To drop everything and play an older edition. That is the spirit of the OSR as I see it. I think it is a bit ironic that so many of us in the hobby today continue to collect newer products while in truth, we really desire nothing more than to play the game we have loved for years, maybe decades. Good advice for most things in life - follow your passion! Thanks for reminding me of this, Quest Wise.
Ironically I don't collect anything for the 5e...because it's ALL been done at this point. WotC is literally(and so are 3rd parties) recycling everything that was done during the 3/3.5 era and calling it 5e "compatible". FML.
New 5e player (I'm only 16 so 2nd edition is before my time) but I just uncovered some of my dad's old books, including "I, Tyrant," a series of modules, the first adventure book by TSR, and a bunch of dungeon magazines! I'm so excited to explore 2nd edition and relive this experience with my dad, and potentially teach my friends or port these fantastic stories to 5th edition. This is awesome :)
Many thanks mate! I'm going to start dm-ing for some friends and I choose ad&d 2nd for rulkes in a warhammer fantasy scenario. It's been a blast so far :)
You have the best content on 2nd Edition that I've found. I love hearing your stories as I find them very relatable and educational. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to watching all of your 2nd Edition related content as I'm also doing a deep dive for the first time since high school. There really is something magical about it isn't there? I can't get enough, please keep the content coming!
Hey I am not sure how to mention other people in a comment, but on this video here, Jason G mentioned something about wanting to get involved in 2e somehow... I apologize for such a primitive way of cross referencing videos and comments. ruclips.net/video/dCpusFlJPV0/видео.html
WONDERFUL video, Jodie; excellent stuff. I look forward to seeing how this series develops. My favorite experience at a local con earlier this year was playing alongside some young kids in a 2e game -- we all had a thrilling, heroic time... they didn't care what edition it was and grasped THAC0 no prob. So much fun.
Exactly, THAC0 is not difficult, and God forbid you be asked to THINK while playing a game. I actually read a comment somewhere "THAC0 is older than PowerPoint!" I'm like "I'm also older than PowerPoint, so what? ALSO, while there was a mention of the number needed to hit Armor Class 0 in the 1e DMG, it wasn't an official part of the game system until 2nd edition, so PowerPoint is two years older." Then I realized it was a joke that it was a video explaining THAC0 which appeared to be printed PowerPoint slides held in front of a camera, and was in good fun. I felt bad a little. Anyway, my kids are about to figure out THAC0 as we wrap up the 5e campaign and I sell all my 5e books. It just doesn't do it for me. It does do what it does quite well, just not to my tastes.
Infectious enthusiasm...even to a confirmed D&D cynic. I eyed up the 2e players book at the weekend and then dived in. Yup, it has a special something that I've never had from the D&D world, it's not just your rose tinted specs. Am reading it and character genning in parallel to revisiting my equivalent (Warhammer Fantasy 1st edition) and it is giving the same mental buzz. Great stuff
The great thing about the OSR movement is it was only a matter of time before those of us with a bit of history turned our longing gaze beyond the shiny and new...and, like Seat at the Table says, that history does something new to the old. But yeah...had that issue with some of my tastes (TMNT) so ended up 40K-ing it and leaving the WHFR behind. Until now...and realising (as Jodie has with his cherry-stealer) that there's more to it than it just being a warm memory. I reckon we've got better weapons of persuasion now to be honest...didn't take much for me to go grab D&D 2E except a mixture of contagious zeal and I intrigue for all the bits I missed (WH was bigger than D&D in my UK neighbourhood in the 80's/90's)
One of the things many of us have now is perspective. We graduated to each new version as they came along, or shifted to another game system along the way, but our roots are deep and these books still have value.
Just decided to get back into second edition a few months ago. Saw a friend on youtube playing it and I was hooked again after not playing it since the early to mid 90s. Now I am looking at getting into 5e as well as I play in a hangout with my friend some 2e games. Loving it all and I am hooked. As well, I started painting minis and I am absolutely obsessed. 2e for life brotha.
5e is a decent system but the culture surrounding it- the scripted streamers, the trash videos like "best 5e dps"- is terrible and has done so much damage to the hobby as a whole.
