Early D&D was rubbish

I didn't play the very first edition of Dungeons and Dragons, but one of the earliest, and here I relate some memories of it, and give a quick review.

I did a piece-to-camera about D&D rules in general, and it rambled on for 16 minutes, so I cut this section off the front because it forms a reasonably distinct piece.

The follow video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=116JEVCIAsk

www.LloydianAspects.co.uk

Category:

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• dragon
• role
• play
• game
• d&D
• DnD
• early
• blue
• book
• rules
• cover
• system
• RPG
• lloyd

[WritingFighter]

I could never wrap my head around role-playing with books and rules and dice rolling. Maybe it's because I have a natural gift at story-telling, but the role-play games just seem to make sure a bunch of people sitting around the table trying to outright win and Mary Sue their way through can't in most ways. My best role-playing experiences were using books as a guide on what exists and settings for skills, but no player sheets or weapon profiles. Just straight-up narration and actions.

[lindybeige]

@WritingFighter Yes, and many good role play sessions never involve rolling dice.

[WritingFighter]

@lindybeige To my knowledge, it's very rare that most role-play sessions are even completed and they almost always end due to an argument between the game master and at least one or several players.

[lindybeige]

@WritingFighter Oh dear, you have been unfortunate. I've hardly known of any arguments of this kind.

[admiralaztec]

If you're big on combat realism, Rolemaster is the way to go. I like my combat fantastic, my moral compass ambiguous and illustrations sexy, so I go with basically anything made by White Wolf, especially Exalted. :D

[lindybeige]

@admiralaztec Oh gad no! Rolemaster is outrageously slow and complicated. If a fight breaks out, the rest of the session is spent resolving it. I would also question its realism. I have played with seasoned Rolemaster players who have insisted that combat is not slow, and it flipping well is.

[lindybeige]

@markanthonyquested If 4th Edition is simplified, how come it is three massive rule books, whereas D&D started with small pamphlets?

[lindybeige]

@Sipseyhiker Well argued.

[WritingFighter]

@lindybeige Lol. Well, I've never heard from anyone else who had one actually end (other than all the players dying off).

[weaselfierce]

@lindybeige Runequest is a better bet for "realistic" combat that is also quick and easy to resolve. That being said, of course Rolemaster combat doesn't take an entire session. We've played multiple fights in a 3 hour session on several occasions.

[sneasalmaster]

Page 60 of the basic set. Variable weapon damage table.

[YuriPRIME]

Hence why I always stick to Warhammer if any mechanic makes sense :) Good video.

[howandwhy99]

Holmes Edition is probably the least balanced of the following basic sets. He's right about daggers and 2-hd weapons.

Why is there no setting sometimes? Because the game accounts for the generation of some setting and not others. If the game didn't specify it, it isn't there. (Remember, the DM wasn't intended to improvise behind the screen at all).

[HeathbrookBadhwar]

And thus house rules were invented.