 peacereaper Apr 03, 2008 19:10:19	Thanks. I have one more question: My group is not exactly what you'd call "veteran gamers." We've only been playing since 2005, but we know our way around the rules. I'm considering having a small 1E campaign. Should we, as players with decent knowledge of the rules, go for AD&D, or stick with the Basic BECMI that I already have?
#28 gawain_viii Apr 03, 2008 19:50:22	PeaceReaper, That's all a matter of personal preference. On one side, switching to a different game might be kinda fun, seeing things a little differently. On the other hand, you've already got all the rules you need--so why waste the time and effort picking up and re-learning all those new rules? But, in the end, what do you and your players WANT to play?
#29 redwizard Apr 03, 2008 20:19:43	PeaceReaper, you're always welcome to sit in one night with some of us forumites who are doing a 1st edition game over on OpenRPG. I am running it with about 6-8 others who post here regularly. Check out the thread Does Anyone Still Play 1st Edition to see what we're doing. It may give you a better idea what 1st Edition plays like.
#30 peacereaper Apr 05, 2008 22:06:23	Ok. I'll check it out sometime.
#31 etarnon Apr 10, 2008 3:39:29	Yep, that game is lots of fun, I'm a witness.