Excellent video. I grew up on Ad&D 2nd Ed. as well. I played as a player for a few games with my friends in middle school, then I bought the box set (which I can't seem to find anywhere anymore) that was an intro box set to D&D with a red dragon on the cover and little stand-up cardboard monsters as well. I played as the DM for my friends that I grew up with. We lived in the country so we had a very small group of friends out there since I couldn't just drive in to play with the others from middle school. Then shortly after that, I bought the PH & DM guide (2nd Ed.) and the three-ring binder for the monsterous manual. I read through them all over and over and then my friends read through the PH and we got started playing every weekend we could. I finally bought the DragonLance 'adventure book' and then the modules for it at well since we had been reading the DragonLance novels too. We kept playing until I graduated HS (since I was the oldest) and I left for the military in '94. I just recently dug out my books a couple years ago and got into playing with the gf and her three kids. they all love it and it's been fun playing again after... 25 years now. And for how much I am on RUclips I never thought to look for D&D videos, so I did and man there are a lot. It's been fun watching them and getting up to speed on how things progressed with 3rd ed, 3.5, 4 & now 5th ed. Even watching videos like this talking about the 2nd ed. and getting and hearing different ideas and perspectives on how others play. So cool, thanks
2e was my jam for ten years, and as I've said on another video, it WAS D&D for me. I certainly wouldn't object to playing 2e again :D You can get the three main sourcebooks as print-on-demand at DriveThruRPG for both 1e and 2e :) The 1e sourcebooks are even available on hardcover! Unfortunately, 2e is only available as paperback. When I get some extra money, I'll probably pick up the HC 1e sourcebooks, if only just to have them. I might also grab the 2e stuff, as well, but if I had my druthers, I'd rather have the original books. Loved the shoutout for Darkwalker :D That was the book that introduced me to the Forgotten Realms. The entire Moonshae trilogy was awesome.
Le'morte de Arthur, subbed for knowing that 👏 (half kidding) but I really enjoyed this video and will definitely watch more 2nd edition stuff from ya man 😃 thanks for the great stories and making me aware of the 1991 cards, I'll have to get a box myself! :)
I'm and old time gamer and I agree with everything you said, didn't move on to new additions, they didn't work for me or my gaming group. I miss it, except for the long time for combat, that could be still be improved. Other than that it spawned hundreds of thousands of dreams of adventure of you being the heroes.
The way I started was from my grandpa, he had a ton of ad&d stuff, including a large bag of dice, dungeon tiles, miniatures, a crap ton of modules, and the player's guide, dm's guide, and monster manual. So I was able to get this stuff very easily.
Forgotten Realms was (and still is) my fav of the related worlds. I have the Dragonlance sourcebook but never used it other than as a read. It was a money thing. I had to choose a 'world setting', which for me was FR, and focus on it. Never got into the trading cards.
I was just recently shown my friends small collection that he was recently gifted after a fire consumed his old one. It inspired me to look at my own old DND collection. I had to sell the original line up years ago. As such I have become a bit of a Horder. I've since reeled it in a bit. I have about 56 books now. But they span the gamut of AD&D through to 3.5. I do have 3 of the books from 5.0 and will be in my third 5.0 game this Wednesday. You inspire old passions Sir. It brings to mind the vampire-esque Necroscope series by one Brian Lumley. Die cut and molded covers make those paperbacks a work of art unto themselves. The content within was the first true effort at a "scientific" explanation of vampires existence. This was decades before the TV series "The Strain". The Necroscope series was better written with much better descriptive and dark scenes. IMHO.
Change descending AC to ascending AC and 2e shines. To change 2e AC to ascending AC, subtract current AC from 20. Example descending AC 1 subtracted from 20 gives AC 19. Change THAC0 to attack bonus by subtracting THAC0 from 20. Example THAC0 15 becomes +5 to hit. This is easy to do and makes 2e shine.
THAC0 is very easy to fix. Just turn the THAC0 progression for each class into an attack bonus that improves by level. Then everybody _always_ needs a 20 to hit AC 0, so then just say AC 0 is really AC 20. That means you need a 19 to hit AC 19, a 17 to hit AC 17, etc. Now, you roll d20 & add your attack bonus along with your strength & other bonuses & you immediately get the AC you can hit. Waaay simpler & faster & doesn’t change the underlying probabilities at all.
2nd edition is older than me! I really like legends, mythology and fantasy so I ended up going through a collecting phase for trpgs. I mainly got my kicks from the art and reading them. At one point I had let go most of my 2nd edition stuff go. But started back up awhile back when I got a Planescape Campaign Setting box set. It is spiraling out of control again as I'm now digging in and trying to start an actual campaign
2e is far and away my favorite edition. I was thrilled when my wife wanted to start running a campaign in AD&D. Second edition lasted a single session before we upgraded to 3.5. I get it, she was more familiar with it. When planning got too much for her, we transitioned to another DM, playing Curse of Strahd in 5e. I would leap at the opportunity to play or run 2e. It was the one I started with (though I also started by reading TMNT, Heroes Unlimited, and Ninjas & Super Spies), and the one that always inspired me so much more than later editions (though I'd love to try 4e for the tactical combat... don't judge me).
