[Alloy]

Hi, I'm looking in to playing Dungeons & Dragons, and I'm very new... but I'm not sure what the difference is between D&D, AD&D, 1E, 2E & 3E. Is D&D just much older? Is AD&D very different from it or just a revised version? Are the 1st and 2nd editions closely related? Is 3rd edition a LOT different or just some rule changes? Sorry I sound so retarded but I want to know which edition to start at. Thank you so much for any help.

[dragonhand777]

3.5 is the only edition currently in publication.

Th evolution went something like this: D&D, AD&D (Advanced Dungeons and Dragons), AD&D 2nd edition, D&D 3.0, and finally D&D 3.5.

Because it is the only version in publication, I would suggest you start with 3.5. I would also recomend that you stick to the core rule books until you're really comfortable with the rules. Player Handbook [PHB], Dungeon Masters Guide [DMG], and the Monster Manual [MM]. Then look into buying the supplements and books with varriant rules.

Third Edition is quite evloved (or changed) from the original conception, some thirty years ago. I've been playing for 15 or 16 years but can't remember all the differences between editions. Mainly cause when ever I had to learn new rules, they took up the slots in my memory that the others had previously taken up. lol

[Rintaran]

Let's see if I can help you out a bit. First off, if you're just starting, you're probably going to want to play D&D 3.5. You may be able to pick up some of the manuals for the older versions from a used book store or a thrift shop, but they don't make them anymore and the number of people who still play those editions makes it difficult to put together a group with any ease.

1E D&D is ancient. It is the original game published around '79 (I believe). I've a copy of the DMG, but I've never played it myself.

2E D&D is a plain hack & slash, simplified version of 2E AD&D. The rules for 2nd Ed are majorly altered from 1E, and with the Skills & Powers mod books, it can vary even greater. For the longest time, AD&D was what most people were playing when people talked about D&D. I began with 2E D&D when I was a child of 10 years of age, and advanced to AD&D after a year because I wanted more than just to kill things.

3E D&D was published several years ago and the books quickly flooded the market. WoTC made some of their material open to all companies, allowing for an influx of d20 products. There are some improvements over AD&D, but about as many defects can be found as well. It is also a completely new ruleset in comparison to previous editions. This is the version that I play myself... Greatly altered due to my house rules of course.

3.5E D&D is a revised version of 3E. They came out with this last year (or maybe the year before) and supposedly fixed a number of the errors from 3E. I really wouldn't know, I boycotted WoTC because I saw it as highway robbery (especially since I had already blown 1k on books for 3E). 3.5E makes 3E obsolete, and a number of conversions must be done in order to 'cross-over' any modules, books, or characters you may want to use.

[dragonhand777]

Rintaran, on Jun 3 2004, 05:53 PM, said:

... I really wouldn't know, I boycotted WoTC because I saw it as highway robbery (especially since I had already blown 1k on books for 3E).  3.5E makes 3E obsolete, and a number of conversions must be done in order to 'cross-over' any modules, books, or characters you may want to use.

Not exactly.

Sorry Alloy, I don't mean to ad to any confusion. As Rintaran (and myself) have mentioned, 3.5 is really the way you'd want to go because it's the most current version on the market.

However, if you later run in to any 3.0 stuff, don't let it scare you. You'd have much less trouble adapting it than any other version.

The following link is to the website of one of the aurthors of 3.0, Monte Cook. He now has his own publication (Malhavoc Press). The page where the link takes you to is is his Line of Sight column.

It's worth reading, but as I mentioned in my previous post, wait to buy any of the books he publishes until you're familiar with the core rule books published by Wizards of the Coast.

http://www.montecook.com/lineos.html

[MiaKRZZ]

for the last year i've been "Playing" 2nd Edition AD&D...I say "Playing" because the DM left me very confused...he never explained anything...I can tell you the main difference I've found from the way he ran it to the way we play 3.5

as to leveling...different classes level at different amounts of xp. while fighters would be at level 5 already...a magic user would only be on level 3...although their xp were pretty much the same. (That may be a bit of an exaggeration...but it's the general gist)

and then...this is where I may be wrong...but it's the way the DM ran it.

you can't have your character grow with your levels. by growing I mean that you can't modify your ability scores or take on new feats.

3.5 lets you do that, which i think is a bit more real If you were out on an adventure yourself...with your traveling and the things you'd do...your knowledge, strength would be bound to increase. it's only logical.

personal experience: go with 3.5...after a year of 2nd edition AD&D...I still don't understand anything about playing it. After only three sessions of 3.5...I've got it hashed out enough to where i"m not constantly asking questions on "what do I use to use my scimitar?" "Can I kick this guy and run away?" "Is it posible to do this...."

Usually it takes me a long time to get the basics...*Points to hair...I'm pretty much blond...but it's a lot easier than it looks...and it's hell of fun!

[Axel]

The evolution was like this
D&D: Very simple hack&slash game. Explore the dungeons, get treasure, earn xp. Modified constantly by new articles until it expanded into something huge.
AD&D: Far more complex (hence the added "Advanced") this combined many of the previous ideas into a single collection. This really allowed for a great deal of creativity, role playing, and versatality.
AD&D 2e: Another compilation, this was a collection of ideas and house rules for 1e. The key difference was this depended far less on existing tables and rules and suggested common sense and logic for determing situations. Great for DM versatility, no good for rules lawyers.
D&D 3e: Notice the "Advanced" was dropped. That pretty much says it all, this is a desperate attempt by Wizards to return TSR's masterpiece to what it originally was. NONE of the rules remained from what previously existed and the system is murder to creativity.
D&D 3.5: Another step in the master plan to return to roll playing from role playing. The differences are nill, but Wizards wanted to squeeze you for more dough.

