The Mad Cleric

Tabletop RPGs, real community, and purposeful lives

Why and how I’m playing First Edition AD&D

You might be wondering why a guy like me would be playing First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.  And yet, here I am in 2017 playing AD&D more than any other tabletop RPG.


It’s strange especially now!  In my opinion, tabletop roleplaying is going through a bit of a renaissance.  5th Edition D&D is drawing new players in and old players back.  The success of sites such as DriveThruRPG makes independent games readily available.  And beyond that, the vast variety of games available simply makes it a very fun and fertile time for tabletop roleplaying.  So, yes, it is odd that I would go back and play AD&D 1e.

Since MadCleric.com has recently seen an upward spike in new readers, I thought I’d give you a more clear and comprehensive on the when, why, and how of my current AD&D project entitled, Chasing the Dragon:

So why play AD&D 1e now?

I started roleplaying in 2011, using the oft-maligned 4th Edition D&D.  Maligned or not, me and my friends enjoyed it for quite a while.  For three years in fact.  Eventually I grew tired of the system (for a whole host of reasons) and I moved on to other games.  But when 5e starting getting really good reviews, I found myself wanting to go back to the swords and shields…yet I was left with a nagging question:

Why play 5th Edition, when I could play 1st Edition?  Why play new modules and scenarios, when I haven’t even played the oldest, most revered, and most nostalgic?

In fact, it was the plunge into the unknown nostalgia of yesteryear that powerfully drew me into the game of our gaming forefathers.

As I considered the idea more seriously, I started learning the history of the game as well.  I learned about Gary Gygax, TSR, their successes, and their difficulties.  I learned about the myriad modules, books, and publications released during that wonderful period of the late seventies and early eighties.  As a lover of arcane knowledge, this scratched another itch: I love to read and to learn.


By stepping into this era of gaming, there were so many new voices, new perspectives, and frankly foreign ideas compared to the gaming of today.  It was a perfect combination for me.

What’s the plan?

I appreciate all the kind readers who have written to warn me that “chasing the dragon” is actually a term related to illicit drug use.  I appreciate the kindness, but I actually intended that!  “Chasing the dragon” means someone trying to recapture that initial experience–trying to get back to that first high.  And my project, Chasing the Dragon, is attempting to do just that:

It’s all about going back in time and recapturing the experience of the first D&D players.  I’ve been learning the rules of 1st Edition AD&D from the ground up, attempting to play them rules-as-written.  And now that I’ve done that, here’s where I’ve gone and am going.

I want to play (as DM or player) all the classic AD&D modules, based upon the recommendations of my readers and my research.  I started with a classic Gygax starter module and am moving on from there:

One of our last sessions in T1: The Village of Hommlet (Photo by Lauren LaCaze)

We’re having a third child (hooray!) mid-year, so that will probably slow things for a very short period–or at least force me to play primarily online.  But in time, I’m hoping to play the following modules (not all this year, of course):

T2-4: The Temple of Elemental Evil (Lev 1-8)
S4: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (Lev 6-10)
WG4: The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun (Lev 5-10)
WG5: Mordenkainen’s Fantastic Adventure (Lev 9-12)

G1: Steading of the Hill Giant Chief (Lev. 8)
G2: The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl
G3: Hall of the Fire Giant King (Lev 8-10)
D1: Descent into the Depths of the Earth (Lev. 7-9)
D2: Shrine of the Kuo-Toa (Lev 9-14)
D3: Vault of the Drow (Lev 10-14)
S1: Tomb of Horrors (Lev 10-14)

N4: Treasure Hunt (Level 0)
U2: Danger at Dunwater (Lev. 1-4)
U3: The Final Enemy (Lev. 3-5)

A1-4: Scourge of the Slavelords (Lev. 1-7)
S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (Lev 8-12)
WG6: Isle of the Ape (Lev 18+)

As you can see, I have them split into some possible campaign groupings.  But that is likely to all go out the window, as I’ve renegotiated them about thirty times thus far.  And, yes, I’m always open to suggestions in comments below or on Twitter.