No judgement here, Jeff. I ran 4th for about a year and a half for a bunch of kids at our FLGS. It was good for what it was. I'd run it again if someone asked.
The only 2e I've ever played is in the form of Baldur's Gate, but one thing that I noticed is that between how long you spend at first level, and how few hit points enemies tend to have (and how much damage the weapons do), reaching third level feels like a pretty major achievement, and as a third level character I feel more badass than I would playing more modern D&D at 5th-7th level. I mean, my wizard is still only using a regular staff, but because most hobgoblins go down in only one or two staff hits, I find it far easier to use my spells sparingly than I would in later editions.
Ok I grew up with a first edition PHB back in the game and was familiar with that long ago. Recently sold all my 5th edition books, just didn't hold the nostalgia but I did like the DM guide. Looking at buying a POD of something either first edition or second which I never played but not sure if there is a better edition to go with according to playability and easy to follow rule books compared to other editions? I'm across the water from you bro in Soo Canada. Your getting me stoked on 2nd edition at any rate. Thanks!
2nd edition will always be my favorite, but that's because that's where I started. I've ran and played in every edition, but always go back to 2nd. Here is the POD I would recommend if you want to do AD&D 2nd edition: www.dmsguild.com/m/product/16868
@@questwise4077 Thanks!! Ok I wasn't aware of...hope to get in hardcover! Just love the magic of building games and exploring! Update: ok well the reviews are saying the soft cover is great quality!
anyone interested in playing 2E but not wanting to track down vintage books: go to drivethrurpg or something like that and get a copy of For Gold & Glory, which is basically just a re-tooling of 2nd edition. all the same rules and mechanics, but the core book essentially contains all 3 core books in 1 volume.
I'm looking into that, actually. They have omitted a lot of Monsters from the Monstrous Manual, though. For ease of reference at my table. I still have my black covers. Looking for some original covers with all the Elmore and Easley artwork.
*Reviving the Old Ways* is my new favorite RPG series. I’m 41 and I’ll opine that 20th century tabletop RPGs are not merely nostalgic; they were objectively better in most respects (much like music and movies). Can you give us a little sneak-peak into what topics and/items you plan to cover in future episodes of RTOW?
I plan on expanding out into the wider options available for 2nd edition, including supplements and world settings, as well as how I design campaigns and adventures.
What part of Michigan? I grew up in the Flint area and we would spend days playing 2nd. Now all my friends have moved on to 5th, or just can't play. I long for the chance to play 2nd again. FR's was so detailed and had so much depth. We RP'ed more than we ever did hack/slash, and now thats all everyone wants to do.
If only the Bard had been a little better in AD&D 2nd. That's why I love 5e, the Bard class is great. The "Bard Colleges", aka kits of 5e, allow me to turn the Bard into whatever I want it to be. He can be a caster, a rogue, a healer or a "ranger".
I take it you've never seen The Complete Book of Bards in AD&D 2E. It had all these kits for bards that you could take with DM approval. Also, Bards at 2nd level got their first spells aka songs. He also got some thieving abilities like the Ranger did. I spent many a day writing nothing but bardic songs for my character to sing in an AD&D 2E game.
@@googleandyoutubeareevil Oh everyone can see and judge for themselves. Watch this video: ruclips.net/video/Fk1FErFQvqI/видео.html . The man flips through it, page for page, and comments on it. Listen what he has to say about it.
I've played AD&D 2E since it was released. I started with AD&D 1E. I know the system backwards and forwards. I just told you what is in the PHB and the optional The Complete Book of Bards. The failure is on you to understand the rules on what the AD&D 2E Bard can do. If you don't believe me then read the PHB and the The Complete Book of Bards. The information is there.
Speaking of acting like a child, you just accused me of something that you just did. I replied to your statement as an adult and all you can do is do ad hominems. Yes, you failed to understand the rules of AD&D 2E. The system is designed to let you make your character like you want and to try anything you have in mind. Now you go ignore.
Recently, I had the same feelings. I was tired of dnd5 . Without knowing it, Ive founded the same kind or thrill when I was reading Runequest roleplaying in Glorantha. I know if is not the same thing as dnd but it is kinda "old school " but with the beautiful artworks and modern editing
I’m an old B, X, 1e, & 2e DM. To me, 5e & PF2 seem so cluttered & overwrought, i don’t want to play them. 2e had a lot of clunky mechanics & lacked juice for fighters, but it's a solid foundation. So I’m rewriting 2e to have clean, d20, roll-high mechanics, ascending AC, & two dozen feats for martials & (to a lesser degree) rogues to choose from. I’ve also got some really good PC background stuff & other fun rules, like a carousing mini-game where you win points of luck. I’m hoping to publish it eventually.
so many peoples complaints about older D&D are just things someone heard someone else say, and it gets repeated as a new truth. THAC0 is dirt simple, weapons speed is added to dex bonus and written on the character sheet (and does not change unless you get a magic sword, or a really rare way to improv DEX) so it's not like you have to recalculate it every round... roll d10 and add that same number, and that's it. 2E is still being mined continuously for the ideas that 5E is so bereft of...Settings, DM advice, everything..
