TSR Best Way to Replicate AD&D?

[deganawida]

For Gold & Glory is a 2e clone. The pdf is free and the book sells at cost (softcover plus pdf is $13.99, hardcover is 17.99). Available from drivethrurpg and lulu.

Has a lot of beautiful paintings in it, too.

 

[Morrus]

I have the original books, but I don't want to pass them around a table to get actually used. (They are delicate and my original books - so there's some sentimental feelings there.)

I'm sure you can grab another copy off ebay failry inexpensively?

 

[CleverNickName]

I'm sure you can grab another copy off ebay failry inexpensively?

This. I picked up a lightly-used copy of the Rules Cyclopedia off of eBay for $30 + shipping.

It looks like you can also get print-on-demand copies of the original AD&D books from DriveThruRPG and DMsGuild, for about $20-25 each.
Why replicate when you can be playing the original?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It looks like you can also get print-on-demand copies of the original AD&D books from DriveThruRPG and DMsGuild, for about $20-25 each.
Why replicate when you can be playing the original?

Because the originals aren't laid out as clearly as modern books can be? Very few people buying OSE are unaware that B/X is available from the DMs Guild. But OSE's superior organization is worth the premium (and deciphering which version of the books to purchase, the real barrier to entry for that game) to a whole lot of people.

 

[Maccwar]

At this point, given my limited shelf and storage space, I'm going to wait and see if WotC announces another set of reprints.

You can get them as print on demand via DMs Guild

 

[Micah Sweet]

Because the originals aren't laid out as clearly as modern books can be? Very few people buying OSE are unaware that B/X is available from the DMs Guild. But OSE's superior organization is worth the premium (and deciphering which version of the books to purchase, the real barrier to entry for that game) to a whole lot of people.

That is a different argument than you used originally, to be fair.

 

[GMMichael]

Well, as it turned out, they shot down the idea of another system for the next campaign. So I guess we're sticking with 5e power fantasy.

Understandable. If I'm a new RPGer, and my first experience is D&D5, then it's fair to assume that any other game will be an equivalent pain in the butt to learn. Why do that, when I already know a game?

Show them Microlite20. Maybe they'll appreciate an actual stripped-down version of D&D. I would.

 

[Yora]

That sounds a lot like 2002. When seemingly every new game was d20.

 

[ThrorII]

I didn't look through all 3 pages, but "Swords & Wizardry Complete" may be your jam. It is essentially OD&D+Supplements I, II, and III. It runs a lot like B/X (because it's OD&D), but you get the OD&D version of rangers, illusionists, druids, and paladins (along with clerics, fighters, magic users, and thieves). Those versions are VERY close to the final AD&D versions, except the Paladin ended up a cleric-lite in AD&D. M-U spells go to 9th level, cleric spells go to 7th level, etc.

It is essentially 'proto-AD&D' as it could be played from 1976 to 1979.

 

[Nakana]

I didn't look through all 3 pages, but "Swords & Wizardry Complete" may be your jam. It is essentially OD&D+Supplements I, II, and III. It runs a lot like B/X (because it's OD&D), but you get the OD&D version of rangers, illusionists, druids, and paladins (along with clerics, fighters, magic users, and thieves). Those versions are VERY close to the final AD&D versions, except the Paladin ended up a cleric-lite in AD&D. M-U spells go to 9th level, cleric spells go to 7th level, etc.

It is essentially 'proto-AD&D' as it could be played from 1976 to 1979.

I came to make the same recommendation.