Why do you play OD&D or retroclone?

[chgowiz]

There has been a bit of fur flying lately about what begat the OSR. There's a lot of Internet-available history that traces the emergence of games like OSRIC, Labyrinth Lord, microlite20/74 and Swords & Wizardry from a publisher/content provider perspective, but less so from a player perspective. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence for various reasons why people are playing original edition games, so I thought I would try and ask questions, rather than argue about it. I'm going to post this same post on Dragonsfoot and other forums as well - just to see what kind of response I get.

Notes: If you're not currently investigating or playing an original edition game or retroclone/simulacra, this poll is not for you.

For purposes of this poll, I'm defining original edition as anything prior to 3rd Edition (I'm including 2nd edition because it seems the discussion/argument is more about 3E/4E as a differentiator.) Retroclone refers to games like OSRIC, Swords & Wizardry, Labyrinth Lord, Castles & Crusades, microlite74, etc.

Multiple choices are OK. If you have an answer to a question that I've not provided, please feel free to write in your own.

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
  
• I'm running an established campaign as a DM
  
• I'm looking to play in a new campaign
  
• I'm looking to run in a new campaign

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

• I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D
  
• 3E D&D
  
• 4E D&D
  
• I was playing something other than D&D

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I still play 3E
  
• I'm not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious
  
• My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
  
• I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
  
• I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 3E
  
• I like the OGL and wanted to play games that use it

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I still play 4E
  
• I'm not looking to replace 4E with original edition, just curious
  
• My group of friends are playing and I went along with it
  
• I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
  
• I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E
  
• I like the GSL and wanted to play games that use it

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• It was recommended by a friend
  
• It was what my game group is playing
  
• I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
  
• I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
  
• I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• It was recommended by a friend
  
• It is what my game group is playing
  
• I already owned my older books
  
• From a blog
  
• From a D&D related forum
  
• From the retroclone publisher's website

Please comment to respond to the poll or visit the same poll at my blog. This is an honest, serious attempt to put at least a few numbers around anecdotes and supposition.

[Zulgyan]

Excellent initiative chgowiz, have an Exalt!

[thegreyelf]

This might have been served better as a poll than as a regular thread?

But here goes!

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
  
• I'm running an established campaign as a DM
  
• I'm looking to play in a new campaign
  
• I'm looking to run in a new campaign

(Yes, all four)

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

• 3E D&D
  
  
• I was playing something other than D&D

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I still play 3E
  
• I'm not looking to replace 3E with original edition, just curious
  

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
  
• I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E
  

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
  
• I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
  

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• I already owned my older books
  

[tavis]

> 1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?


I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
I'm running an established campaign as a DM


> 2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

3E D&D


> 3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?


I still play 3E (although will be doing so less going forward as the 3E campaigns I've run and played in wrap up)


3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

I still play 4E (although I was/am unhappy with its marketing)

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"

- This is the closest answer - I cut my teeth on Holmes, and played AD&D from 1980 - 1986, and have been interested in using old-school material for inspiration since I got back into D&D with 3E in 2000 - but the thing that inspired me to play TSR D&D for its own virtues was Gygax's death and internet discussions of playing the original as a tribute to his memory. The old-school net presence was also essential in enabling me to appreciate the philosophy of TSR D&D, finding a local group (NY Red Box) devoted to exploring old-school play, and teaching me how to approach the original texts. I inherited my White Box set in '93, but at the time it was completely mystifying to me and I knew of nothing that would help me make sense of it!

I'd also assign a role to 4E in inspiring me to turn towards the old school. Seeing how elements of its design philosophy represented the logical extreme of trends present in AD&D and 3E (e.g. the increasing codification of the command spell) gave me a desire to get away from that codification, whereas previously I'd taken it for granted that the additional rationalization, structure, and reduction of gray areas that impressed me when I first read the third edition books was purely advantageous.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I already owned my older books (although the 'net was instrumental in helping me understand them)

[chgowiz]

Thank you Z - just thought it would be interesting to really get some input.

thegreyelf - I can't create a poll with these many questions/answers, unfortunately. You get one question, where I have 5. Didn't want to create 5 polls.

[rick krebs]

I play with the books I have (maybe I'm just cheap) and they are enough to provide me and my friends with enough entertainment for several decades.

[Finarvyn]

I'd have been tempted to go with 5 polls. However.....


