* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : newbie ?s on basic/expert sets, DMG, PH, MM Started at 03-23-04 01:05 PM by Andy Harris Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=206891 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : Andy Harris Date : 03-23-04 01:05 PM Thread Title : newbie ?s on basic/expert sets, DMG, PH, MM Hi, I am getting some D&D stuff so I can start playing D&D with my son. I played years ago, but have forgotten more than I remember. I bought some things on ebay to get us started but i have a question about what I need to have. I am working only with the older D&D and AD&D, not the new 3.5 I got a basic set: basic rules and modules B1 and B2 I got some other modules: B3, B4, B6, X1, and O1 and I got the three basic books: Dungeons masters guide, monster manual, and players handbook. The modules say "for play with basic/expert rules" I didn't get the expert rules book, do I need it?? I guess I am asking: Does having the 3 books replace the need for the basic/expert rules or do I need them in addition? Anything else I should get for starting? I know I need dice and character sheets. Thank you very much, any help would be appreciated. Andy -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : beavis123 Date : 03-23-04 01:47 PM Thread Title : starting new basic set is a good place to start. That's all you need to play some classic modules. 1e is a good place to start also. AD&D is a little different than D&D Basic and Expert set. Have fun, but don't be surprised if the 3e rears its head, especially if one of your friends has it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : T. Foster Date : 03-23-04 01:55 PM The Basic Set only covers levels 1-3. If you want to play levels 4+ (and use module X1) you'll need the Expert rules. The 3 hardback books could substitute for the Expert rules (and before there was an Expert set the Basic set actually used to refer players to AD&D for character levels 4+...), but there will be some conversion issues. Not HUGE stuff, but among other things: Ability scores provide different adjustments: in the Basic set strength 13 gives +1 to hit and damage; in AD&D you don't get +1 damage until strength 16 and don't get +1 to hit until strength 17 -- other ability scores are similar, Basic set generally gives bonuses earlier than AD&D) Characters get different hit points: in the Basic set fighters get d8 h.p./level, clerics get d6, and thieves get d4; in AD&D fighters get d10, clerics d8, and thieves d6 Clerics get a lot more spells: Clerics in Basic set don't get spells at 1st level; in AD&D they not only get spells at 1st level but also get bonus spells for high wisdom More alignments: in the Basic set there are only 3 alignments -- lawful, neutral, chaotic; in AD&D there is a second axis (good/evil) and nine alignments -- lawful good, neutral good, chaotic good, lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic neutral, lawful evil, neutral evil, chaotic evil Different armor class scale: in the Basic set the highest/worst AC is 9 and leather armor gives AC 7; in AD&D the highest AC is 10 and leather armor gives AC 8 (though the other ACs -- for chainmail and plate mail -- still line up) Class and race are separate: in the Basic set dwarf, elf, and halfling are classes; in AD&D class and race are separate and while you can recreate the Basic set 'race classes' by making a dwarf fighter, elf fighter/magic-user, and halfling fighter you can also have dwarf clerics, halfling thieves, etc. So if you start out under the Basic set and then switch over to AD&D at 4th level you'll likely get a little confused. As long as you're aware of the changes -- have read both sets of rulebooks and compared the differences -- it shouldn't be too difficult an adjustment, but is definitely something to be aware of ahead of time. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : Andy Harris Date : 03-23-04 02:03 PM Thread Title : newbie ?s on basic/expert sets, DMG, PH, MM Thanks a lot guys for the quick responses, that helps a lot. Andy -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : DarthRicker Date : 03-23-04 02:12 PM Thread Title : D&D vs. AD&D Basic/Expert D&D and AD&D are two different games, though it is easy to convert between the two. Basic covered levels 1-3 to get you started. The Expert set covered levels 4-15, I think. Don't quite remember. AD&D was a seperate game that had more detail rules to it. The modules you have are for the Basic and Expert sets. I recommend that you and your son start with the Basic set to get hang of things. Then either start AD&D or get an Expert set to move on to the higher levels. Basic/Expert is a good and complete game by itself and there were lots of modules made for it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : Andy Harris Date : 03-23-04 03:07 PM Thread Title : which modules expert vs. Advanced Thanks again for all the help. one followup if that's OK. How do I know which adventures after the B set are expert vs. Advanced, and which ones would you all recommend I look for? again, sticking with