D&D 2E Now I have the hankering to play a 2E game...

[Jack Daniel]

You are as unpleasant as you are incorrect.

Yes, surely tone-policing proves that I was incorrect.

I will simply note that you completely ignored everything I wrote, and instead regurgitated the same points you made last time.

I ignored what you wrote because the Arneson lawsuit issue isn't germane to the topic. I regurgitated nothing: in fact, I pointed out a few clear cases of things Moldvay got from Holmes. What did AD&D get from Holmes? (Other than a plug, I mean?)

 

[haakon1]

After reading through- and posting in- the which Edition thread, and having a look through my old rulebooks I now want to play a 2nd edition game...

If for no other reason than because I like the 2E monsters so much, lol. I found today, that I have 2 big binders full of Monster Compendium pages, The Monstrous Compendium hardcover; Annuals 1-4; the Mystara appendix; AND the Ravenloft appendix. Also have the Tome of Magic, a giant stack of splats, and both Combat and Tactics and Spells and Powers. Even have a handful of 2E Greyhawk modules., and some campaign setting stuff.

Of course, after playing 3E and 5E, I'm not sure I could go back to THAC0 and race class/level limits... Or weakling low level mages.

But DARNIT, it looks so fun!

That massive stash of 3E materials is calling me as well...

PHOOEY!! on having so many fun editions, lol.

Me, I just run everything as 3.5e and source freely from Basic D&D, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 5e, and PF1.

 

[Gorg]

Me, I just run everything as 3.5e and source freely from Basic D&D, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 5e, and PF1.

I plan on doing that with 5E. Just as soon as I figure out how to convert stuff...

I'm kinda thinking along the lines, for example, of doing something with some of the interesting FR prestige classes- like homebrewing some new archetypes and/or arcane traditions, and same for domains- just for FR characters.

Not to mention the plethora of setting specific spells, magic items, and monsters.

 

[overgeeked]

I plan on doing that with 5E. Just as soon as I figure out how to convert stuff...

I'm kinda thinking along the lines, for example, of doing something with some of the interesting FR prestige classes- like homebrewing some new archetypes and/or arcane traditions, and same for domains- just for FR characters.

Not to mention the plethora of setting specific spells, magic items, and monsters.

WotC put out a conversion guide for most editions to 5E. It’s still up on their site.

https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/DnD_Conversions_1.0.pdf

 

[haakon1]

I plan on doing that with 5E. Just as soon as I figure out how to convert stuff...

Basically what I do is rewrite stuff. If the module has a 9th level Wizard, I’ll make one in the destination edition rules (3.5e for me) giving the same spells and magic items to the extent possible. Most things do exist in 3.x (3.5e, PF1, or 3e). Recently I had to create a Storoper (monster introduced in a classic AD&D adventure), and I created it by modifying off the related Roper, which did have 3.5 rules. I compared the Storoper and Roper in AD&D rules to give me an idea how to modify it.

 

[el-remmen]

Basically what I do is rewrite stuff. If the module has a 9th level Wizard, I’ll make one in the destination edition rules (3.5e for me) giving the same spells and magic items to the extent possible. Most things do exist in 3.x (3.5e, PF1, or 3e). Recently I had to create a Storoper (monster introduced in a classic AD&D adventure), and I created it by modifying off the related Roper, which did have 3.5 rules. I compared the Storoper and Roper in AD&D rules to give me an idea how to modify it.

This has been me with every edition - incorporating previous edition material or (in the case of D&D/AD&D) concurrent edition material. Anyone who follows me on here knows I basically only run D&D, 1E and Dungeon Mag modules - and I have little problem converting their actions/plots on the fly to any edition assuming I have spent prep time tweaking stat blocks and re-doing NPCs.

 

[haakon1]

Anyone who follows me on here knows I basically only run D&D, 1E and Dungeon Mag modules - and I have little problem converting their actions/plots on the fly to any edition assuming I have spent prep time tweaking stat blocks and re-doing NPCs.

I’m reading through Dungeon myself. I’ve read all of 77-90 so far, and random 7 others. 82 is the last 2e, by the way.

 

[delericho]

My last 2nd Ed campaign was a core rules only game run with almost no house rules (we used some of the optional rules from the PHB and DMG, but only a handful of true house rules). It was a great deal of fun, though it did only last for a few levels - this was just before 3e hit, and as soon as that came out we jumped ship.

 

[transmission89]

Do it! I’m running a west marches AD&D2e game. It’s greatest strength is also it’s greatest weakness. There’s so many damn (and often contradictory) options. However, this makes it really easy to tinker with, meaning your AD&D2e game can run like a souped up B/X game (with most of the optional rules stripped out) or a slightly clunky proto 3e game.

Do what works for you and make it yours.
Re magic users perceived weakness at low levels: why are they being measured only in combat prowess here? Remember that combat shouldn’t be the default option for every encounter (they aren’t balanced like later editions), it’s not always party time when a few goblins round the corner. In case an exchange of words become an exchange of blows, Magic users should have some coin left for some retainer muscle.

Regarding the “complexity” of Thaco:
AC hit = THAC0- (roll+mods) done!

Whatever works for your table, make it happen

 

[Weiley31]

What were the go to Books, aside from the usual edition trinity, to get for 2E? I know the Book of Elves had the Bladesinger. That covers your OP cravings so that's a given. Couple of the Leatherette books like the Celts and the DMG to Necromancers are a no brainer as well. I just don't know what other must haves there were in the Edition line.