What about the rules?  And what about 5e?

These are questions that I have gotten pretty regularly.  People fear the ruleset of First Edition AD&D, because they’ve heard rumor of its difficulty.  Really, truthfully, it has moments that lack clarity.  And sometimes it’s unnecessarily wonky.  But all said and done, it works great.  It’s fun.  It’s consistent.  And it’s easy to catch onto for players.

So if you’re interested in playing, the best thing to do is to read the Players Handbook.  It’s one of the most fun gaming books I’ve ever read.  I basically read it all in one sitting.  Check it out and I think you’ll be surprised at how innovative and fun it is, even in comparison to today’s games.

And as far as 5e is concerned, it’s a really great system.  I played through the D&D Next Playtest and enjoyed every moment of it.  But frankly, that playtest was one of the major influences that urged me toward AD&D 1e.  I kept seeing hints of an older, more mysterious, and less streamlined way of gaming.  It seemed complex, arcane (in a good way), and…might I say…advanced?!  5e in the end influenced me to look for the old ways.


So here I am telling stories about Greyhawk, St. Cuthbert, and oddly named PCs like Elmo and Otis.  And I’m loving every moment of it.

Who cares?

Well, I hope you do care.  And I hope you’re interested in following my journey.  Here are the best ways to follow along.  They’re pretty redundant, so feel free to pick the one that you prefer:

Join my Facebook groupFollow me on Twitter
Follow by email (on the left sidebar)

I’m glad to have you on this journey of Chasing the Dragon.  And who knows?  You might just catch the bug too.  Happy travels!

Disclosure of Material Connection: the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

57 responses to “Why and how I’m playing First Edition AD&D”

  1. T.R. Knight Avatar
    T.R. Knight

    Play whatever game brings you and your gaming group joy. I enjoy AD&D 1e as much as I enjoy D&D 5e and will be playing both in the years to come. I look forward to reading about your forays into the classic modules.

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Thanks my friend. You’re a constant source of encouragement.

      Reply
      1. Jonathan Lewis Avatar
        Jonathan Lewis

        If I might suggest, you can easily make a parrying rule in order to block opponents “to hit” rolls by just rolling a d20 and matching or exceeding the “opponent’s roll” without bonuses. You can sacrifice one attack roll for each parry. Makes parries way more exciting and important in melee.

        Reply
        1. MadCleric Avatar
          MadCleric

          Excellent idea!

          Reply
          1. David Worden Avatar
            David Worden

            That kind of makes it unfair, the person parrying essentially gets 2 chances to keep from being hit, 1st if you don’t roll high enough to hit them (need a 15 or higher to hit and you roll a 14 or lower) then when you do hit giving them another chance to try to parry by rolling higher than what you rolled (of course if you roll a 20 to hit they are out of luck) but still, not right for the defender to get 2 chances for you to miss on an attack, UNLESS you give the attacker an added bonus if the parrying fails…say double damage or lose their next turn.

  2. George Avatar
    George

    I like your reasoning, I would further recommend branching out into other games of that era and finding out why so many gamers turned to games other than D&D and remain serious proponents of those other systems. I would start with Runequest by Chaosium. The classic 1979 2nd Edition rules are available on Chaosium’s website. One book, 130ish pages, that covers everything you need to play the game.

    Reply
    1. BaronGreystone Avatar
      BaronGreystone

      I agree with George. Classic RQ2 is one of my favorite games, and I still play it. Along with Call of Cthulhu, Stormbringer, FASA Star Trek, Gamma World / Metamorphosis Alpha and Classic Traveller. Even West End Games’ Star Wars, although I’m not really a SW fan. All of those games were periodically rewritten or replaced, but I still play the old editions. The last of the companies to lose my business was Chaosium. They recently released a rewritten 7th edition of Cthulhu that changes the rules after all these years, and they’re releasing a 7th edition of RQ that will likewise change the rules from my beloved 1979 book, even after re-releasing the classic edition last year. In any case, if you have the time and inclination, I second George’s suggestion.