Which I prefer is pretty clear, wouldn't you say?

[dragonhand777]

Alloy, are you glad you asked? lol

Quote

NONE of the rules remained from what previously existed and the system is murder to creativity.

I beg to differ. Just because you let your creativity be hampered doesn't mean the rest of us do!

Quote

The differences are nill, but Wizards wanted to squeeze you for more dough.

Actually the alterations to certain classes between 3.0 and 3.5 were really good and much needed. Also they changed termonology in regaurds to skills, for example: Slieght of hand replaced Pick pockets and covered a few more actions such as concealing a weapon.

When 3.5 first came out I felt much the same as others. I even made coments to the rest of my playing group such as "They only did it to get another pay check." But none the less, our DM was going to go with 3.5. So I bought the new PHB. And after playing DnD 3.5 for over a year I can honestly say, the changes they made were wise. The changes they made were made because of the feed back they were getting from people who were playing the game.

Alloy, a few other things you'll need (besides the core rule books) are people to play with (of course). You can go about this one of two ways or a combination of the two.

1. Get together with two to four close friends. After aquiring the core rule books, decide who's going to DM and who's going to be the players. At this point you should also decide whether you want use miniatures or not.

2. Visit a local gaming shop or comic book store that sells DND materials and look for posts where other players and/or DMs are looking for others. Some websites also have similar posts. Here's a link to Wizards of the Coast, the have a thread for players and DMs at their Messegeboards thread. http://www.wizards.c...p?x=dnd/welcome

Hope this helps.

[blacxthornE]

dragonhand777, on Jun 4 2004, 06:27 AM, said:

Alloy, are you glad you asked? lol

Quote

NONE of the rules remained from what previously existed and the system is murder to creativity.

I beg to differ. Just because you let your creativity be hampered doesn't mean the rest of us do!

I completely agree. Please do not talk in the name of all of us Axel. I believe the "roll-playing" is the very thing that makes the "role-playing" balanced and under control.

[Axel]

I have my opinion and I speak it. I make no apologies for doing so.

[Darius]

I might as well add to alloy's confusion now on opinions about the versions
I started with the original DnD and them went to ADnD when it came out as it was a great improvment over the original and played that up till 2-3 yrs ago when I switched to 3ED , my friends and i took 1 look at 2ed and thought it was C@#p , there was just too many things we didnt like about it.If there ever was a version designed to complicate and make it harder to play 2e was it.
Havent looked to much at 3.5 yet as ive just spent a load of money on 3 and Im not ready to shell out more for virtualy the same product.

D

[ladyofdragons]

Darius, on Jun 4 2004, 11:28 PM, said:

Havent looked to much at 3.5 yet as ive just spent a load of money on 3 and Im not ready to shell out more for virtualy the same product.

Honestly, I don't think it's a necessity to do so to say you're using 3.5. Just download the 3.5 SRD or buy one of the SRD PDF products for $5, Print out the sections you need (I usually do this at work, one chapter a day. But it helps to have your own laser printer in your office to do this. ).

Since any new book you buy that was created since the advent of 3.5 is 3.5, you're already playing a mixed-edition game to begin with.

[Dusk]

I tend to think along the same lines as Axel, albeit with much less venom.

But most of that is because 1) I'm burned out on D&D and 2) 3.5 effectively neutered the only D&D character I play (psi warrior), and I'm bitter about it.

Some of the 3.5 changes were good (improved the rangers, frex), some were bad (Paladins magically summoning their steeds - complete garbage!), many were necessary.

[PlaneTouchedOne]

I only have experience with 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition...

2nd Ed. D&D- The whole things comes in a box set (or mine did) and it is basically 2nd Ed. AD&D, only it is way over simplified with a few small changes.

2nd Ed. AD&D- Great piece of work. The combat system is a bit clumsier (although simpler if you just use the core books) than 3rd edition.

3.5 Ed AD&D- More complicated but more succinct combat system, more realistic. Feats are introduced and other game aspects refined. The Half-Orc race and Sorcerer...and maybe Druid (I don't remember if that was in 2nd ED) classes are introduced.

[BrotherMouran]

PlaneTouchedOne, on Jun 24 2004, 12:47 PM, said:

3.5 Ed AD&D- More complicated but more succinct combat system, more realistic. Feats are introduced and other game aspects refined. The Half-Orc race and Sorcerer...and maybe Druid (I don't remember if that was in 2nd ED) classes are introduced.

The sorcerer is new as of 3ed. The druid class and half orc race have been around since 1ed AD&D.

[Silvanus]

Given that people are adding their $.02 on this issue, I guess I'll add mine. I started with 3E and liked it. I then switched to 3.5 (bought the PHB, which I didn't have for 3E) and liked it better. The emphasis on miniatures DOES NOT make it a "roll-playing" game rather than a "role-playing" game. The people playing it decide what kind of game it is. Saying that you could roleplay better with 2E is silly, as any system is just an outlet for the way you want to play the game. I find that the miniatures rules actually make keeping track of combat easier so I can spend more time and energy on roleplaying.