PDA

View Full Version : Edition Playing of DND (DMs only)



golentan
2009-12-27, 09:49 PM
I wish to avoid any form of edition war, and as such I must ask right off the bat that absolutely nobody make any comments on which editions are "better" or even why you played the editions you played.

I am trying to compile for a paper information on the evolution of DnD, and either prove or disprove whether the current edition controversy is greater than the switchover to 3e. I'm doing a simple headcount poll as a preliminary to doing an in depth sales analysis. If you have DMed in the past 10 years (and only if you have DMed), please post in the following format.

Edition first played: (whatever was your first game playing)
Editions DMed by period: (post all editions which you DMed, with the years you played them).
Current Editions Owned: (Which edition's core books you currently possess).

For example, I would post

Edition first played: 3e
Editions DMed by period: 3e (2002-2003), 3.5e (2003-present), 4e (2008)
Current Editions Owned: AD&D 2e, 3.5e, 4e

jokey665
2009-12-27, 09:51 PM
Edition first played: 3.5
Editions DM'd: 3.5 (2007-2009, soon to be 2010)
Editions owned: 3.5

/shrug

Evard
2009-12-27, 09:56 PM
Edition first played: 3.5
Editions DMed by period: 3.5 untill 4e came out, then till present 4e
Current Editions Owned:4e

UserClone
2009-12-27, 10:01 PM
Edition first played: 3.5 (2003)

Editions DM'd: 3.5 (2004-present), 4th (2008)

Editions currently owned: AD&D 2E Revised, 3E, 3.5 (Leatherbound with full errata), 4th, and Pathfinder (yeah I'm counting it).

EDIT: Year of first play is also relevant information, I would think, so I included it just in case.

Zaydos
2009-12-27, 10:02 PM
Edition first played: D&D B/E/C/M/I
Editions DMed by period: 2e (1997?), 3e (2001 ~ till 3.5 came out), 3.5 (since then) with occasional 2e & 4e one-shots.
Current Editions Owned: OD&D, D&D B/E (not C/M/I), AD&D 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 4e.

jmbrown
2009-12-27, 10:03 PM
Edition first played: Basic
Editions DMed by period: Rules Cyclopedia ('93), AD&D 2E ('95), D&D 3.0 (2000), D&D 3.5 (2003), AD&D/OD&D (2005), D&D 4E (2008)
Current Editions Owned: All of them.

Started with Basic when my friends and I found a copy in his dad's dusty attic. It made a really great playing space especially with an oil lamp lit. We were young and probably didn't play by the rules at all but the thought of reenacting our favorite video games (big RPG dorks like Dragon Quest and Ultima) was the greatest feeling ever.

I bought Rules Cyclopedia a few years later with some birthday money when I was a bit older and could understand the rules better which was the first edition I officially DM'd. When the revised edition of 2nd edition came out my dad surprised me with the 1989 versions he found for cheap at a pawn shop. From there I moved on to 3E; my friends and I swore we wouldn't buy into Wizards "cash cow" with 3.5 but it was a logical step up so we submitted anyway. Around 2005 I became immensely interested in the older editions and bought as much crap as I could online. My friend was the president of his college's D&D club and they received $2K+ to buy equipment so moving to 4E wasn't difficult.

Aaaaand that's my history.

Edit: I didn't include how long I DM because I DM every version. It depends on the mood of my friends when I bump into them although I mostly DM 3.5 on PBP because that's what 90% of the people play.

Soranar
2009-12-27, 10:03 PM
Editions played: 2nd, 3rd, 3.5, 4
Edition Dmed :2nd, 3rd, 3.5
Owned: 2nd, 3rd, 3.5

Matthew
2009-12-27, 10:04 PM
Edition first played: Basic D&D (Mentzer, 1983) (http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/dd/dd-bbox.htm)
Editions DMed by period: AD&D/2e (1992(ish)-present, sometimes sporadically), D20/3e (2005/6).
Current Editions Owned: AD&D/1e/2e; D20/3e

drengnikrafe
2009-12-27, 10:05 PM
Edition First Played: 3.5.