I'm not sure if I'm the demographic you're looking for since I started with OD&D. The retro/clone games have been more of a diversion for me, not a discovery of days long gone. As far as the clones go, I playtested C&C, wrote parts of S&W:WB, made some suggestions on LL, and have read OSRIC, BFRPG, and others.

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?
• I'm running an established campaign as a DM

About 35 years, mostly with OD&D, and I'm the DM aobut 95% of the time.

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?
• I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D

OD&D was my first RPG. Tried some others, OD&D is still one of the best. (Also C&C and Amber Diceless.)

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?
• I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
• I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
• I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics

I don't suppose "go back" is totally accurate, but I did try that newfangled AD&D game when it first came out and then decided to "go back" to OD&D back in the 1980's. The philosophy, the rules, the simple mechanic, the encouragement to improvise... that's why I play.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?
• It is what my game group is playing
• I already owned my older books

Friend got it as a present in 1975. We tried it and never looked back....

[greyharp]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
I'm looking to run in a new campaign


2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D (Although I did once play 3e for a year because I couldn't find a group playing an original edition game.)


3. If you were playing 3E or 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

n/a


4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game


5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I already owned my older books/From a D&D related forum

[waysoftheearth]

Another great initiative Chgowiz

Here's my response...

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm running an established campaign as a DM
  
• I'm looking to play in a new campaign
  

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

• 3.5E D&D
  

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• My long running game and been quiet for several months preceding the release of 4E. I think everyone was feeling a bit jaded and was "waiting" for the promised awesomeness of 4E. However, 4E was a huge disappointment. We sadly concluded that D&D was dead, buried and long forgotten. And WotC was dancing on its grave duping the next generation that this other product was D&D. At some later point I decided to go back to my old rule books, and it was then sweet bliss to discover there was already a wider community of gamers doing exactly that
  

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
  
• I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E
  

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
  
• I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
  game
  

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• I already owned my older books
  
• From a blog
  
• From a D&D related forum
  

[bluskreem]

1. I'm running an established campaign as a DM, although we are slowly switching to a more casual one shot model.

2. I was primarily playing World of Darkness, Big Eyes Small Mouth, GURPS, and the occasional 3rd ed D&D game (Part timer job + active Role playing club in the area = lots of gaming, I miss those days)

3 /4 . I was unhappy with the complexity of 3/3.5E rules, mechanics. A friend asked me to give their basic game a shot, and I fell in love with the simpler mechanics and emphasis on problem solving rather than dice chucking.

5. Although we had been playing using the RC as our base for a while I didn't start getting interested in OD&D until hearing about Carcosa on the WotC site. Unhappy with using PDFs to run the game I picked up the than LL and Original edition characters at a friend's suggestion (most of our group was familiar with LL, or at least BX.)

[jcstephens]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?
I've an OE D&D campaign ready to go, "Castle Drakenstein". It seems popular in playtesting, and I'm hoping to get it fully underway once the current game dies off (some sort of D20 Star Wars thingie).

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?
A GURPS SciFi campaign based loosely on Farscape, but that was a few years ago.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?
The publicity surrounding the death of EGG, and the resulting nostalgia.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?
Yahoo Search brought me here, and the rest is history.

Optional Bonus Question: What do I like best about OE D&D?
The fact that there will never be any more official rules added, so no one can bring something I don't have to the table and whine to have it included. That's what killed my GURPS campaign: it simply isn't possible to own everything, and having to pull GM rank and say "No" was causing too much tension.

[Deleted]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm looking to run a new campaign

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I already owned my older books


Personal Comments: I have been enjoying D&D for close to 20 years now. My parents bought me the "Black Box" basic set & the Rules Cyclopedia as a reward for excellent grades at the end of my 8th grade year (1991). I quickly moved on to AD&D2E, my game of choice throughout high school & after. My friends went gonzo for 3E in 2000 - I didn't. Feeling burnt out, & not wanting to pursue 3E, I took a well-deserved 6 or 7 year hiatus from gaming. A couple of years ago, I discovered a little forum with about 5 members called "OD&D Discussion" & joined out of sheer curiosity. With my interest in gaming returned, I've ran a successful year-long OD&D camapign which ended last year, & am now looking forward to running a Holmes/Homebrew campaign sometime in the future.