      Reply
      1. MadCleric Avatar
        MadCleric

        So true!!!

        Reply
    2. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      I hadn’t considered that! Thanks for pointing me in htose directions. How available are they via pdf or eBay?

      Reply
      1. BaronGreystone Avatar
        BaronGreystone

        Classic RQ2 currently in print in pdf, hardcover and I think softcover too, check the Chaosium website. Comprehensive Classic Traveller available on CDs from Far Future Enterprises, the one-volume book available print-on-demand from Drivethru, and individual pdfs from Drivethru. There’s a fan-based pdf of WEG Star Wars available, some folks get that printed. The rest are ebay material if you want the old editions, although there might still be a reprint of original Metamorphosis Alpha around. If you need specifics let me know and I’d be happy to help.

        Reply
        1. BaronGreystone Avatar
          BaronGreystone

          Whoops, forgot that there’s also a fan version of old Gamma World circulating out there, if you need it. Basically just a cleaned-up doc.

          Reply
          1. BaronGreystone Avatar
            BaronGreystone

            And another update! Goodman Games has republished the original version of Metamorphosis Alpha, along with quite a lot of support materials. Good stuff. And West End Games’ d6 1st ed version of Star Wars is being reissued as well, this time by FFG. So, more opportunity to game like it’s the 80s!

  3. Baron Greystone Avatar
    Baron Greystone

    I’m pleased that you’re enjoying your 1st ed experience. I began with the Holmes boxed set, which was something of a bridge between what’s now called OD&D (the original, Zero Edition if you like) and AD&D (the first edition, of course). Then I played in a combo game incorporating elements from both OD&D and the released-one-bit-at-a-time 1st ed AD&D (as we all had to do, back in the day). Eventually all three 1st ed books were out, and that’s what I used from then on.

    In those days, products couldn’t come out fast enough for us. As you probably know, at this point TSR divided their products into AD&D, and the new Basic D&D. From what I understand this was to avoid paying Arneson for the “new” AD&D line. As consumers, if an AD&D DM wanted additional materials, we would use modules from the Basic D&D line. Sure, it took a little conversion work (if you bothered at all), but if the product blurb sounded good, you went for it.

    In any case, while I’ve explored other game systems, I still play 1st ed AD&D. I never accepted post-Gygax TSR’s decision to re-write the game for a second, and subsequent, versions. Such a concept has no appeal for me. On the other hand, in those early days I played or ran some of the other games that began to spring up, and I continue to play many of those old games to this day (also in their older editions). But I’ve put the greatest number of hours into 1st ed AD&D.

    I’d like to say that I applaud your intention to run the game using all the rules, as written. Many people did that, but many other people also felt just as free to drop sections, or house-rule. This was already a time-honored tradition in roleplaying, and something I don’t hesitate to do today. I just produce a house-rule pamphlet for my players.

    I know you’ll hear many different opinions about what to include or exclude from your gaming experience, so I’ll toss my fedora into the ring. I would suggest that you stick to the original Players Handbook, Monster Manual and DMG for a good while. Then I would recommend that you look through Unearthed Arcana. It’s one of my favorite books. Some people don’t like all of the new classes and races, but you should feel free to choose what you like or make modifications at that point. There’s also tons of useful supplemental information included. I also like the Oriental Adventures book, although I leave its artificial mechanical Honor system out (I prefer Honor to be handled in roleplay). The other books: Dungeoneers, Wilderness, Manual of the Planes, Greyhawk and Dragonlance, are safely ignored (but feel free to mine them for info if you’ve a mind to). The Fiend Folio and Monster Manual II are of mixed quality, but if you’re looking for variety you’ll find some use for them. Dieties & Demigods (aka Legends & Lore) serves a purpose, but can also be safely ignored.