Sadly, Gary was gone already. But I agree with the assessment. I've been reading multiple editions again, and DMing 5, and honestly, I think 2e is the best one. Although I do have a couple of issues with it, they are easily solved by either a DM who feels the need to correct it, or borrowing a rule from any other edition (or even another game).
I play 2nd edition D&D and back in 91 i would have been 10 i have been playing on and off since then the art work is different i got the black covers its funny they say Elf's can't be Rangers WTH i would think they would make perfect Rangers
Wow. Our history seems pretty similar. I started with TMNT then went to 2nd ed through most of high school and college. I'm also very nostalgic for that time. However, I tried the system recently and found it didn't hold up at all for me. (To be fair, I haven't been able to get into any OSR games.)
@@questwise4077 I love gaming and sharing it with others, always volunteering to run games. Just couldn't come to terms with my perceived lack of player power with OSR. I'm interested to see how it works out for others though.
I'm curious if you think new gamers would enjoy AD&D2e? I agree with all the sentiments of your video and I have the same nostalgic love of old school gaming, but my group are made up of players who only have experience with Pathfinder and 5e, and I worry they have been too spoiled with an abundance of options and abilities to enjoy the skimmed down system of 2e.
It's funny to me that with the height of the retro nostalgia craze those who have been introduced to the hobby via 5e or PF are very resistant to playing the older editions. I guess it's up to us to show them why it was so awesome. This would be a good topics for a video. Let me give it some thought and I'll give you my full dissertation. ;)
@@questwise4077 Awesome, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. I've found it tougher to get new people into roleplay because of the prominence and influence of video games over novels. Novels taught us to use our imagination, but video games these days just bombard players with heavy visual stimulation, a collection of customization options and abilities, high action, voice acted story, etc. In my experience not as many new roleplayers are as imaginative, or interested in games where they have to think, or are at risk of death. They want their characters to feel like the heroes of a movie or video game, with distinctive abilities, a world that revolves around them, and only the illusion of danger (they don't like actually dying because they put too much time into their character). Perfect for games like PF and 5e which cater to those types of players.
@@aaronsmith2083 maybe he means the combat system isn't a tactical game on its own? Idk. (Unless you use all of Combat & Tactics, and if i recall there's quite a bitnin the Fighters brown book)
ok well not sure if you've gotten started again with the 2e rules but if you ever need some players virtually well I'll raise my hand. I cut my teeth on 1e but 2e is not that terribly different in a number of ways from what i see cheers
To drop everything and play an older edition. That is the spirit of the OSR as I see it.
I think it is a bit ironic that so many of us in the hobby today continue to collect newer products while in truth, we really desire nothing more than to play the game we have loved for years, maybe decades.
Good advice for most things in life - follow your passion!
Thanks for reminding me of this, Quest Wise.
Ironically I don't collect anything for the 5e...because it's ALL been done at this point. WotC is literally(and so are 3rd parties) recycling everything that was done during the 3/3.5 era and calling it 5e "compatible". FML.
New 5e player (I'm only 16 so 2nd edition is before my time) but I just uncovered some of my dad's old books, including "I, Tyrant," a series of modules, the first adventure book by TSR, and a bunch of dungeon magazines! I'm so excited to explore 2nd edition and relive this experience with my dad, and potentially teach my friends or port these fantastic stories to 5th edition. This is awesome :)
Many thanks mate!
I'm going to start dm-ing for some friends and I choose ad&d 2nd for rulkes in a warhammer fantasy scenario. It's been a blast so far :)
2nd edition that brings back some crazy good memories real good. Fantastic video
You have the best content on 2nd Edition that I've found. I love hearing your stories as I find them very relatable and educational. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to watching all of your 2nd Edition related content as I'm also doing a deep dive for the first time since high school. There really is something magical about it isn't there? I can't get enough, please keep the content coming!
rewatching this gem!!! We need more 2e vids!!!
Oh thanks for the shoutout! Ha! 2e really is like a warm blanket.
Also, Drivethru has POD of the revised 2e PHB, DMG and MM. Cheap too!