[korgoth]

Jun 12, 2009 11:10:12 GMT -6 @chgowiz said:

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm playing in an established campaign as a player
  
• I'm running an established campaign as a DM
  
• I'm looking to run in a new campaign

Jun 12, 2009 11:10:12 GMT -6 @chgowiz said:

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

• 3E D&D

Jun 12, 2009 11:10:12 GMT -6 @chgowiz said:

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
  

Also: I *did* try 4E for several sessions (though after I returned to old school play). I hated it and have no time for it.

Jun 12, 2009 11:10:12 GMT -6 @chgowiz said:

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
  
• I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
  
• I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

Jun 12, 2009 11:10:12 GMT -6 @chgowiz said:

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• From a D&D related forum
  

[yesmar]

I run an OD&D campaign because I love it. I used to play 1st Ed. AD&D, but moved to OD&D because of the freedoms it affords. I would play in an OD&D or 1st Ed. AD&D game, but mostly I DM. I've never played 2nd Ed., 3rd Ed., or 4th Ed. D&D and I never will. I don't hate them, I just don't need them--I've already got what I need. Similarly, I'm not all that interested in retroclones. Why play with a clone when you can play the real thing? As for the last question, I started with Holmes Basic, moved to 1st Ed. AD&D shortly thereafter and stayed there for many, many years. About 5 years ago I moved to OD&D where I plan to stay.

[Bard]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm looking to run in a new campaign

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

I was playing something other than D&D

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I already owned my older books
From a D&D related forum

(I'm not sure what you mean by "buzz" on the Internet, but reading through the K&K philosophy forum helped me the at the early stages of my investigation... If there weren't such great forums as K&K or this OD&D board, or the blogs, I'd probably never look into the retroclones, or OD&D, and would only use my old AD&D1e books, and Rules Cyclopedia... But these forums opened up a great new world for me...)

[chronoplasm]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm looking to play in a new campaign
  

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

• 4E D&D
  

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
  

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I'm not looking to replace 4E with original edition, just curious
  

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
  
• I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet
  
• Fake nostalgia
  

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• From a D&D related forum
  

[Deleted]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm looking to run in a new campaign.


2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

I was playing something other than D&D. I'm running a fantasy game with Hero System Fifth Edition.


3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

N/A


3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

N/A


4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I played in a game of S&W at ReaperCon with Garish as DM. It was fun and I thought it might be worth going back to some older simpler rules for a change of pace. I picked up Labyrinth Lord last week and will probably run through some old Basic/Expert modules with it.


5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

I already owned my older books. I used to play a lot of 1st ed. AD&D way back when. The retroclone thing I think I learned of by reading about Castles & Crusades somewhere on the net, and I heard of Labyrinth Lord while looking around at stuff for that.

[sham]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm running an established campaign as a DM.

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

Basic D&D was my first RPG.


3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

N/A

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

N/A

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

In the case of original edition, that was all that was available at the time.
In the case of Labyrinth Lord, I liked both the approach and philosophy, and it was the closest thing to my long lost Holmes edit D&D.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

Discovered Basic D&D on my own in 1979.
Discovered Labyrinth Lord in 2007 from a D&D related forum.

I'll bet many other members here have similar answers. Probably not the best case study for this particular line of questioning, but there ya go!

[benoist]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm running an established campaign as a DM

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

• 3E D&D
  
• I was playing something other than D&D

Third Edition, OGL games and World of Darkness games most recently (and still).

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I still play 3E

I would still run and play third ed, but got tired of everything being about rules, more rules, and yet more rules. I wanted to strip the game of most of its mechanics to get back to its core essence and from there, hopefully, build "my" ideal version of the game from the ground-up. Still in the process of doing so.

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

n/a. I don't play 4e.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game

See above. Going back to the roots of the game, its simplest expression, to build my own game from there.

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• I already owned my older books
  

I honestly don't remember when I first heard of the White Box. It was decades ago.

[irdaranger]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm looking to play in a new campaign
  
• I'm looking to run in a new campaign

Either of these. I got started with old school last year by trying to run a Rules Cyclopedia sandbox campaign. B1 and B2 were on the map but the players ended up going somewhere else. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately I lost my job and had to move so that fell apart, and now I'm "on the lookout", but free time is very constricted right now so I'm not looking too hard. Maybe in a few months ...