Editions DMed by Period: 3.5 (2009). (I tried to run a 2e, but it ended before it began. My PCs wouldn't have any of it).

Current Editions Owned: 3.5e and 2e.

Yeah, I'm kinda a late bloomer.

AslanCross
2009-12-27, 10:07 PM
Edition first played: AD&D with some modifications (Baldur's Gate 2)
Editions DMed by period: 3.5e (2007-present)
Current Editions Owned: 3.5e

LibraryOgre
2009-12-27, 10:17 PM
Edition first played: (whatever was your first game playing)
Editions DMed by period: (post all editions which you DMed, with the years you played them).
Current Editions Owned: (Which edition's core books you currently possess).


Edition first played: Not quite sure; it may have been 2e, it may have been 1e; it was right on the cusp of the edition change.

Editions DM'd by period: 2nd edition (1990-present), 3rd edition (Spring 2001), 3.5 (2004), 1st edition (2007-8)

Current editions Owned: B/X, 1st edition, 2nd edition, 3.5, 4e (PH only).

Tiktakkat
2009-12-27, 10:17 PM
Edition First Played: Holmes "Basic" D&D
Editions DMed by period: Holmes "Basic" D&D 1979, AD&D 1st ed 1979-1989, AD&D 2nd ed 1989-2000, D&D 3E/3.5 2000-present
Current Editions Owned: Holmes "Basic" D&D, Moldvay-Cook Basic-Expert, Mentzer BECMI, AD&D 1st ed, AD&D 2nd ed, D&D 3E/3.5

Behold_the_Void
2009-12-27, 10:20 PM
Edition first played: 3e
Editions DMed by period: 3e, 3.5e, 4e (2008)
Current Editions Owned: 3e, 3.5e (very little of either, I have core for 3e since I can't get rid of it and a few leftovers from 3.5 my friend didn't want to buy), 4e

The Dark Fiddler
2009-12-27, 10:22 PM
Edition first played: 3.5
Editions DMed by period: 3.5 (2009)
Current Editions Owned: 3.5

Swordgleam
2009-12-27, 10:25 PM
Edition first played: 1st
Editions DMed by period: 4e (2008-present)
Current Editions Owned: AD&D (for some reason), 3.5, 4e

Xyk
2009-12-27, 10:26 PM
Edition first played: 2e...wait, 1e but it was once when I was five.
Editions DMed: 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 4e (once).
Editions owned: 2e, 3.5e, 4e

I also played many games of 2e in my youth, and many games that are very similar to 3.5e (like d20 modern, Star wars, etc.). I personally enjoy 3.5e the most if that helps your statistics.

Foryn Gilnith
2009-12-27, 10:27 PM
Edition first played: 3.5 (2006)
Editions DM'd: 3.5 (2007 or 2008 to 2009)
Editions owned: 3.5, 2e, 4e (sort of)

Kaiser Omnik
2009-12-27, 10:37 PM
Edition first played: AD&D 2e
Editions DMed by period: 2e (not much, sometime in 2003), 3.5e (2005, 2007-2008), 4e (2009)
Current Editions Owned: AD&D 2e DMG, 3.5e, 4e

Talyn
2009-12-27, 10:46 PM
Edition First Played: 2nd edition D&D
Editions DM'd: 2nd Edition D&D, 2nd Edition AD&D, 3.0, 3.5, and 4e
Editions owned: 3.0 (some), 3.5 (a lot), 2nd Edition AD&D (just a few books left, not enought to run a game in it), 4E

PairO'Dice Lost
2009-12-27, 11:05 PM
Editions played: 2e, 1e, 3e, in that order
Editions DMed: 2e and 3e
Editions owned: Every book ever for 1e, 2e, and 3e; PHB+DMG+MM for 4e

