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Author Topic: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?  (Read 15983 times)

worrapol

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #15 on: January 24, 2021, 06:53:02 PM »
Original or swords & wizardry
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Kyle Aaron

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #16 on: January 24, 2021, 07:03:01 PM »
There is no edition but 1st edition and Gygax is its prophet.

1st edition is the most compatible with an open game table.
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Abraxus

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #17 on: January 24, 2021, 07:57:39 PM »
5E because it is easier to run. 1E because it was the very first rpg I played even with Gary Gygax piss poor in the DMG. 2E because of the cleaned up rules and the sourcebooks were the most flavorful.

KingCheops

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #18 on: January 24, 2021, 08:05:14 PM »
I feel 2e struck the right balance for everything.  Plus tons of options and modularity for as simple or complex a system as you want.

TJS

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #19 on: January 24, 2021, 08:47:16 PM »
B/X.

The best system for exploration without years of accumulated cruft.

It's also just so refreshing to take out all the Paladins and Rangers and Sorcerers and Hexblades and boil it down to the core concepts.

I've tried 5e.  It's not so much that it's bad, as that it's muddled and really doesn't know what it's for.

Steven Mitchell

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #20 on: January 24, 2021, 09:12:36 PM »
If you imagine a point somewhere near halfway between BEMCI/RC and 5E, you'll be the closet to what I like in my D&D.  In fact, no matter what version I've run (even 4E), I tend to twist it in that direction.  I was reasonably happy with running 5E with some of the defaults scaled way back to closer to BEMCI/RC or AD&D.  I'd be reasonably happy taking a tweaked BEMCI/RC and adding something to it.  The problem was that "reasonably happy" wasn't good enough anymore.

My biggest issue is that I do want just a touch of "skills" and a tad more mechanics than the B/X style.  I not only don't want race as class but also have never exactly reconciled to D&D races having cultural things embedded in the package.  I'm not exactly comfortable with "class as archetype" and merely make another class as soon as you want a new spin on the archetype.  I'm just not wired that way when I GM.  I'm also tired of the other extreme, the generic Hero System or GURPs approach, or even the bastard GURPs/D&D approach of the 3E framework with a lot of specifics layered on top.  There are some thing in BEMCI/RC that are kind of clunky.  However, from my point of view, the WotC editions and even 2E in a lot of ways goes too far the other way.

I'm doing my own version now.  WotC shenanigans pushed me over the edge but this has been brewing for years.  I took the BEMCI/RC framework, lopped off the upper end, embedded a handful of customization options, changed the ability scores around to suit me, flattened and shortened the power curve, introduced a handful of modern mechanics to simplify it, and have gotten off to the races.  Every time I had a question of compatibility with D&D or making it work the way I wanted, I took the latter.  That meant rewriting every damn spell but so be it.  Two successful play tests so far and organizing a longer game.  Sure, the thing has been stretched and twisted so much that I doubt three people here would call it D&D.  You can kind of see that it is distantly related.  You could get something approximating the kind of game I'm running by tweaking BEMCI/RC or AD&D, but this approach was easier and more fun in the long run.   

Semaj Khan

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #21 on: January 24, 2021, 09:19:35 PM »
If I were just forced at gunpoint to pick a version and stick with it? Moldvay/Cook B/X with my own house rules.

It's what I started on, and it's what I have a lot of fun memories of using. 8)
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MonsterSlayer

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #22 on: January 24, 2021, 09:50:17 PM »
I'm on the fence still.
I find 5E more accessible and I like ascending AC, save versus stat, and a couple of other things. It is currently easier to get players for 5E. And 5E can be modified enough to bring it inline with my tastes (Five Torches  Deep, etc.).

BECMI is what I would probably prefer to play due to art, tone, and style. This is what I have been pulling out to try and teach the kids. Plus a few of the systems such as morale I have to port into 5E anyhow.

SirFrog

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #23 on: January 24, 2021, 11:46:53 PM »
My three go to rpgs are 5E, B/X Based(OSE, SWN ), and Savage Worlds
I will pretty much play/run them without prejudice for one over the other.

I will also like Five Torches Deep - takes the good parts from 5E and OSR
Life is too short to play/run one rpg system

Spinachcat

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #24 on: January 24, 2021, 11:56:53 PM »
What is your favorite version of D&D, and why?

Palladium Fantasy 1e.

:)

Shawn Driscoll

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #25 on: January 25, 2021, 01:17:52 AM »
What is your favorite version of D&D, and why?
AD&D 1st Edition because I don't take D&D seriously.

Trinculoisdead

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #26 on: January 25, 2021, 02:53:03 AM »
B/X. I've only run it by way of OSE though.

After years of reading through 5e forums I became exhausted with its mother-may-I BS where everything needed to be codified in the rules in order to exist in the game. Endless character and race options bloat also put me off, and it was with much happiness that I found the relative simplicity of B/X.

Marchand

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #27 on: January 25, 2021, 04:58:35 AM »
Varies over time. Right now I would like to try one of various OD&D versions I've come across.

Interested to see all the love for 2e. BTW I noticed WotC recently put up this kind-of 2e starter set for free.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/284581/Dungeons--Dragons-Adventure-Game?src=newest

One of the strangenesses about it is it's date-stamped 1999, which is right before 3e. Maybe it was a marketing attempt to shift some 2e stock before the changeover.

No rules for character creation, but includes a folio of Level 2 characters and enough rules to take them to Lvl 5. Uses a single saving throw, and THAC0.

There's an old-school feel to it, e.g. the sample adventure DM guidance includes advice on what to do if the players try to negotiate with the monsters vs what to do if they attack, with explicit advice to just make it up if you either can't remember a rule or there isn't a rule.
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Shrieking Banshee

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #28 on: January 25, 2021, 05:04:53 AM »
Personally, I don't know at this point but through pure iteration and time its D&D 3e.

After years of reading through 5e forums I became exhausted with its mother-may-I BS where everything needed to be codified in the rules in order to exist in the game.

I'd say that's more opposite. 'Mother May I' refers to the players asking permission for the GM for everything. And Id say 5e is not a game thats even close to being demanding of rules following since its like 50% unfinished.

robh

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Re: D&D players - do you prefer 5e, or an older version?
« Reply #29 on: January 25, 2021, 06:19:56 AM »
Original (in it's Swords and Wizardry incarnation), but would happily play any pre AD&D option.