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

Iron Heroes set in The Forgotten Realms, mostly. I played some 3E but never got into it and also played a little 4E.


3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach

This answer is closest, if you apply it to Iron Heroes (which is an OGL d20 variant of 3E, for the most part). I do not like Feats, Skills Systems, and "character building" generally. I just wanted to "roll up a character" and get to the "real game" of killing monsters and taking their stuff.


3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

• I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
  

I played some 4E but was not interested in pursuing it further for this reason. 4E fixed a lot of the problems I had with 3E, but by moving in a totally new direction in many ways. The new rule system so divorced mechanics from "fluff" that I felt like it wasn't 'real', if that makes any sense. I prefer the more simulationists approach of Gary's D&D, where the rules are really trying to model how something "actually works."


4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

Philotomy's Musings.


5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• From a D&D related forum

On EN World, I think.


You didn't ask, but: 6. Which original editions/retroclones have you actually played?

Rules Cyclopedia D&D and Castles & Crusades.

(C&C was the game that taught me that another major problem I have with 3E/4E is the whole concept of universal mechanics. I don't like them, but prefer the "grab bag" approach of Gary's D&D to "use whatever works".)

I've also been collecting AD&D 1e books and the pre-RC boxed sets. I plan to run a Mentzer Basic adventure for just family shortly. Possibly B1.

[abecross]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I'm running a new campaign as a DM
  

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

• I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D
  

Though I stopped for about ten years, and have just started up again in the past month.

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

• I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
  
• I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
  
• I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
  

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

• I already owned my older books
  
• From a blog
  

I learned about S&W, LL, and OSRIC from a few blogs, the original Editions of D&D I already knew about.

[oldgamergeek]

I'm running two established campaigns as a DM (swords&wizardry)
as well as a Mutant Future adventure.

[JMiskimen]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

* I'm running an established campaign as a DM

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

* I've always been playing original edition/retroclone D&D

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

n/a

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

n/a

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

* I used to play these games and wanted to "go back"
* I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
* I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
* I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

* I already owned my older books
* From a blog
* From a D&D related forum
* From the retroclone publisher's website

I ran both the Holmes and Metzner D&D sets back in the day, AD&D, Rules Compendium D&D, and 2ED&D, all of them house-ruled aplenty. I took a hard look at 3E, but found that the older systems worked better for my players and me.
Just this year we gave '74D&D/OD&D a whirl and I absolutely loved the faster/looser system. While LBBs are great and S&W-WB is essentially the same game, I'm currently converting my game to S&W-WB for organizational reasons -- It's just easier to assimilate and orientate younger and/or new players with S&W rather than OD&D.

JM.

[coffee]

I keep thinking I've answered this, but I never did. Here goes!


1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?


* I'm playing in a newly established campaign as a player



2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?


* 3E D&D



3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?


* I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach
* I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 3E

(Also, my regular group went on hiatus for the summer -- and then never got back together.)


3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?


N/A


4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?


I never played Original D&D, but I had the boxed set and a couple of the supplements. In my original group, they had moved on to AD&D by the time I got there, but I've always been interested in the origins of things, so I checked it out on my own.


5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?


See previous answer.



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Ever since I got Best of the Dragon V. I, I've wanted to play the original edition of the game. And now I get to, which is freakin' awesome!

[ssfsx17]

1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D?

I'm not doing anything with an original edition / "retroclone"

2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became
interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone?

AD&D 2e
3E D&D
4E D&D
Many others which are too numerous to count, but which include and are not limited to: The Window, Mechwarrior, Fuzion, etc.

3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

I was unhappy with the 3/3.5E rules, mechanics or approach

3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone?

I was unhappy with the 4E rules, mechanics or approach
I was unhappy with how Wizards of the Coast published/marketed 4E

4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D?

It was recommended by a friend
I was attracted by the amount of "buzz" on the Internet

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

It was recommended by a friend
From a D&D related forum

[Finarvyn]

Sept 5, 2009 22:49:31 GMT -6 ssfsx17 said:

5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones?

It was recommended by a friend
From a D&D related forum

If you have no experience with OD&D you may find parts of this board somewhat confusing. My advice would be to start out with a free download retro-clone (Swords & Wizardry Core or my own S&W Whitebox) so that you can read through the rules and get a feel for the philosophy of the game.