the older pre-3 sets. thanks! Andy -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 7] Author : T. Foster Date : 03-23-04 03:31 PM Most of the modules were for use with AD&D. There were a few series for the Expert set, mostly in the X series. There were a lot of X series modules (14?), but I'd mostly recommend the first 5 as the best. Other series for use with Basic/Expert include the AC series ('accessories' not adventures -- stuff like DM screens and character sheets and books of new monsters and magic items), DA series (for use with Expert set, set in the world of D&D's original co-creator, Dave Arneson), GAZ series ('Gazetteer' series, each of which covers a single kingdom from the X1 map in great detail with new monsters, new spells, new rules, etc.) and O series ('one-on-one' modules designed for 1 player + 1 DM). Pretty much everything else was for AD&D. If in doubt look at the logo on the cover -- if it just says 'Dungeons & Dragons' (and was released before 3E) it's for use with Basic/Expert. If it says 'Advanced Dungeons & Dragons' (or doesn't say one way or the other) it's for use with AD&D. Here's (http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/ddindex.htm) a convenient reference index showing the covers of all the D&D products. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 8] Author : Edgewaters Date : 03-23-04 05:34 PM Thread Title : Re: newbie ?s on basic/expert sets, DMG, PH, MM Originally posted by Andy Harris Hi, I am getting some D&D stuff so I can start playing D&D with my son. I played years ago, but have forgotten more than I remember. I bought some things on ebay to get us started but i have a question about what I need to have. I am working only with the older D&D and AD&D, not the new 3.5 I got a basic set: basic rules and modules B1 and B2 I got some other modules: B3, B4, B6, X1, and O1 and I got the three basic books: Dungeons masters guide, monster manual, and players handbook. The modules say "for play with basic/expert rules" I didn't get the expert rules book, do I need it?? I guess I am asking: Does having the 3 books replace the need for the basic/expert rules or do I need them in addition? Anything else I should get for starting? I know I need dice and character sheets. Thank you very much, any help would be appreciated. Andy More or less, you can play everything you have with what you've got, but not everything will be quite right. All the modules you have are for "basic" or "classic" D&D. You will not need the Expert set for the B series, but you will need it for the X series and the "O" module. You could get away with using your AD&D books ( the 3 hardcovers) but they are a different system. You should really try to get a copy of the Expert set if you want to have full compatibility. The 3 hardcovers don't replace it, they are for a different system/edition. But there is enough crossover that you could use them in a pinch. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 9] Author : Edgewaters Date : 03-23-04 05:40 PM Thread Title : Re: D&D vs. AD&D Originally posted by DarthRicker Basic/Expert D&D and AD&D are two different games, though it is easy to convert between the two. Basic covered levels 1-3 to get you started. The Expert set covered levels 4-15, I think. Don't quite remember. AD&D was a seperate game that had more detail rules to it. The modules you have are for the Basic and Expert sets. I recommend that you and your son start with the Basic set to get hang of things. Then either start AD&D or get an Expert set to move on to the higher levels. Basic/Expert is a good and complete game by itself and there were lots of modules made for it. They'll say. Generally speaking B series is for Basic, X series is in the same product line but for Expert, and there are two more sets in that series, Companion and Masters, with CM and M designations for the modules. As far as AD&D ... the system that goes with the 3 hardcover books ... anything for it will carry the logo "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons." So, if it only says "Dungeons and Dragons", it is for the D&D game (basic and expert etc sets). It should tell you "for use with the Expert rules" or "for use with Companion rules" or whatever as the case may be. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 10] Author : TheYeti1775 Date : 03-30-04 12:27 AM There was also an Immortal boxed set for the orginal D&D boxed series. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 11] Author : Stonebeard Date : 03-30-04 07:56 PM And a masters set. Also someone mentioned that basic/expert and AD&D are two seperate games. I would like to point out that early versions of basic (the light blue cover with the dragon on it) more closely resembled AD&D than the better known basic/expert/companion/masters/immortal sets and you would indeed had to have used the AD&D rules for levels 4+ and/or the rules supplements I II III IV and V. Originally posted by TheYeti1775 There was also an Immortal boxed set for the orginal D&D boxed series. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:21 AM.