1983 & Beyond: Defending Basic Dungeons & Dragons

This excellent article at Grognardia convinced me to finally get round to writing brief defence of, what to me is, the original Dungeons and Dragons.

 

The 1983 set's focus on self-teaching and simple language probably made sense from a marketing standpoint. Given how well the set supposedly sold, I can't really fault TSR for going in this direction. At the same time, though, there was clearly a shift happening, away from adults and teenagers as the target audience and away from initiation as the means of entering the hobby. Likewise, the adoption of a unified esthetic (all Elmore and Easley artwork) that, while attractive, seemed to narrow rather than broaden the scope of the game. In short, the 1983 Basic Set marked a definite change from what had gone before. (James Maliszewski)

 

I briefly discussed my initiation in D&D here. In short as a person in my very early teens I got the red box Basic Dungeons & Dragons after reading an advert at the back of Proteus magazine. Fighting Fantasy for me was my gateway drug to nerd heaven.

 

[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="439" caption="D&D Basic Set (Source The Acaeum http://www.acaeum.com/)"][/caption]

RPG: Retro Clone Comparison Post

My list of retro clones and games of a similar nature.

Despite the name some of the games are not clones, they are reimaginings or creations of systems that almost were. I have tried to indicate this with the Inspired by / Clone headings. This is not helped by the fact that some of the games steal ideas from all edition of the most popular fantasy role playing game ever. Not all the games are free, but most allow you to download a section of their rules at least.

Games I missed out from the main list are at the bottom.

Further links of interest are also lurking in the deeps.

I am especially interested in any retro clones or remakes of systems that are not inspired by the greatest fantasy role playing game ever.

Last update 30 Mar '13.

Douglas

Labyrinth Lord

Labyrinth Lord

Homepage: http://www.goblinoidgames.com/labyrinthlord.html

Inspired By: Basic Dungeons and Dragons B/X (1981)

Clone: Yes. The Advanced Edition Companion brings in concepts from Advanced D&D in a way that is compatible with the core rules.

Free Download: Yes

Review: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13377.phtml

Return to RPGs II: Idiocy and Fat Club

Big Red Box Of Social Exile

So there I was with a big red box of RPG fun. I had no idea what to do with it and the solo adventure they had included looked fairly slim.

The books said that there were two kinds of people involved in a game of Dungeons and Dragons. The players who undertook exciting adventures and the dungeon master who set the scene and did everything else. I didn't know any dungeon masters to let me become a player.

For that matter I didn't know any players. D&D did not look like it would be much fun as a solitary activity.

Back then geeks, not that we were called that, tended to clump together at my school.

Return to RPGs: Appendix 1 - Pathfinder

Odd. I have not finished my series on my return to RPG gaming and here I am writing the appendix already.  In essays I always used to write my conclusion first so I knew what research I wanted to cite :) The reason I am doing a quick appendix is because of this:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Pathfinder RPG Core, Cover"][/caption]

I have just got this through the post today.

During my return to roleplaying I tried to find out what had happened in the many, many years I was away. I learned that TSR was gone and some card gaming company had eaten it and done something potentially nasty to AD&D. Which initially did not bother me till I realised that AD&D was all that was left.

Return To RPGs I: Back To Mystara

Currently I am hurtling toward 40 years old with all the grace of an enraged warthog. Time for a mid-life crisis I thought, get a fancy red car and a younger wife. The problem being I am unable to drive, due to not knowing how,  and already have a younger wife.

Then I realised I was already having my crisis and it started over a year ago. I was returning to my youth by rediscovering the joy of roleplaying games. Something I had been thinking about for years.  I thought back to my first RPG and came up with this:

[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="D&D Basic Set (Source The Acaeum http://www.acaeum.com/)"][/caption]

Then I thought. No. That's not right it goes back further. Join me if you like. Or not.