Ozymandias9
2009-12-27, 11:24 PM
First Edition Played: cD&D Basic Set, 3rd version (I first played in 1987, though there was a later version of basic out at the time)
Editions DMed: AD&D 1st Edition 1989-92, AD&D 2nd Edition 1990-present, cD&D 4th Version 1989-91, cD&D 5th Version 1991-2002, D&D 3rd Edition 2000-2004, 3.5 Edition 2003-present, 4th Edition 2008-present (sparingly because I dislike the tone), oD&D 2005-present (sparingly because I fear the set will be damaged).
Current Editions Owned: AD&D 1st & 2nd, 3, 3.5, oD&D, cD&D Versions 4-5.

Mushroom Ninja
2009-12-27, 11:45 PM
First Edition Played: AD&D 2nd Edition
Games DMed: 2e off and on from 1999ish-2001ish, 3.x off and on 2005-present
Editions owned: AD&D 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 4e

Kroy
2009-12-27, 11:59 PM
Edition first played: AD&D
Editions DM'd: 3.5 (Since 2004)
Editions owned: 3.5

Saintjebus
2009-12-28, 12:21 AM
Edition First Played: 3.x(2004)
Editions DM'ed by period: 3.5(2005-2008, off and on), 4e(from release to present).
Editions owned: 3.5, 4e

Eldrys
2009-12-28, 12:25 AM
Edition First Played: D&D 3.5
Editions DM'd by period: AD&D (Summer of '07), 3.5 (about a month ago)
Editions Owned: AD&D, 3.5, 4.0

Touchy
2009-12-28, 12:27 AM
Edition first played: 4e(2009)
Editions DMed by period: Planning to DM on New year's eve
Current Editions Owned: 4e

SethFahad
2009-12-28, 12:35 AM
Edition first played: 1995 2nd ed. (played but not DMed)
Editions DMed by period: 3.5 ed. 2005-present
Current Editions Owned: 2nd, 3.0, 3.5, 4th.

Meek
2009-12-28, 01:10 AM
Edition first played: 3e
Editions DMed by period: 3e (2004-2007), 4e (2008-onwards)
Current Editions Owned: 4e

Mahtobedis
2009-12-28, 01:18 AM
First Edition Played: 3.5
Editions DM'd by period: 3e, 3.5, pathfinder (2009)
Current Editions Owned: 3e, 3.5, pathfinder

Fhaolan
2009-12-28, 01:26 AM
Dear lord... Uhm... let me see:

Edition First Played: OD&D (1976)
Editions DMed by period: OD&D (1976-1977), CD&D (Basic et al.) (1977-1985), AD&D (1978-1989), AD&D 2nd (1989-2000), D&D 3rd (2000-current), D&D 3.5 (2003-current), D&D 4th (2009-current).
Current Editions Owned: All. I'm a collector, really.

Notes: Pretty much I played and DMed all editions of D&D from the dates they were published, to the dates the next edition was published. There are three exceptions, I was introduced to D&D two years after it was first published, CD&D got used until the Master set was published, co-current with another group that was using AD&D, and my adoption of 4th edition is sporatic at best as the one group I have that is interested meets rarely. Also, other game systems have been played ranging from Paladium, Traveller, GURPs, and many, many others. Prior to D&D I was a wargamer with systems you're probably not interested in. :smallsmile:

rayne_dragon
2009-12-28, 03:27 AM
Edition first played: AD&D (1978 hardcover)
Editions DMed by period: 2nd (1997-1999), 3rd (2000-2002)
Current Editions Owned: original and 2nd in hard copies. Everything in pdfs.