    Now I’ll say up front that I’m not a huge fan of the modules you’ve listed on your future playlist. I’m going to make some alternate suggestions for you. And my list includes some Basic D&D products. By “Basic D&D” I mean the BasicExpertCompanionMasterImmortal series of rules, rewritten and condensed in the Rules Cyclopedia. The major difference between that rules set and AD&D is the use of ‘race-as-class,’ ie Halfling is a character class. You can’t be a Halfling Fighter or a Halfling Thief, you’re just a 1st level Halfling. Some DMs even allowed both types of characters in the same game. Nowadays I either use the products as-written, or make minor modifications.

    B1 In Search of the Unknown: The first module I saw/read/played. It was originally included in the Holmes boxed set. Do-it-yourself module population, never the same twice.
    B4 The Lost City. Similar theme to I1 below, a cool lost city adventure.
    X1 Isle of Dread: beats the pants off of WG6 Isle of the Ape.
    X2 Castle Amber: If you like crazy humor in your game. Includes an amazing trip somewhere else (and I won’t write a spoiler here but it’s a classic).
    I1 Dwellers of the Forbidden City: Can’t say enough about this open-ended, pulpy sword-and-sorcery lost city.
    I3, I4, I5, later known as the Desert of Desolation series: pyramids and stuff.
    I6 Ravenloft: If you don’t know what this is, just buy it. One of the very best, ever.
    OA1 Swords of the Daimyo: adventures and a setting for that Oriental Adventures book that you know you want to use. Includes a way to move Western characters to the Orient a la Shogun.

    B1, B4, X1 and X2 are part of the Basic D&D line. If you want to see some of the best settings ever written, you might want to look up their Gazetteer series, set in the Basic D&D world of Mystara. Each includes tons of story hooks, along with optional rules. I heartily recommend GAZ3 Principalities of Glantri as the best of the bunch. It’s like a microcosm of Europe. It’s also a bit tongue-in-cheek as written. That’s something that was much more common back then than it is today, but you can ignore that if you like. Includes campaign ideas and a setting for playing students in a school of magic, pre-dating Hogwarts by years! A word of caution, not every Gaz is to everyone’s taste. Also there were a couple of boxed settings in the line that I recommend, Dawn of the Emperors (sort of like Rome vs Atlantis) and Hollow World (Burroughs eat your heart out). I’ll also point out that I don’t recommend the first gazetteer, Grand Duchy of Karameikos. While it has its fans, my observation is that’s at least in part to its being the first-published of the line. Therefore it got the most exposure, and holds that special nostalgic place in some people’s hearts. Objectively though, I don’t find it inspiring at all.

    If you know your history, you also know that a company called Judges Guild was the first company to make non-TSR D&D accessories, including some of the greatest modules and settings. The company started out in the OD&D timeframe, then moved to producing AD&D products when that edition was released. Finally, TSR yanked their license, so their products became generic. Although they’re still around, I recommend the ORIGINAL editions, as follows.

    OD&D Products
    Setting: Wilderlands. Start with JG0048 Wilderlands of High Fantasy. I ran a campaign there for 20 years. Is that endorsement enough? The first published D&D setting.
    City: JG0062 City-State of the Invincible Overlord. Centerpiece of the Wilderlands. The first published D&D city.
    Modules:
    JG0027 Tegel Manor. Doesn’t get more old-school than this. Warning, this is really chaotic, and what modern gamers would call ‘unbalanced.’ Pfah. Not for beginning DMs though.
    JG0052 Thieves of Fortress Badabaskor. This one is kind of hard for younger players to imagine. It’s a fortified, inhabited and defended bandit lair on top of a wild dungeon. In the days when your character had a troop of hirelings following him around, it would be normal for you and your fellow PCs to storm such a place and fight your way down. You might lose tons of flunkies on the way, stepping up to challenge the “bosses” yourself. You great hero, you. See also Arneson’s Temple of the Frog, as written in the OD&D manual Blackmoor (Supplement II), for the same kind of situation. It’s really an amazing read, even if you can’t see yourself running it as-is. You could always mine it for ideas, or have players infiltrate, join up, etc.
    JG0063 Citadel of Fire. One of the first modules I played in, tons of fun, not complicated to run.
    JG0102 Caverns of Thracia. One of the classics of the industry. My favorite module of all time. Run out and buy this now.