Hey I am not sure how to mention other people in a comment, but on this video here, Jason G mentioned something about wanting to get involved in 2e somehow... I apologize for such a primitive way of cross referencing videos and comments.
ruclips.net/video/dCpusFlJPV0/видео.html
WONDERFUL video, Jodie; excellent stuff. I look forward to seeing how this series develops. My favorite experience at a local con earlier this year was playing alongside some young kids in a 2e game -- we all had a thrilling, heroic time... they didn't care what edition it was and grasped THAC0 no prob. So much fun.
Exactly, THAC0 is not difficult, and God forbid you be asked to THINK while playing a game. I actually read a comment somewhere "THAC0 is older than PowerPoint!" I'm like "I'm also older than PowerPoint, so what? ALSO, while there was a mention of the number needed to hit Armor Class 0 in the 1e DMG, it wasn't an official part of the game system until 2nd edition, so PowerPoint is two years older." Then I realized it was a joke that it was a video explaining THAC0 which appeared to be printed PowerPoint slides held in front of a camera, and was in good fun. I felt bad a little.
Anyway, my kids are about to figure out THAC0 as we wrap up the 5e campaign and I sell all my 5e books. It just doesn't do it for me. It does do what it does quite well, just not to my tastes.
Of 2nd Edition, the blue, brown, and green sorcebooks are still valid and used for reference even with 5E.
Infectious enthusiasm...even to a confirmed D&D cynic. I eyed up the 2e players book at the weekend and then dived in. Yup, it has a special something that I've never had from the D&D world, it's not just your rose tinted specs. Am reading it and character genning in parallel to revisiting my equivalent (Warhammer Fantasy 1st edition) and it is giving the same mental buzz. Great stuff
WH is awesome just could never get people to play here back in the day.
The great thing about the OSR movement is it was only a matter of time before those of us with a bit of history turned our longing gaze beyond the shiny and new...and, like Seat at the Table says, that history does something new to the old. But yeah...had that issue with some of my tastes (TMNT) so ended up 40K-ing it and leaving the WHFR behind. Until now...and realising (as Jodie has with his cherry-stealer) that there's more to it than it just being a warm memory. I reckon we've got better weapons of persuasion now to be honest...didn't take much for me to go grab D&D 2E except a mixture of contagious zeal and I intrigue for all the bits I missed (WH was bigger than D&D in my UK neighbourhood in the 80's/90's)
One of the things many of us have now is perspective. We graduated to each new version as they came along, or shifted to another game system along the way, but our roots are deep and these books still have value.
Damn right!
Just decided to get back into second edition a few months ago. Saw a friend on youtube playing it and I was hooked again after not playing it since the early to mid 90s. Now I am looking at getting into 5e as well as I play in a hangout with my friend some 2e games. Loving it all and I am hooked. As well, I started painting minis and I am absolutely obsessed. 2e for life brotha.
5e is a decent system but the culture surrounding it- the scripted streamers, the trash videos like "best 5e dps"- is terrible and has done so much damage to the hobby as a whole.
@@leshtricity I am sure I can find a good 5e group though that avoids toxicity
@@leshtricity Thank you. D&D turning into another precinct of WOTC-World is just depressing. 2e is my refuge in the storm.
Excellent video. I grew up on Ad&D 2nd Ed. as well. I played as a player for a few games with my friends in middle school, then I bought the box set (which I can't seem to find anywhere anymore) that was an intro box set to D&D with a red dragon on the cover and little stand-up cardboard monsters as well. I played as the DM for my friends that I grew up with. We lived in the country so we had a very small group of friends out there since I couldn't just drive in to play with the others from middle school. Then shortly after that, I bought the PH & DM guide (2nd Ed.) and the three-ring binder for the monsterous manual. I read through them all over and over and then my friends read through the PH and we got started playing every weekend we could. I finally bought the DragonLance 'adventure book' and then the modules for it at well since we had been reading the DragonLance novels too. We kept playing until I graduated HS (since I was the oldest) and I left for the military in '94. I just recently dug out my books a couple years ago and got into playing with the gf and her three kids. they all love it and it's been fun playing again after... 25 years now. And for how much I am on RUclips I never thought to look for D&D videos, so I did and man there are a lot. It's been fun watching them and getting up to speed on how things progressed with 3rd ed, 3.5, 4 & now 5th ed. Even watching videos like this talking about the 2nd ed. and getting and hearing different ideas and perspectives on how others play. So cool, thanks
Liked. Subbed. Us old school D and D players are still here. Im also a world History major.
ah heck i do member those cards! i didn't have tons, but i love them. i had forgotten about those until you mentioned them!
2e was my jam for ten years, and as I've said on another video, it WAS D&D for me. I certainly wouldn't object to playing 2e again :D
You can get the three main sourcebooks as print-on-demand at DriveThruRPG for both 1e and 2e :) The 1e sourcebooks are even available on hardcover! Unfortunately, 2e is only available as paperback.
