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2e was my original D&D, but 2014 5e is my favorite, and at this point it probably is the last version I'll play for the rest of my life. (Even if I pick up 2024 5e material, I'll probably just retrofit it as needed for 2014 5e.) That said, there are things I appreciate about the other...

The level draining discussion reminds me... in the original boxed set, monster XP was 100 x monster level - where level was either HD, or the next up HD if they had HD+1 or higher. (Like a few other important things in the boxed set, this isn't explained directly - you have to glean it from the...

Wasn't the obelisk subplot wrapped up in Shattered Obelisk? But agreed, surprising if they didn't get mentioned at all here. (To be honest, I figured they were going for a Die Vecna Die II, a multiversal reboot that would let them relaunch the Realms etc.)

Did he? When was that? As far as I knew that statement - where every iteration of the brand was its own separate canon with no continuity between them - was the last word.

Sorry, it's all handwritten on graph paper! (I was really trying to be authentic.) Also, looks like the sixth player will be available this Saturday for another one-shot, so I think I want to keep my secrets for now... I will share an update here after the second one-shot!

Hopefully you can re-download them all! (Though if that includes your personal game notes and such, ouch, my condolences.)

The ranger also made a quiet appearance in Eldritch Wizardry, since it was listed on the updated wilderness encounter tables (under "Men") after the other OD&D classes. Wonder what referees without a subscription to The Strategic Review did when that result came up... (Those random encounter...

Don't be intimidated! If you can run modern editions you can run the original game - after all, I did. Granted, it did take me a few months to fully process the rules (and you're welcome to use my resulting cheat sheets) and create my dungeon and wilderness... but it can be done! That said, I...

I had a similar thought when reading the OD&D version, but that has to be a coincidence. (I also don't actually hate the idea of a version of these subdual rules for a Pokemon-style game... just not against intelligent creatures, thanks. And definitely no selling on the "open market"... )

Those subdual rules - and the possibility of selling them - actually go back to the original boxed set, where they're uncomfortably more detailed: Book II, page 13: It's also suggested that that you can do this with any other monster you subdue... Book I, page 13: Keeping in mind that a...

I solved that issue in the OD&D game I recently ran by rolling up all the potential random encounters for the region ahead of the session, and only using them if the dice said they happened. (TBH, I'd also be really surprised if Gygax made his players sit there while he built the encounter from...

Interesting. By coincidence, our original 5e campaign pretty much worked that way (based around an adventurer's guild, different lineups every time, downtime development for inactive characters). It had its upsides and downsides. But neat to know the idea is older than we thought!

I suspect Wizards actually sees the D&D Beyond exclusive products (like the Eve of Ruin prequel adventure) as filling the "web enhancement" niche.

This is actually more player-friendly than the original boxed set, where the referee (not DM, the term didn't exist yet) rolls dice for everything except combat. Searching for secret doors? The ref rolls the dice. Listening at the door? The ref rolls the dice. Break down a door? Yep, still done...

One of the surprises when prepping my OD&D one-shot was that monster alignment was originally more varied. While many monsters still followed only one of the three alignments (law, chaos, and neutrality), many were listed under more than one. Per page 9 of Book I in the OD&D boxed set: Men...

I mean, this is pretty much the real answer. 5e Krynn officially isn't the same as any of the versions without werewolves (2e, 3e, etc.). Yup, it could easily be seen as a fun mystery to explain, rather than a continuity error. (Though that doesn't seem to be the official intent, or they would...

Picture I saw phrases it as "A companion to the fifth edition Player's Handbook (2024) and Monster Manual (2025)." Which is consistent with their messaging that this is still the same edition.

Finished For a Few Gold Pieces More, short story collection by Richard White. Basically a more modern take on pulp fantasy like Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, with a subplot of the nameless protagonist trying to hunt down the villain who made him an outlaw. Fairly solid overall: the best stories...

OD&D, Book II, page 31: So you were close - magic bows only provide a +1 to hit, but magic arrows have both +1 to damage and to hit. EDIT: This was also still the case in 1977 (Holmes) Basic:

That would be an excellent question for the designers of 5e Ravenloft and 5e Spelljammer!