Reinboom
2009-12-28, 03:46 AM
Edition First Played: AD&D 2e (with a bit of 1e material - the 1985 module of Temple of Elemental Evil was a big one)
Editions DMed by period: AD&D 2e (2002-2005,2007), OD&D (2005), 3.5e (2006-2009), 4e (2008-2009)
Current Editions Owned: AD&D 2e (1997 WotC's print), 3.0e, 3.5e, 4e

FFTGeist
2009-12-28, 03:56 AM
Edition first played: 2e
Editions DMed by period: 2e (2000 - 2000) 3e + 3.x (2000- present)
Current Editions Owned: AD&D 2e, 3.0e, 3.5e, 4e

(yes i own 4e but have never played or DM'd)

Kurald Galain
2009-12-28, 04:22 AM
I am trying to ... either prove or disprove whether the current edition controversy is greater than the switchover to 3e.
...yeah, you're not going to prove anything by polling a couple dozen users on a forum. It's not statistically significant.

Edition first played: 2
Editions DMed by period: 2 (until 3 came out), 3 (until 4 came out), 4
Current Editions Owned: 2,3,4
However, these questions ignore that I own way more RPG books than D&D books, and that I GM other RPGs way more than I do D&D.

Ozymandias9
2009-12-28, 09:16 AM
...yeah, you're not going to prove anything by polling a couple dozen users on a forum. It's not statistically significant.

With a couple polls in busy comic shops as well, he might make it up to significance. You never know how much effort he's willing to put in.

Jimp
2009-12-28, 09:42 AM
Not posting years since it chops and changes from game to game.
Edition first played: 3.5e
Editions DM'd: 2e revised, 3.0e, 3.5e, 4e
Editions currently owned: 2e, 2e revised, 3.0e, 3.5e, 4e

valadil
2009-12-28, 10:11 AM
Edition first played: 1e/2e hybrid.
Editions DMed by period: 3/3.5 (2003-2009)
Current Editions Owned: 3.5, 4e

RagnaroksChosen
2009-12-28, 10:20 AM
Edition first played: 2nd ED (black book)
Editions DMed by period: 2nd (1998-2004), 3.0 (when it came out-till 3.5 came out), 3.5 (when it came out -present) 4E (DMed once some time in 2009)
Current Editions Owned: AD&D 2e black book, 3.0

Technicaly edititions should realy read 2nd ed from 98-till present as we occasionaly have 2nd ed games here and there(ususaly last about 4-5 months)
we switched from 3.0 to 3.5 the moment it came out.. and i've played very little 4E as when i did play i didn't like it. Also i was reluctant to switch to 3.x as it came with a host of newer players that I felt where more of video game players then RP'ers...

never bought the 3.5 books as i was poor and now that i have money i dont see a reason to as i have the SRD.

LibraryOgre
2009-12-28, 10:26 AM
Dear lord... Uhm... let me see:

Edition First Played: OD&D (1976)
Editions DMed by period: OD&D (1976-1977), CD&D (Basic et al.) (1977-1985), AD&D (1978-1989), AD&D 2nd (1989-2000), D&D 3rd (2000-current), D&D 3.5 (2003-current), D&D 4th (2009-current).
Current Editions Owned: All. I'm a collector, really.

Notes: Pretty much I played and DMed all editions of D&D from the dates they were published, to the dates the next edition was published. There are three exceptions, I was introduced to D&D two years after it was first published, CD&D got used until the Master set was published, co-current with another group that was using AD&D, and my adoption of 4th edition is sporatic at best as the one group I have that is interested meets rarely. Also, other game systems have been played ranging from Paladium, Traveller, GURPs, and many, many others. Prior to D&D I was a wargamer with systems you're probably not interested in. :smallsmile:

I'm going through all of these previous ones... folks who started with 3.5, or played a couple games of 2nd before they got newer books, and thinking "Gee, I feel old."

Then you come along, and started playing a year before I was born. Bless you, Fhaolan. :smallbiggrin:

Stycotl
2009-12-28, 10:59 AM
1st edition played: ad&d 2nd ed
editions dmed:
ad&d 2nd ed: 1994-1998
d&d 3rd ed: 2001-[whenever 3.5 started]
d&d 3.5 ed: [whenever it started]-current

EDIT: on second thought, i forgot a detail: i resisted switching yet again from 3rd ed to 3.5, so it was probably a year or so after it came out that i dropped 3rd ed and went to 3.5.

