I have some reservations, though. First, are there any old folks like myself out there still playing? Is age difference an issue in the groups you've experienced, in case I can't find any folks my age?
Secondly, I see the game has changed quite a bit. I recently bought the 3E and 4E core books, and am starting to read through them. Is there anyone that has experience playing back then, that could give advice on what changes should I most ready myself for in today's game? Which version would you recommend?
Thanks for any input.
I can't help you with the history of what's changed, but this series of articles might:
www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/a...
If you are more combat-oriented in your playing style, 4e is probably up your alley.
If you are a good story-teller and like dynamic characters, you'll want 3rd.
Again, its up to you and how you play. I've heard the 3rd vs 4th discussion so many times that I don't even bother to get involved wiht it anymore.
I definitely recommend 4e. It got rid of a lot of the old crazy stuff like save or die effects and broken spellcasters and is well-balanced on the mechanical side. On the RP side, it doesn't impose a lot of extraneous rules and requirements, granting both DM and player narrative freedom.
you may float from one group to another for a bit, but like me you'll probably settle down with a group once you find one that's a right mix of personalities. took me several months after moving into town but i've been playing with the same group for 3-4 years now.
as for rules and such... i reccomend 4th ed for various reasons (current version is generally easier to find a group for though check your FLGS for the gaming trends, current version is supported by the parent company with new products and errata based on player input, also in my not so humble opinion but 4th ed is just a much better designed game then previous versions) but in either case you'll need to unlearn the old to learn 3rd or 4th.
the game has evolved since AD&D and taken cues not just from other RPGs out there but videogames, boardgames (especially euro games), CCGs and more, finding out what works and what doesn't when it comes to making a better gaming experience (ok, better is up to the player to decide, but to me 4th is a better experience then 2nd. your mileage may vary of course).
but the rules are quite different. many things won't work like you remember and it's really best you go into the game not expecting Y because it really works like X.
I'm 41 here. Began with the purple basic set in '82 if I remember correctly, and played through the lifetime of 1E, with a little 2E thrown in. I run my kids through 4E games now from time to time as one option for our weekly "Game Day".
Finding a live group has been very tough in my area. Few adults who play, and I have no desire to play with 13 year-olds who are not my own children.
But there is also the online option. Right now I'm in a search for an online group for a weekly game.
Good luck with your own search.
I hear a lot of players come to 4th and go "Eh, this isn't Dnd!" etc.
Countless threads get into "The Great Edition WarZ", honestly, every system has it's merits, find the stuff you like, scrap or alter the rest. I personally feel that 4th streamlined a lot of the confusing elements and made the parts of the 'Game' that needed to be a 'Game' (like combat) into a Game. My roleplaying hasn't been affected much and it's been much easier on me both as a DM and as a player, to do less book work and more actual playing as well as introduce new players to the game system.
That's just my experience with the current system though.