When I get some extra money, I'll probably pick up the HC 1e sourcebooks, if only just to have them. I might also grab the 2e stuff, as well, but if I had my druthers, I'd rather have the original books.
Loved the shoutout for Darkwalker :D That was the book that introduced me to the Forgotten Realms. The entire Moonshae trilogy was awesome.
Ohhh 2nd edition. I love that edition! Thank you for videos on this great edition.
Le'morte de Arthur, subbed for knowing that 👏 (half kidding) but I really enjoyed this video and will definitely watch more 2nd edition stuff from ya man 😃 thanks for the great stories and making me aware of the 1991 cards, I'll have to get a box myself! :)
Some of the most used in my 2nd collection are the brown, green, and blue sourcebooks.
Yaas! 2nd ed. for the win. Crazy rules but so many memories.
I'm and old time gamer and I agree with everything you said, didn't move on to new additions, they didn't work for me or my gaming group. I miss it, except for the long time for combat, that could be still be improved. Other than that it spawned hundreds of thousands of dreams of adventure of you being the heroes.
I'm a 5e DM and I have been going into ad&d 2e and loving the complex systems and it just feels more fleshed out to me.
The way I started was from my grandpa, he had a ton of ad&d stuff, including a large bag of dice, dungeon tiles, miniatures, a crap ton of modules, and the player's guide, dm's guide, and monster manual. So I was able to get this stuff very easily.
i absolutely love the wear on the book
Forgotten Realms was (and still is) my fav of the related worlds. I have the Dragonlance sourcebook but never used it other than as a read. It was a money thing. I had to choose a 'world setting', which for me was FR, and focus on it. Never got into the trading cards.
Great video! 🎉
Print on demand on drivethru is available as well
A physical copy of PHB 2e from PoD is about 21$ at the moment & definitely worth it.
I was just recently shown my friends small collection that he was recently gifted after a fire consumed his old one. It inspired me to look at my own old DND collection. I had to sell the original line up years ago. As such I have become a bit of a Horder. I've since reeled it in a bit. I have about 56 books now. But they span the gamut of AD&D through to 3.5. I do have 3 of the books from 5.0 and will be in my third 5.0 game this Wednesday.
You inspire old passions Sir. It brings to mind the vampire-esque Necroscope series by one Brian Lumley. Die cut and molded covers make those paperbacks a work of art unto themselves. The content within was the first true effort at a "scientific" explanation of vampires existence. This was decades before the TV series "The Strain". The Necroscope series was better written with much better descriptive and dark scenes. IMHO.
I have two different, complete sets of those cards. They are awesome!
The first time I ever played, around 1991, that book was present, down in that basement.
Those trading cards💜💜💜💜💜💜🤘
Change descending AC to ascending AC and 2e shines.
To change 2e AC to ascending AC, subtract current AC from 20. Example descending AC 1 subtracted from 20 gives AC 19.
Change THAC0 to attack bonus by subtracting THAC0 from 20. Example THAC0 15 becomes +5 to hit.
This is easy to do and makes 2e shine.
THAC0 is very easy to fix. Just turn the THAC0 progression for each class into an attack bonus that improves by level. Then everybody _always_ needs a 20 to hit AC 0, so then just say AC 0 is really AC 20. That means you need a 19 to hit AC 19, a 17 to hit AC 17, etc. Now, you roll d20 & add your attack bonus along with your strength & other bonuses & you immediately get the AC you can hit. Waaay simpler & faster & doesn’t change the underlying probabilities at all.
2nd edition is older than me! I really like legends, mythology and fantasy so I ended up going through a collecting phase for trpgs. I mainly got my kicks from the art and reading them.
At one point I had let go most of my 2nd edition stuff go. But started back up awhile back when I got a Planescape Campaign Setting box set. It is spiraling out of control again as I'm now digging in and trying to start an actual campaign
Did you see that WotC is re-issuing these books? I was surprised seeing new copies on a store shelf today.
Victory Condition Gaming Really? Where did you see this?
@@mrgodliak drivethrurpg.com
Anyone remember the historical books tsr put out? We played a mighty fortress infused ravenloft campaign.
I had a few back in the day. Celts and Mighty Fortress.
I remember those, still have the box but the cards are gone.
Sorry to hear that, Michael. Here's to hoping you find a replacement set soon!
2e is far and away my favorite edition. I was thrilled when my wife wanted to start running a campaign in AD&D. Second edition lasted a single session before we upgraded to 3.5. I get it, she was more familiar with it.
When planning got too much for her, we transitioned to another DM, playing Curse of Strahd in 5e.