    AD&D Products
    JG0088 Dark Tower. Another classic of the industry, fiendish and high-level. Better than Ravenloft. Buy now.
    JG0114 The Maltese Clue. One of my favorites, but seems to be relatively unknown these days.

    I will confess that I’ve made room in my campaign for a 2nd edition concept: Spelljammer. The very concept is too cool to ignore. I use 1st ed rules, of course…

    So there you have it. If I can help in any way, let me know. Have a blast!

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Wow! Amazing list of recommendations. I forgot to add Ravenloft, as that is one I definitely want to do. I’ll have to do more research on these others. They sound great!

      I was a little concerned about the conversion from BECMI to AD&D, but a friend recently lent me the Basic D&D rules. So that may help in the process.

      Again, I really appreciate this thorough list. I’m still learning a lot!!!

      Reply
      1. BaronGreystone Avatar
        BaronGreystone

        I can get you a copy of a one-page “conversion sheet” that lists all the technical differences. Let me know if you’re that concerned.

        Reply
        1. Jason D. Wood (@Wood_JasonD) Avatar
          Jason D. Wood (@Wood_JasonD)

          Sure–shoot me an email at jason@madcleric.com

          Reply
      2. Beoric Avatar
        Beoric

        I think its worth giving a shout out to newer modules generated by the OSR. The 0e, 1e and B/X modules mentioned represent an entirely different playstyle from anything published for 4e (including the conversions of things like Hommlet), and since TSR/WotC went in a different direction after that period, the modules are among the best of that playstyle to come out of TSR, and certainly WotC.

        However, it’s not like the people who continued playing in that style over the last 40-odd years haven’t learned anything, and it is worth looking at later modules designed for the earlier editions of D&D and their retro-clones. There is a lot of chatter about things like Anomalous Subsurface Environment, Fever-Dreaming Marlinko, and Deep Carbon Observatory. I have read a handful of these successor modules and I see where the OSR is coming from on this.

        If you start to get a bit jaded with Gary I would branch out into the Moldvay modules (eg. Lost City, Isle of Dread) and the Judges Guild products listed above, especially Jaquay’s, as well as these newer products.

        You can find a good shortlist of the newer products here: http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?page_id=844. The list includes a few freebies.

        Reply
  4. Nigel Guest Avatar
    Nigel Guest

    Wonderful read. Thoroughly recommend your plans. I often revert to earlier systems. My favourite is 3.5 for reasons of character diversity and skill usage. AD&D original is a classic as Im sure you are aware of and there is so much Judges Guild material (wonderfully Kitsch) that was written for 1e as well as some of the great classic modules. Enjoy! It’s a pity I live in Australia otherwise I’d be hitting you up to join!!

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Maybe I’ll get an online group going one of these days? I’m not sure how that would feel though…AD&D online?

      I’ll keep you posted. Make sure to follow on Twitter, FB, or email!

      Reply
      1. BaronGreystone Avatar
        BaronGreystone

        I’ve run it on Roll20.net for three years now, works great!

        Reply
  5. Bill Silvey Avatar
    Bill Silvey

    Original D&D, AD&D, amd even 5e…all great editions. You’re definitely doing it right.

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Thanks so much for reading along!

      Reply
      1. Al Avatar
        Al

        Ah men… Been playing AD&D with the same group since 1983!

        Reply
  6. Justin Howard Avatar
    Justin Howard

    I agree with T.R. Anyone should feel free to play however they like. For me personally I played so much 1e as a youngster and the fact the 5e just appeals more to my sensibilities as a player. Being someone who has played every edition of DnD I can look at 5e and go, ok this is were they took that from and this is the grandchild of that idea. It feels very nostalgic to me because many of the early ideas have been brought back but at the same time it is very lean and modern because it is the product of not only decades of iteration from earlier versions but also the companies willingness to make the people that play the game part of the process of refining it. I do like the fact that you have gone back and started playing the OG material and getting to experience many of the things that I did as a much younger man.

