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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 6:31PM
#1
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- VCL Emeritus
- The Inquisitor
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As you may or may not be aware, I have recently been blogging about the History of D&D. The series is meant as an overview and is not necessarily comprehensive. (I should also note that there is a fascinating looking documentary on this subject in the works over on Kickstarter.) However, there is something a bit more satisfying than reading about the history of D&D...playing it. I, Crazy Monkey, intend to take you on a tour of the editions of Dungeons & Dragons. You will get to experience the rules and "feel" of each edition in a play-by-post campaign format, one at a time, until we reach D&D Next. A few notes: 1. For each stop on the tour, I would like to encourage folks who have never played that particular edition to take part as players. When we move on to the next edition, I'd like bring in an entirely new group of players, though the previous group is encouraged to stick around for the discussions. We will generally try to maintain a group of about five players, with a waiting list maintained in case someone drops out. 2. The play-by-post format may be new to you. Don't worry, I will help you through both the learning process of play-by-post and the rules of the edition we are currently playing. I should note, however, that play-by-post does tend to be much slower than a normal face to face or chat-based campaign. The game thread will be updated most Wednesday evenings (I say most because other responsibilities may pull me away on any given Wednesday). If there will be no update on a given Wednesday, I will post a notice to that effect. 3. We will be covering the following editions on this tour. BECMI - Specifically the "Red Box" AD&D 1st Edition AD&D 2nd Edition D&D 3rd Edition - Specifically the 3.5 revision D&D 4th Edition If there is time and interest, we may try to cover some of the sub-editions, such as the Rules Cyclopedia update of the BECMI rules, the Player's Option books in 2nd Edition, the pre-3.5 version of 3rd Edition, and the Essentials rules for 4th Edition. In all cases, we will be using only the core books of each edition (the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual...just the "Red Box" boxed set in the case of BECMI) and the campaign setting resource for that edition (see point 4, below). 4. The first stop on the tour will be set in the "Known World" also known as Mystara. For the rest of the tour, we will be exploring the Forgotten Realms, visiting each era presented in the Campaign Setting products of every edition (the original 1st edition boxed set, the post Time of Troubles era of the 2nd edition boxed set, the 3rd edition hardcover volume, and the post-Spellplague era of the 4th edition Forgotten Realms campaign setting). 5. Spectators and lurkers are very welcome. Commentary and discussion is likewise encouraged. Please do so in the Out of Character Discussion Thread so as not to clutter up the actual game threads or the D&D Next General Discussion forum. 6. Players and the DM (yours truly) will be using the online dice roller Invisible Castle to make all rolls. Without further adieu, I present A Tour through the Editions (hosted in the Crazy Monkey's Asylum Group). Enjoy.
Quentin Small
WotC Online Community Coordinator
All around helpful simian
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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 6:51PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2009
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Do we post our interest here or in the sub-forum you linked to? Because I would def be up for BECMI, having never gotten the chance to try out the old school action.
My Sig
Show
Reality is but the sum total of all illusions.
Proud Hand of Karsus, now and forever
Mess with one Hand, mess with 'em all
I am Blue/Green
Take The Magic Dual Colour Test - Beta today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.
"just do what LM the lord of magical might does, and you'll be fine" - sfdragon, 10/12/09
My Ravnican Loyalties
Show
Board Snippets
Show
"I don't like X, they should remove it."
"I like X, they should keep it."
"They should replace X with Y."
"Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better."
"Why don't they include both X and Y."
"Yeah, everybody can be happy then!"
"But I don't like X, they should remove it."
"X really needs to be replaced with Y."
"But they can include both X and Y."
"But I don't like X, they need to remove it."
"Remove X, I don't like it."
Repeat.
Obstinance?
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
You haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War
Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to 
Go!
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Adding options at the system level is good.
Adding options at the table level is hard.
Removing options at the system level is bad.
Removing options at the table level is easy.
This is not complicated.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 6:57PM
#3
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- VCL Emeritus
- The Inquisitor
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Both. Both is good.  The character creation and game discussion and game play and all that good stuff will happen in the Group, but please do express initial interest and ask questions here. Thanks. 
Quentin Small
WotC Online Community Coordinator
All around helpful simian
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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 7:03PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Apr 10, 2009
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So why not OD&D? No love for the LBBs?
And don't forget to have them appoint one of the players to be the caller.
Carl
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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 7:04PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2009
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Both. Both is good.
The character creation and game discussion and game play and all that good stuff will happen in the Group, but please do express initial interest and ask questions here.
Thanks.
Sounds good. I'm game. I'll head on over to the sub-forum.
My Sig
Show
Reality is but the sum total of all illusions.
Proud Hand of Karsus, now and forever
Mess with one Hand, mess with 'em all
I am Blue/Green
Take The Magic Dual Colour Test - Beta today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.
"just do what LM the lord of magical might does, and you'll be fine" - sfdragon, 10/12/09
My Ravnican Loyalties
Show
Board Snippets
Show
"I don't like X, they should remove it."
"I like X, they should keep it."
"They should replace X with Y."
"Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better."
"Why don't they include both X and Y."
"Yeah, everybody can be happy then!"
"But I don't like X, they should remove it."
"X really needs to be replaced with Y."
"But they can include both X and Y."
"But I don't like X, they need to remove it."
"Remove X, I don't like it."
Repeat.
Obstinance?
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
You haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War
Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to
Go!
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Adding options at the system level is good.
Adding options at the table level is hard.
Removing options at the system level is bad.
Removing options at the table level is easy.
This is not complicated.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 7:09PM
#6
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- VCL Emeritus
- The Inquisitor
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So why not OD&D? No love for the LBBs?
And don't forget to have them appoint one of the players to be the caller.
Carl
Mainly because I don't have OD&D sitting on my shelf.
Personal opinion...
It has long been an absurd and crazy dream of mine to run a D&D campaign using everything ever published from beginning to present. This little jaunt through the editions shall have to suffice as, even with the back catalog becoming available in digital form next year, there is only so much time in one's life.
Quentin Small
WotC Online Community Coordinator
All around helpful simian
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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 7:10PM
#7
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- VCL Emeritus
- The Inquisitor
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Both. Both is good.
The character creation and game discussion and game play and all that good stuff will happen in the Group, but please do express initial interest and ask questions here.
Thanks.
Sounds good. I'm game. I'll head on over to the sub-forum.
If you have any issues joining the Group, please let me know.
Quentin Small
WotC Online Community Coordinator
All around helpful simian
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9 months ago ::
Sep 15, 2012 - 7:21PM
#8
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Date Joined:
Aug 29, 2008
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I'm in!
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9 months ago ::
Sep 16, 2012 - 2:28PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 29, 2008
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We need some more players folks!
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9 months ago ::
Sep 16, 2012 - 3:52PM
#10
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Date Joined:
Apr 12, 2008
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I'm currently a player in a BECMI game, and the DM for a 2E and DDN game (not to mention converting 1E adventures to DDN), so I'm sort of already taking a "tour" through the editions. If I were not already as involved as I am I'd jump right on it, though. Hope it turns out great for all those involved!
In fond memory of Mark "Wrecan" Monack.
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