I would leap at the opportunity to play or run 2e. It was the one I started with (though I also started by reading TMNT, Heroes Unlimited, and Ninjas & Super Spies), and the one that always inspired me so much more than later editions (though I'd love to try 4e for the tactical combat... don't judge me).
No judgement here, Jeff. I ran 4th for about a year and a half for a bunch of kids at our FLGS. It was good for what it was. I'd run it again if someone asked.
I really enjoyed 4th edition. No judgement from me.
Nice to know this is a safe space!
We're all friends here
As a rule, I never judge anyone for the games they love. You are always welcome to share here or on the QuestWise FB page.
Yeah never told you but I have the old 2nd edition on a PDF it's so great looking the rules over
The only 2e I've ever played is in the form of Baldur's Gate, but one thing that I noticed is that between how long you spend at first level, and how few hit points enemies tend to have (and how much damage the weapons do), reaching third level feels like a pretty major achievement, and as a third level character I feel more badass than I would playing more modern D&D at 5th-7th level. I mean, my wizard is still only using a regular staff, but because most hobgoblins go down in only one or two staff hits, I find it far easier to use my spells sparingly than I would in later editions.
Leveling up was a major feat back in the old days, and did have a much more epic feel to it.
Fantasy Grounds has 2nd edition completionist bundle available now.
Do you remember the green border character sheets? Those things were epic
I still have a whole pack of them!
@@questwise4077 I found a brand new untouched packet of them at a flea market sale for 2 bucks I was like.... Ooooooh yeah!
Ok I grew up with a first edition PHB back in the game and was familiar with that long ago. Recently sold all my 5th edition books, just didn't hold the nostalgia but I did like the DM guide. Looking at buying a POD of something either first edition or second which I never played but not sure if there is a better edition to go with according to playability and easy to follow rule books compared to other editions? I'm across the water from you bro in Soo Canada. Your getting me stoked on 2nd edition at any rate. Thanks!
2nd edition will always be my favorite, but that's because that's where I started. I've ran and played in every edition, but always go back to 2nd. Here is the POD I would recommend if you want to do AD&D 2nd edition:
www.dmsguild.com/m/product/16868
@@questwise4077 Thanks!! Ok I wasn't aware of...hope to get in hardcover! Just love the magic of building games and exploring! Update: ok well the reviews are saying the soft cover is great quality!
anyone interested in playing 2E but not wanting to track down vintage books: go to drivethrurpg or something like that and get a copy of For Gold & Glory, which is basically just a re-tooling of 2nd edition. all the same rules and mechanics, but the core book essentially contains all 3 core books in 1 volume.
I'm looking into that, actually. They have omitted a lot of Monsters from the Monstrous Manual, though. For ease of reference at my table. I still have my black covers. Looking for some original covers with all the Elmore and Easley artwork.
*Reviving the Old Ways* is my new favorite RPG series.
I’m 41 and I’ll opine that 20th century tabletop RPGs are not merely nostalgic; they were objectively better in most respects (much like music and movies).
Can you give us a little sneak-peak into what topics and/items you plan to cover in future episodes of RTOW?
I plan on expanding out into the wider options available for 2nd edition, including supplements and world settings, as well as how I design campaigns and adventures.
What part of Michigan? I grew up in the Flint area and we would spend days playing 2nd. Now all my friends have moved on to 5th, or just can't play. I long for the chance to play 2nd again. FR's was so detailed and had so much depth. We RP'ed more than we ever did hack/slash, and now thats all everyone wants to do.
I live in Northern Lower Michigan.
🤘
sweet I got the cards only recently
I remember 💜💜💜💜💜💜
If only the Bard had been a little better in AD&D 2nd. That's why I love 5e, the Bard class is great.
The "Bard Colleges", aka kits of 5e, allow me to turn the Bard into whatever I want it to be.
He can be a caster, a rogue, a healer or a "ranger".
I take it you've never seen The Complete Book of Bards in AD&D 2E. It had all these kits for bards that you could take with DM approval. Also, Bards at 2nd level got their first spells aka songs. He also got some thieving abilities like the Ranger did.
I spent many a day writing nothing but bardic songs for my character to sing in an AD&D 2E game.
@@googleandyoutubeareevil Oh everyone can see and judge for themselves. Watch this video: ruclips.net/video/Fk1FErFQvqI/видео.html . The man flips through it, page for page, and comments on it. Listen what he has to say about it.
I've played AD&D 2E since it was released. I started with AD&D 1E. I know the system backwards and forwards. I just told you what is in the PHB and the optional The Complete Book of Bards. The failure is on you to understand the rules on what the AD&D 2E Bard can do.
If you don't believe me then read the PHB and the The Complete Book of Bards. The information is there.
