[AD&D/1e] OSRIC 2.0

[Matthew]

An expanded version of OSRIC (a simulacrum of first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) was released today in pdf form (free to download, of course). Looks pretty good, though I am not a fan of the dividing green pages, and am a bit more of a second edition art fan myself. Still, there are some cool pieces in there; I especially like the big ass dragon on pp. 32-33 (repeated smaller on page 207) and the weird Owlbear thing about to be speared on page 91. There are quite a few other good pieces, such as the thief on page 378, but overall the art is pretty variable aesthetically (from my point of view).

As a simulacrum it certainly serves its purpose, though there are plenty of minor deviations (and no monk class!), as some stuff just cannot be legally reproduced. I cannot see myself using it over the original books or my houseruled version of the game, but its pretty cool. What with Swords & Wizardry, Labyrinth Lord, and Castles & Crusades, not to forget Basic Fantasy, I feel kind of spoilt for choice.

Anyway, worth checking out.

[Crow]

I will have to check it out when I get to a non-websense computer. Sounds interesting though. I've never played 1e D&D. Do you think that this would be a viable setup for somebody to "sort of" try it out, without having to drop cash on old books?

[infinitypanda]

OSRIC is first edition AD&D. Is Labyrinth Lords first edition Basic D&D?

[Matthew]

I will have to check it out when I get to a non-websense computer. Sounds interesting though. I've never played 1e D&D. Do you think that this would be a viable setup for somebody to "sort of" try it out, without having to drop cash on old books?

Yeah, I don't see why not. Probably the most difficult bit would be generating characters and accessing spell lists during the game, but I guess a little advance planning and/or access to a printer or laptop should take care of that.

You would probably have to note down "to hit chances" and "saving throws" of monsters ahead of time if you don't have a reference sheet or game master shield to find the information quickly.

There are a bunch of free modules on Dragonsfoot that would be suitable to run, or you could try the fastplay booklet I put together a few months back: Orcs' Nest.

OSRIC is first edition AD&D. Is Labyrinth Lords first edition Basic D&D?

Kind of. It's pretty much the 1981 version (put together by Tom Moldvay). Preceding that is the 1979 version (put together by Eric Holmes), but there are quite a lot of differences between those versions. Swords & Wizardry is more like the very first 1974 version (by Gygax and Arneson). The 1981 version is what BD&D remained, more or less, until the line ended.

[RTGoodman]

So, it's basically the game these books were designed for? Because I picked them up for $2 each, and I might check out the PDF if it'll gimme a chance to use 'em outside ripping out ideas and fluff.

I'm always so lost when we start throwing around AD&D, BD&D, OD&D, 1E, 2E, 2E AD&D, and all sorts of other terms which may or may not be referring to the same thing...

[Matthew]

So, it's basically the game these books were designed for? Because I picked them up for $2 each, and I might check out the PDF if it'll gimme a chance to use 'em outside ripping out ideas and fluff.

Whilst I cannot see the second image you linked, I can see the first, so I suppose the second to be the AD&D/1e Monster Manual II or the Fiend Folio. In short, yes OSRIC is a simulacrum of the game those books were intended for.

I'm always so lost when we start throwing around AD&D, BD&D, OD&D, 1E, 2E, 2E AD&D, and all sorts of other terms which may or may not be referring to the same thing...

Yeah, it's confusing. This might help you:

• OD&D (Gygax/Arneson Original D&D, 1974)
• HBD&D (Holmes/Gygax Basic D&D, 1977)
• AD&D/OAD&D (Gygax Original Advanced D&D, 1977-1979)
• Moldvay B/X (Moldvay/Cook Basic/Expert D&D, 1981)
• Mentzer BECMI (Mentzer Basic/Expert/Companion/Master/Immortal, 1983)
• AD&D 2e (Cook Advanced D&D, 2nd Edition, 1989)
• RC (Allston Rules Cyclopedia, 1991)

...or it might make things more confusing.

[hamlet]

Dang. IF only I weren't behind the Firewall of Doom +12 here at the office . . . I'd have something interesting to do today.

[cloneof]

OMG! I thought it would take a year or more for this to come out!

Now I just need a paper and printing can start! Expensive aiee!

Looks pretty good as I have gone trought the pages.

[Matthew]

If you are willing to wait a couple of months, a print copy will eventually be available through Lulu (as I understand it, the delay is so that any errors reported from the pdf can be ammended). Unfortunately, if you live outside the US then shipping costs have shot up. Still, it has got to be cheaper than printing it out yourself, as the book will be offered at cost.

Hope you overcome the firewall, Hamlet!

[hamlet]

I'll probably wait until the print copy hits Lulu. There's no defeating the evils of this firewall. We've only recently gotten them to approve access to Yahoo as a neccessary business tool.

Now, I just have to justify buying that AND the re-released and edited Arduin trilogy . . .

[Matthew]

No doubt a good idea to wait for the Lulu version. It seems the entirety of the henchman section is absent from the current pdf!