Fhaolan
2009-12-28, 12:07 PM
I'm going through all of these previous ones... folks who started with 3.5, or played a couple games of 2nd before they got newer books, and thinking "Gee, I feel old."

Then you come along, and started playing a year before I was born. Bless you, Fhaolan. :smallbiggrin:

Uphill in the snow! Both ways! :smallsmile:

I know older D&D players than myself, but we're starting to get rare now. I'm thinking taxidermy... The rest of the group won't notice any playstyle difference probably...

Zombimode
2009-12-28, 12:31 PM
Edition first played: 2e
Editions DMed by period: 2e heavily housruled (2003-today)
Current Editions Owned: 2e, 4e

Aldizog
2009-12-28, 01:00 PM
Edition first played: Moldvay Basic (1983?)
Editions DMed by period: BECMI (~1985-1989), 2E (1989-1993), 3.0 (2001), 3.5 (2005-2006)
Current Editions Owned: Moldvay Basic, Mentzer BECMI, 2E, 3.5

Would love to go back to BECMI.

LibraryOgre
2009-12-28, 02:02 PM
Uphill in the snow! Both ways! :smallsmile:

I know older D&D players than myself, but we're starting to get rare now. I'm thinking taxidermy... The rest of the group won't notice any playstyle difference probably...
Heh. I hang out on Dragonsfoot, so I'm used to being the young'un in these discussions... except on this board.

arguskos
2009-12-28, 02:35 PM
Edition first played: AD&D 1st
Editions DMed by period: 3e and 3.5e (release to present)
Current Editions Owned: OD&D, AD&D 1st and 2nd, 3e, 3.5e, 4e

Gamerlord
2009-12-28, 02:45 PM
Edition first played: 3.5
Editions DMed by period: 3.5(2006-present) 4e(2008-present)
Current Editions Owned: 3.5,4e

golentan
2009-12-28, 02:58 PM
...yeah, you're not going to prove anything by polling a couple dozen users on a forum. It's not statistically significant.

Or you could read my original comments and see that I'm just doing a preliminary headcount to guesstimate where to look before looking at hard sales figures.

Siosilvar
2009-12-28, 02:58 PM
First Played: 2e CRPGs (2001ish)
DM'd: 1e (2003-2006), 3.5 (2005-2010)
Current Owned: B/E, 1e, a bit of early 2e, 3.5

Doug Lampert
2009-12-28, 02:59 PM
Edition first played: D&D (the original game, copyright 1973).

Editions DMed by period: Original game (1976-1979), 3.0 (release-3.5 release), 3.5 (release - 2006), 4th (release-current)

Current Editions Owned: Original game, Basic, AD&D (1st edition), 3.0, 3.5, 4th

Altair_the_Vexed
2009-12-28, 03:05 PM
First played:
Basic and Expert Set D&D

DMed:
Basic, Expert, Companion, Masters and Immortals Set D&D (1983 - 1992)
Rules Cyclopedia D&D (1992 - 1999)
D&D 3 (2001-2004)
D&D 3.5 (2005-present)

Own:
As above

Doug Lampert
2009-12-28, 03:05 PM
Uphill in the snow! Both ways! :smallsmile:

I know older D&D players than myself, but we're starting to get rare now. I'm thinking taxidermy... The rest of the group won't notice any playstyle difference probably...My current group includes 4 players older than I am abd only 3 younger people, and I started in 1974 or so as a player.