@@googleandyoutubeareevil Oh if I don't like it I just failed to grasp the rules. Oh boy, you maybe an old man, but you behave like a child.
Speaking of acting like a child, you just accused me of something that you just did. I replied to your statement as an adult and all you can do is do ad hominems. Yes, you failed to understand the rules of AD&D 2E. The system is designed to let you make your character like you want and to try anything you have in mind. Now you go ignore.
Recently, I had the same feelings. I was tired of dnd5 . Without knowing it, Ive founded the same kind or thrill when I was reading Runequest roleplaying in Glorantha. I know if is not the same thing as dnd but it is kinda "old school " but with the beautiful artworks and modern editing
You can find most of the books online as PDF's
I’m an old B, X, 1e, & 2e DM. To me, 5e & PF2 seem so cluttered & overwrought, i don’t want to play them. 2e had a lot of clunky mechanics & lacked juice for fighters, but it's a solid foundation.
So I’m rewriting 2e to have clean, d20, roll-high mechanics, ascending AC, & two dozen feats for martials & (to a lesser degree) rogues to choose from. I’ve also got some really good PC background stuff & other fun rules, like a carousing mini-game where you win points of luck. I’m hoping to publish it eventually.
so many peoples complaints about older D&D are just things someone heard someone else say, and it gets repeated as a new truth. THAC0 is dirt simple, weapons speed is added to dex bonus and written on the character sheet (and does not change unless you get a magic sword, or a really rare way to improv DEX) so it's not like you have to recalculate it every round... roll d10 and add that same number, and that's it. 2E is still being mined continuously for the ideas that 5E is so bereft of...Settings, DM advice, everything..
2nd Edition is when Gary Gygax and his team perfected D&D!
Sadly, Gary was gone already. But I agree with the assessment. I've been reading multiple editions again, and DMing 5, and honestly, I think 2e is the best one. Although I do have a couple of issues with it, they are easily solved by either a DM who feels the need to correct it, or borrowing a rule from any other edition (or even another game).
I play 2nd edition D&D and back in 91 i would have been 10 i have been playing on and off since then the art work is different i got the black covers its funny they say Elf's can't be Rangers WTH i would think they would make perfect Rangers
Wow. Our history seems pretty similar. I started with TMNT then went to 2nd ed through most of high school and college. I'm also very nostalgic for that time. However, I tried the system recently and found it didn't hold up at all for me. (To be fair, I haven't been able to get into any OSR games.)
DrWaites, what are you playing these days?
@@questwise4077 I'm running 5 games: D&D 5e, Call of Cthulhu, Savage Worlds Fantasy (converted from 4e), Savage Rifts, and Dungeon World.
@@DrWaites that's a pretty nice spread.
@@questwise4077 I love gaming and sharing it with others, always volunteering to run games. Just couldn't come to terms with my perceived lack of player power with OSR. I'm interested to see how it works out for others though.
i just started running a 2nd-edition game....
I'm curious if you think new gamers would enjoy AD&D2e? I agree with all the sentiments of your video and I have the same nostalgic love of old school gaming, but my group are made up of players who only have experience with Pathfinder and 5e, and I worry they have been too spoiled with an abundance of options and abilities to enjoy the skimmed down system of 2e.
It's funny to me that with the height of the retro nostalgia craze those who have been introduced to the hobby via 5e or PF are very resistant to playing the older editions. I guess it's up to us to show them why it was so awesome. This would be a good topics for a video. Let me give it some thought and I'll give you my full dissertation. ;)
@@questwise4077 Awesome, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. I've found it tougher to get new people into roleplay because of the prominence and influence of video games over novels. Novels taught us to use our imagination, but video games these days just bombard players with heavy visual stimulation, a collection of customization options and abilities, high action, voice acted story, etc. In my experience not as many new roleplayers are as imaginative, or interested in games where they have to think, or are at risk of death. They want their characters to feel like the heroes of a movie or video game, with distinctive abilities, a world that revolves around them, and only the illusion of danger (they don't like actually dying because they put too much time into their character). Perfect for games like PF and 5e which cater to those types of players.
Why do you think that 2e is skimmed down? Have you ever played it?
@@aaronsmith2083 maybe he means the combat system isn't a tactical game on its own? Idk. (Unless you use all of Combat & Tactics, and if i recall there's quite a bitnin the Fighters brown book)
also wizards of the coast has never ever put out a product that is anything equal to the old TSR box sets. it's a damn shame.
Never bought any editions other than 1E
i started in 1977 ...
2nd for the win!!!!!!!!!!!
ok well not sure if you've gotten started again with the 2e rules but if you ever need some players virtually well I'll raise my hand. I cut my teeth on 1e but 2e is not that terribly different in a number of ways from what i see cheers