capitalization matters

[geoffrey]

To place the emphasis where it belongs, I'm going to establish the habit for myself of NOT capitalizing "original", "advanced", or "classic" when the word comes before the name, "Dungeons & Dragons". To wit:

original Dungeons & Dragons
advanced Dungeons & Dragons
classic Dungeons & Dragons

Further, I'm not even going to abbreviate those words. Hence:

original D&D
advanced D&D
classic D&D

Dungeons & Dragons (or D&D) is the name of the game. Those other words are nothing more than minor descriptors. They are NOT part of the name.

I think that those capital letters obscure the reality that this is the same game with some differences, and we should not magnify those differences beyond reason. Even within any given D&D rulebook, there are inconsistencies (for example, how much does magic armor weigh according to the Dungeon Masters Guide?).

Sample sentence in my new style: My current campaign uses rules cherry-picked by whim from the original Dungeons & Dragons books (1974-1976) and from the advanced Dungeons & Dragons books (1977-1985).

Admittedly this is a small point, but I think it's worth my doing.

[Greyharp]

In my head the divide has always been TSR D&D and WotC D&D, with me firmly in the former camp. The former was all easily interchangeable.

[DungeonDevil]

May I propose a slightly different convention, which may, in time, catch on among those who need such terminology: instead of prefixed adjectives like advanced, basic, old, etc. why not use the name of the forum as inspiration?

CM71 (=Chainmail)
D&D74 (=LBBs)
D&D76-79 (=Advanced D&D)
D&D77 (=Holmes blue-cover)
D&D81 (=Moldvay red-cover)
D&D83 (=Mentzer red-cover)

Instead of the ampersand, "n" may be used.

and so on.

[hamurai]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons has a new logo with a capitalized name and book covers feature the "AD&D" abbreviation. It's clearly part of the name, in my opinion. There is no "Original" or "Classic" Dungeons & Dragons, I agree with that.

So, abbreviations might be oD&D, AD&D, cD&D.... but I wonder if it's worth spending time over it.

Using D&DXX seems unneccessarily complicated for those who are not yet D&D "pros" and who lack the knowledge about the distinction of B/X versions. Also, personally, I may remember something belonging to B/X but not which version, but I'd really hate having to check each time before I write a post about it. I believe it would only lead to errors and more presumably unnecessary discussions about the versions.

[DungeonDevil]

May 31, 2024 2:35:30 GMT -6 hamurai said:

Using D&DXX seems unneccessarily complicated for those who are not yet D&D "pros" and who lack the knowledge about the distinction of B/X versions. Also, personally, I may remember something belonging to B/X but not which version, but I'd really hate having to check each time before I write a post about it. I believe it would only lead to errors and more presumably unnecessary discussions about the versions.

Totally agree. I was just spit-balling a random idea. *shrug* BTW, you're not really a die-hard unless you equivocate about the distinct printing you favour.

[Mordorandor]

As for me, I never capitalize words when speaking them.

[yesmar]

For me it’s CHAINMAIL, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, OUTDOOR SURVIVAL, and ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. It’s been hammered into my brain by ca. 1979 TSR editors. That said, I do tend to use a variety of abbreviations in different contexts: cm75, dd74, dd75, D&D, and AD&D (which defaults to 1979 for me).

[Malcadon]

This is silly. We all know there is no such thing as an ampersand. The most properest pro-grammar way of sayin it is "DND", with an N. As in "Oh Deez Nuts, d**n!"

[Parzival]

I recently saw B* used as a catchall for B/X BECMI RC editions. Thought it was clever and useful.

(Might have been by someone here.)