FlamingKobold
2009-12-28, 03:11 PM
Edition first played: 3e
Editions DMed by period: 3.5e (2004-present), 4e (2008-present)
Current Editions Owned: 3e, 3.5e, 4e

So many people who started playing or DMing when I was a toddler or before I was born :smallsmile:

LibraryOgre
2009-12-28, 03:55 PM
Edition first played: 3e
Editions DMed by period: 3.5e (2004-present), 4e (2008-present)
Current Editions Owned: 3e, 3.5e, 4e

So many people who started playing or DMing when I was a toddler or before I was born :smallsmile:

I regularly come face-to-face with the realization that I started playing D&D before one of our players was born.

bosssmiley
2009-12-28, 05:07 PM
Edition first played: BECMI (Mentzer) D&D, 1989
Editions DMed by period:

Mentzer Basic: 1989-1990,
AD&D1-2E: 1991-1996,
3.5E: 2004-2009,
B/X Basic (Labyrinth Lord): 2009-present

Current Editions Owned:
OD&D (as Swords and Wizardry)
B/X D&D (as Labyrinth Lord)
BECMI D&D (B+X boxes, Rules Cyclopedia, Wrath of the Immortals)
AD&D 1E,
AD&D 2E,
D&D 3.5,
D&D 4E

(I do not divest myself of core books)

ken-do-nim
2009-12-28, 05:18 PM
Edition first played: 1E
Editions DMed by period: 1E (1984-2002, 2007-present), 2E (1997-2005), 3.5E (2005-2007), Rules Cyclopedia (2002, 2009-present)
Current Editions Owned: OD&D, AD&D, AD&D 2E, D&D 3E, D&D 3.5E, Holmes Basic, B/X, LL, BECMI, RC, Hackmaster, C&C

LibraryOgre
2009-12-28, 05:25 PM
Edition first played: 1E
Editions DMed by period: 1E (1984-2002, 2007-present), 2E (1997-2005), 3.5E (2005-2007), Rules Cyclopedia (2002, 2009-present)
Current Editions Owned: OD&D, AD&D, AD&D 2E, D&D 3E, D&D 3.5E, Holmes Basic, B/X, LL, BECMI, RC, Hackmaster, C&C

And I can always count on Ken to make me feel young again! ;-)

Lapak
2009-12-28, 05:42 PM
Edition first played: Basic D&D (Mentzer red box)
Editions DMed by period: 2nd edition w/ 1e materials (1990-1998) 3e/3.5e (2000-2009/present) 4e (2009-present)
Current Editions Owned: Mentzer Basic, 1e, 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 4e

If it matters, I have more 1st edition modules than any other edition, more 2nd edition sourcebooks, and more 3rd edition hardcovers.

Muz
2009-12-28, 05:42 PM
Edition first played: 2e
Editions DMed by period: 2e (1995 to present)
Current Editions Owned: 2e

I've played/looked at 3.5, but...it didn't take. (Though I have converted a few 3.5 modules for 2e use.)

Morandir Nailo
2009-12-28, 05:44 PM
Edition first played: 2e (very briefly).
Editions DMed by period: 3.5e (2003-2008), 4e (2008), OD&D (2008-Present)
Current Editions Owned: OD&D, Holmes Basic, B/X, RC, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 4e.

If we're counting retro-clones/games inspired by/games based on D&D, add Empire of the Petal Throne, Swords & Wizardry, Ruins & Ronin, Labyrinth Lord, BFRPG, OSRIC, Castles & Crusades, Microlite20 (and various derivatives), Metamorphosis Alpha, Searchers of the Unknown (and various derivatives) and Spellcraft & Swordplay.

Mor

bosssmiley
2009-12-28, 05:50 PM
Edition first played: 2e (very briefly).
Editions DMed by period: 3.5e (2003-2008), 4e (2008), OD&D (2008-Present)
Current Editions Owned: OD&D, Holmes Basic, B/X, RC, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 4e.

If we're counting retro-clones/games inspired by/games based on D&D, add Empire of the Petal Throne, Swords & Wizardry, Ruins & Ronin, Labyrinth Lord, BFRPG, OSRIC, Castles & Crusades, Microlite20 (and various derivatives), Metamorphosis Alpha, Searchers of the Unknown (and various derivatives) and Spellcraft & Swordplay.