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Thanks for reading along, my friend. Perhaps I’ll see you at the gaming table again soon?

      Reply
  7. oakesspalding Avatar
    oakesspalding

    Back in the day (1978-1982) I played 1e. The Player’s Handbook was the first D&D book that I owned. The DMG wasn’t even out yet (though it was eagerly awaited). Then I took 30 years off. 🙂 When I returned, I found that 4e was an entirely different game. I had no idea. I hated it. So I went back to 1e and then discovered the OSR. But the funny thing is, the more I learned about the history and craft of the game, the more I discovered that everything I liked about 1e I liked even more about 0e (the 1974 original edition). I’m curious as to what made you settle on 1e as opposed to, say, Basic, Holmes or 0e? Not arguing (1e is a great game), just asking.

    Reply
    1. Jason D. Wood (@Wood_JasonD) Avatar
      Jason D. Wood (@Wood_JasonD)

      Honestly, when I began this project, “The Dragon” that I was chasing was Gary Gygax. I found him, his history, and his thought processes fascinating. So AD&D felt like hte best representation of him in the D&D world. He would argue that Lejendary Adventures did more so. Plus, I’m a child of the 80s-90s, so I grew up hearing about Advanced D&D more.

      Reply
  8. BaronGreystone Avatar
    BaronGreystone

    For myself, I found OD&D disorganized and obscure. Holmes was simplistic. Basic looked like a rewritten Holmes (which it was). AD&D had oodles of awesomeness on every page. When I later tried to work with the B and X series of modules, I was again reminded of how disappointing I found their Elf, Cleric and Dwarf classes, when I could have so many more choices in my AD&D books. So I can’t answer for our Mad Cleric, but that’s my experience.

    Reply
    1. Baron Greystone Avatar
      Baron Greystone

      Sorry, I meant Elf, Halfling and Dwarf classes!

      Reply
  9. Tips for a first-time AD&D DM | The Mad Cleric

    […] Why and how I’m playing First Edition AD&D […]

    Reply
  10. Should reconsider D&D alignments? | The Mad Cleric

    […] Why and how I’m playing First Edition AD&D […]

    Reply
  11. I’m not giving up. | The Mad Cleric

    […] wanted to pop in and give a quick update on my journey through AD&D, Chasing the Dragon.  As a few of you know, family life has gotten complex with a third baby due in June!  So between […]

    Reply
  12. John Avatar
    John

    Late hit here, but I can’t believe B2 wasn’t mentioned. Though included with the later printings of the Basic D&D box set, adapting it to AD&D is trivial. Now, what B2 requires is some work to flesh out–Why are all these tribes living in close proximity? How to they react to intrusion and attack? Do you change the state of the caves after the initial foray or do you leave the conditions static? These factors are what makes each instance of B2 special and unique. I ran it recently, taking a rigorous approach, and found it a load of fun. Things didn’t go down as expected–it was better in every way.

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      I’ve actually had B2 on my more recent list of modules to explore. Earlier I was worried about the conversion process, but less so now.

      Reply
  13. Eric McConnell Avatar
    Eric McConnell

    Great post! Not much I can add to this. I have pretty much everything for 1st Edition. TSR modules, Judges Guild, Role-Aids, etc. Was in the military at the time and spent practically every paycheck at the hobby store back in the 80’s.

    One thing I would like to stress is to remember that it is a Dungeon Master GUIDE and Player’s HANDBOOK. I never considered them RULES per se. That was the beauty of the game and someone already pointed out the idea of ‘house rules’. Granted, you don’t want to go too far off the reservation, but it is YOUR world.

    I think some people get too hung up on the idea that those are rule books and things start to fall apart when they feel they don’t encompass everything or that they aren’t realistic. Falling damage comes to mind here…. 1d6 for every 10 feet. Ok, but at some point you hit terminal velocity so there should be a limit to the number of 6-siders thrown. (for the curious, skydivers hit Terminal Velocity after around 1,500 feet, so that’s 150 6-siders or 150-900 points of damage…although we didn’t have the internet then and would debate this for hours!) Again, Dungeon Master’s GUIDE and Player’s HANDBOOK.

