* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Started at 09-19-07 06:40 PM by KingThor Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=926497 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : KingThor Date : 09-19-07 06:40 PM Thread Title : D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Hi, I am looking to get back into D&D. I played 1st and a bit if 2nd (Version 1) see below) I've been reading the discussions on 3.X vs 2nd edition and haven't made up my mind yet. My question is which set of 2nd edition is the "best". I am confused as there seems to be a couple of different versions: 1) The one with the fighter on horseback with the sword riding in the chasm. 2) The black looking version with the fighter in the entrance of a tunnel. Which Monstrous Manuals go with which versions and how many Monstrous Manuals are there? I knew that with 1st edition there was MM1, MM2, and Fiend Folio. Thanks! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : Handsome Stranger Date : 09-19-07 07:55 PM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? You shouldn't have too much trouble finding this question here or on Dragonsfoot. Personally, I'd suggest the earlier (fighter on horseback) printings purely because the books are better printed and hold up better. I'm assured they actually found a way to increase the errata on the later printing somehow, too. As for the Monstrous Compendium/Manual, I've got to admit I'm not very fond of the looseleaf format. I lost track of all the assorted Compendiums, but Dragonsfoot should have something useful. Enjoy, -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : tankschmidt Date : 09-20-07 09:11 AM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? There's virtually no difference between the two versions. The 1995 Black printing was just a new printing to make some extra bucks for TSR, but the text is almost 100% the same. Since there is no difference between the books, if you have one, you can use any Monster Manual. I think there is only one MM (although I could be wrong on that - I only have one, anyway), although it was also rereleased in 1995 with a black cover. There are a ton of Monstrous Compendiums, however. I believe the MM covers the first two, but there are several more, including one for each campaign setting. If you are really keen on playing 2nd edition AD&D, I'd pick up the 1989 copies of the PHB, the DMG, and the MM. I agree with the Stranger - they hold up better than the 1995 printings. TSR also released the Players' Option series along with the 1995 printings of the core books. These include Skills and Powers, Combat and Tactics, and Spells and Magic. S&P gives players a little more room to customize their characters, but it is also a hot-bed for rampant min-maxing. C&T puts a lot more detail into combat, but my players still complain (10 years later!!) about how much it slowed the game down. A lot of people think these books were the testing ground for some of the new changes that sprang up in 3E. If I were you, I would probably skip them - at least until you are comfortable playing 2nd edition and you want to try something new. Anyway, are you also considering switching to 1st edition AD&D or maybe Menzter D&D? What exactly are you looking for in a system? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : havard Date : 09-20-07 10:31 AM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Didn't the Black rulebooks integrate the Player's Options rules? I never got into the Player's Options stuff and I remember being a bit confused flipping through the Black rulebooks... Havard -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : KingThor Date : 09-20-07 07:45 PM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Hi, I guess I want something relatively simple but with the ability to customize. From what it sounds like I should get the 3 core books for 2nd edition and then use the brown books (e.g. Complete Fighter) and the Option books (e.g. Skills + Powers) for flavour. I own almost all the brown books and all the option books already, just need to acquire the core books... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : havard Date : 09-21-07 09:41 AM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Hi, I guess I want something relatively simple but with the ability to customize. From what it sounds like I should get the 3 core books for 2nd edition and then use the brown books (e.g. Complete Fighter) and the Option books (e.g. Skills + Powers) for flavour. I own almost all the brown books and all the option books already, just need to acquire the core books... Doesnt Skills&Powers replace the Complete Series? Havard -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 7] Author : tankschmidt Date : 09-21-07 11:58 AM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Didn't the Black rulebooks integrate the Player's Options rules? I never got into the Player's Options stuff and I remember being a bit confused flipping through the Black rulebooks... The Pen and Paper RPG database has this to say about the 1995 revised PHB: "Essentially the same text as 2nd Edition, but with new layout and art." I didn't have a copy of the 1995 edition, but a friend did, and I seem to remember it being the same rules. Doesnt Skills&Powers replace the Complete Series? In a sense, that is true. Skills and Powers includes a bunch of more generic and simplified kits that seem designed to replace those from the Complete Books. Also any new NWPs from the Complete series would take some houseruling to stick into the Character Points system for NWPs in Skills and Powers. But so much of the Complete series was fluff, roleplaying advice, and new gear that it would still be very useful even with the Players' Option books. In practice, our group ruled that you could use either variety of kit when making a character, and we houseruled up some character points for any nonweapon proficiences that weren't transfered over to the Players' Option books. So it's very possible to use both, even if it requires a little work for the NWPs. Hi, I guess I want something relatively simple but with the ability to customize. From what it sounds like I should get the 3 core books for 2nd edition and then use the brown books (e.g. Complete Fighter) and the Option books (e.g. Skills + Powers) for flavour. I own almost all the brown books and all the option books already, just need to acquire the core books... I think that could be a fun game. My advice to you is to go ahead and use CP's for character generation, but if you're concerned about your players doing too much min-maxing, I might require them to take the base package for races, and I definitely wouldn't split up the six attributes into 12. In my experience, no one ever chose stamina over muscle - who needs carrying capacity when you can effectively have a strength of 19 for combat purposes? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 8] Author : KingThor Date : 09-23-07 12:22 PM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Sorry, What are CP's for character generation? I don't have the books in front of me but they are in the mail, on their way! :) I've read some forums (including the very cool Dragonsfoot) and it seems like I will follow their lead: Use the Brown "Complete" Books mostly for fluff and not for actual stat/ability generation. What are the best things to actually use from the Brown Books (e.g. I read that someone uses the martial arts combat from the Ninja book?). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 9] Author : tankschmidt Date : 09-24-07 08:11 AM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? CP's are character points. Each PC gets so many to spend on racial abilities, class abilities, and nonweapon and weapon proficiencies. I think of them as the precursor to the skill system in 3.x. I don't remember many specifics, but for example, a fighter gets 8 points for weapon proficiencies. Each weapon cost two points, to designate a weapon of choice cost two points (+1 to hit with that weapon), and weapon expertise (3 attacks every two rounds) cost two points for your weapon of choice, three otherwise. My favorite item in the brown books was the equipment section of the Complete Thief's Handbook. There is some cool stuff in there. Do you have the Complete Humanoids book - it's a must for monstrous PC's. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 10] Author : shadzar Date : 09-25-07 02:58 AM Thread Title : Re: D&D 2nd Edition - Which Set? Didn't the Black rulebooks integrate the Player's Options rules? I never got into the Player's Options stuff and I remember being a bit confused flipping through the Black rulebooks... Havard no the players options crap was in its own books. they were not a part of the three main books. i would suggest the 2E revised, black book versions because of a bit of organizing preference for me. they are also jsut easier to read than the first printing ones. and there is only one MM, the MCs you dont want to try to collect now due to their prices, but the Monstrous Manual should be easily found. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:22 AM.