No Mutant Future? Part-timer! :smalltongue:

Morandir Nailo
2009-12-30, 01:53 AM
No Mutant Future? Part-timer! :smalltongue:

Man, I always forget about that game! I'm not much of a sci-fi/post-apoc fan. I do have it though (in pdf), though I had to look through my gaming folder to make sure! :smallbiggrin:

Mor

Tyndmyr
2009-12-30, 02:00 AM
Edition first played: 2
Editions DM'd: 3.0, 3.5
Editions owned: 3.0, 3.5, 4. Also a variety of third party splatbooks, and some supplements made for other editions, but Im interpreting this as "owns core rulebooks".

Pluto
2009-12-30, 02:48 AM
First Edition Played: 3.5
Edition DMed: AD&D 1e (2005-present)
Editions owned: AD&D 1e, 2e

Add a smattering of 1- or 2- session games in pretty much every edition.

I've found that the older the system, the less players worry about things like balance or other number-crunchy nonsense.
When I play 3.5 or 4e, players have their heads in books, crunching numbers on which combination of prestige classes, alternate class features, feats, skill tricks, items and race will create the highest damage output.
In 1e, the game seems to consist of choosing a race and class and running with it. Rules are secondary, the game itself comes first.

Cyclone49
2009-12-30, 03:45 AM
First Edition Played: AD&D 2E (2001)
Editions DMed: My own weird homebrew version of 2E (2001?), 3E (2003), 3.5 (2003-2008), 4E (2008-present)
Editions owned: 3E (only Monster Manual), 3.5, 4E, and some random 2E sourcebook that a friend left at my house about 5 years ago (High Level Campaigns I think it's called).

ken-do-nim
2009-12-30, 05:24 AM
First Edition Played: 3.5
Edition DMed: AD&D 1e (2005-present)
Editions owned: AD&D 1e, 2e

Add a smattering of 1- or 2- session games in pretty much every edition.

I've found that the older the system, the less players worry about things like balance or other number-crunchy nonsense.
When I play 3.5 or 4e, players have their heads in books, crunching numbers on which combination of prestige classes, alternate class features, feats, skill tricks, items and race will create the highest damage output.
In 1e, the game seems to consist of choosing a race and class and running with it. Rules are secondary, the game itself comes first.

Very true. Aside from the occasional 'monks suck' or 'thieves suck' thread, you simply don't see the same kind of discussions over on Dragonsfoot that you do here about class tiers or 'help me with my build'. Could it be that AD&D is simply not closely related enough to WOTC D&D 3 or 4 to even call them the same game? After all, you can explore a dungeon with GURPS Fantasy or Palladium or Rolemaster as well. Maybe this whole thread should be extended to include discussion of all fantasy rpgs.

dsmiles
2009-12-30, 05:52 AM
Ummmm...

Edition First Played: AD&D (1983)
Editions DM'd: AD&D, 2e, 3e, 3.5e, 4e
Editions Owned: AD&D (1e), 3.5e, 4e

Chrono22
2009-12-30, 06:14 AM
Edition first played: 2e, revised Advanced D&D
Editions DMed by period:
2e - 1 year
3e-3.5 - 9 years (present)
4e - 1 year
Current Editions Owned: 2e, 3e. Was gifted the 4e PHB + a DDI account.

Killer Angel
2009-12-30, 06:47 AM
Edition first played: AD&D 2nd ed. (1990)
Editions DMed by period: AD&D 2nd ed (1992-2000); D&D 3.0 (2001-2003); D&D 3.5 (2003 'til now).
Current Editions Owned: AD&D 2nd ed.; D&D 3.0; D&D 3.5

Curmudgeon
2009-12-30, 07:34 AM
Edition first played: AD&D 1st
Editions DMed by period: AD&D 2nd ed. (1995-2000), D&D 3.0 (2000-2003), D&D 3.5 (2003-present)
Current Editions Owned: D&D Basic & Expert set, AD&D 1st, AD&D 2nd, D&D 3.0, D&D 3.5e, D&D 4