    For me, the first module I played which holds a special place is B5- Horror on the Hill. Baron GreyStone’s list is pretty rock-solid. Especially the Judges Guild mention, but there are a number of other companies that put out some decent stuff. You might even want to take a peak at some of the magazines from that period. They had a number of smaller, but fun modules to run through – Imagine Magazine for example. There were also some fun ones for other systems that are easy to tweak for AD&D – like RuneQuest and Tunnels and Trolls. A good story is a good story!

    Once you cut your teeth on those, modules eventually drop off while you come up with your own stuff. They are always there for unlimited inspiration though!

    If you want a ridiculously detailed world, take a peak at Columbia Games World of Harn. It’s insanely beautiful and detailed. Terrain maps, every town/city is mapped, kingdom politics, heraldry, events, people, etc…. you don’t have to even play in it to get lost in nirvana reading through that stuff. Tons of inspiration!

    I need to curb my enthusiasm here or I will go on and on and on…

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Awesome insights and thanks for the module recommendations! I’ll be on the lookout for them!

      Reply
  14. Joe Keene Avatar
    Joe Keene

    I’m a little late to the game… pun unavoidable?….. but as someone who cut their teeth on 1st ed, and still thinks it’s the best edition despite(because) of it’s strict character roles, I’m glad to see modern “newbies” revisit the origins. THAC0 FTW.

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Better late than never! Thanks for reading.

      Reply
  15. Russ Bain Avatar
    Russ Bain

    I played first and second edition for eons. I absolutely hated rolling up new characters, especially in later years when I no longer had every table memorized. So I made a bit of software that does it all for you.

    It is built on HTML and Javascript, and can be run on your local machine or deployed as a web page. It will save you hours and hours of tedium.

    Here is the URL of the repository on Github:

    https://github.com/TwoFistedJustice/ADandD-Stat-Lookup-1e2e

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Neat! Thanks for passing this along!

      Reply
  16. JR Avatar
    JR

    HI all, I’m trying to get back into AD&D 1st edition, since i have all the books etc. been sitting in a closet. But i don’t know anybody in area I’m in to play. Any ideas on how to find a group to play locally please?

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      For starters, what area do you live in?

      Reply
    2. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      And welcome back!!!

      Reply
  17. Ulf Avatar
    Ulf

    just stumbled on this – excellent! 1e is the joy of discovery. 5e isn’t bad but so many characters are default overpowered that it takes the risk and fun out of the whole thing for me.

    Reply
  18. Anthony Huso Avatar
    Anthony Huso

    Hell yes! I am so excited to see people not born “back then” deciding to take the arduous journey in learning how to play the game that Gygax himself played in the way he played it. As you continue down that road, I might be able to help if you have questions.

    I have a battery of blog posts meant to help people who weren’t around in the 70’s understand AD&D rules and, while you certainly aren’t obligated to play by the book, my posts can probably help you sort some things out.

    https://www.thebluebard.com/copy-of-campaign

    Best wishes in your campaign!

    Reply
  19. HowlPhilinish (@HowlPhilinish) Avatar
    HowlPhilinish (@HowlPhilinish)

    I found myself feeling the same level of fascination and curiosity. I recently have constructed a campaign and am pulling together a party for my first jump into this system. That being said I feel that the game will run differently. I am very excited to try and learn where it all started.

    Just thought id share! 🙂 Great post!

    Reply
  20. Michael Reynolds Avatar
    Michael Reynolds

    What a wonderful page, with numerous insightful comments. I’m a middle-aged guy newly back in the hobby. I played from 1984-1991. Wish I had some kindred spirits here in Washington, DC. Building friendships is challenging in my 40s. MadCleric do you play online? Also, I noticed a DM screen in your pic. Can anyone recommend a good 1e DM screen please? Thanks a bunch.

    Reply
  21. MadCleric Avatar
    MadCleric

    Michael! Sorry I missed your comment some time back. Have you found a DM screen yet? And I do play online frequently!

    Reply
    1. Michael Reynolds Avatar
      Michael Reynolds

      Thanks for your message. I did find a screen. Please let me know if you have a slot for a player to join your even for just a one shot, especially an older version such as 1e, 2e, BECMI, etc. cheers.

      Reply
      1. MadCleric Avatar
        MadCleric

        We actually just started an online TTRPG collective to help players get connected and play games! We don’t currently have a 1e game going, but it’s inevitable to pop up again sometime. If you like to check us out, our Twitter account is https://www.twitter.com/RPGuildTGC and our Discord server (probably the best place to go) can be reached here: https://discord.gg/jAxudxZ

        Reply
  22. Shelby Avatar
    Shelby

    Hi again! Fans of 1st ed AD&D ought to take a look at the Blue Bard blog. The author has several free downloads including a DM screen, so check it out: https://www.thebluebard.com/copy-of-campaign . And I’d also be pleased if you checked out my own blog, which is often about 1st ed and other old-school gaming topics: themichlinguide.wordpress.com . And finally, I’ve been running 1st ed AD&D (as well as Classic Traveller) on Roll20 for years. I’d love more opportunities to play, and sometimes have openings for new players in my games, so keep in touch!

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to check out both sites!

      Reply
  23. David Avatar
    David

    I’ve been playing Dungeons and Dragons since 1977, and I never moved past first edition, in my opinion it is EXACTLY what Mr. Gygaxx (RIP) envisioned, when they moved on to later editions it got so deep in to nitpicking it was pathetic, rolling dice for every tiny movement you made? How boring is that? D&D (and AD&D) was made to have fun, roll dice for fighting and searching for secret doors/traps, that was about all it ever was meant to be, sadly there is no one here where I live that plays first edition that I know of and I even have players handbook, dungeon masters guide, monster manual 1 and 2 and unearthed arcana, just no one to enjoy it with so I play as DM and player in solo campaigns, I’ve had 17 characters die so far but 1 has managed to emerge from the pits and currently is 8th level human fighter, plan is to get him to about 20th level or so and then change class to Magic user should he survive long enough…yes, I know, there is the ever present question of, how can you play against your self? well, it’s easy…let the dice fall where they may, and so far those dice have favored Ironfoot Earththunder to the 8th level of prowess and hopefully many more levels to come.

    Reply
  24. David Avatar
    David

    I’ve been playing D&D since 1977, played the original basic and expert set before moving in to AD&D, sadly I have no one here to play with as most players are in to 5E and I have no desire to move on from 1E especially since I have the DM guide, players handbook, MM 1 & 2 and unearthed arcana, I’ve been playing solo adventures the past few years, playing as DM and player, 17 of my characters have died, but finally managed to get one to survive (so far) 8th level human fighter, plan is to get to about level 20 or so and switch to magic user, I just let the die fall where it may, and so far Ironfoot Earththunder has been very fortunate…My question to everyone is, once I switch my character at level 20 and he obtains level 21 as a magic user, can I again switch him to say a thief and have 3 classes?

    Reply
    1. MadCleric Avatar
      MadCleric

      I’m not sure actually about that multi class switch….I guess see what your DM says! Welcome, you’ve found the right place!

      Reply
  25. Shelby Avatar
    Shelby

    Hi David, a Human is not “Multi-classed,” their only option is “Dual-Classed.” Which pretty much answers your question, I think. You can’t become a third class. And if you’re having problems finding 1st edition AD&D players, you should look into the Roll20 site. You’ll often find players there. I know when there’s an opening in one of my games I get several applicants. Hang in there!

    Reply
  26. Growing Beyond Gygax – The Mad Cleric

    […] When fifth edition D&D was being playtested, I started to get curious about going back to the beginning. While I enjoyed 5e, many of my fellow players hearkened back to the “good old days” of AD&D. That got me interested. So I started buying old rulebooks on eBay. Then I started reading adventures. And then, things got real. In 2017, my gaming group began playing 1st Edition AD&D. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.