u/That-Fungi03

To anyone who has played old adventure modules for 1e, AD&D, OD&D BECMI, or BX and also some of the 5e anthology conversions. What do you think about the authenticity of the reprint and the spirit and intention behind the original prints?

I was going down a rabbit hole of looking at Classic Modules Today, which are community driven conversions for the old game to 5th edition and also getting into DCCRpg. Between those two things I have been inspired to find and run some of the old original modules published for the game. But I had no idea adventure books have been published by WOTC like Quests from the Infinite Staircase, or Tales from the Yawning Portal containing classic adventures.

Modules like White Plume Mountain, Against the Giants, Thamochan, Taojcanth, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, Barrier Peeks, etc. All seem really cool and good insight into adventure design. I watched a Matt Colevile video recently where he was saying that this is how it used to be with short contained adventures instead of huge adventures that never end like Curse of Strahd.

Anyway now I’m torn, I could buy the conversions and pdf/POD for the old adventures and wait for a few weeks and then I’ll have the ability to run it with old DnD, 5e, and maybe DCC. Or I could just get it new through DnD beyond.

I just don’t know if I’m looking at those old adventures with a nostalgic lens and there isn’t as much going on in them as I think, and if converting myself is too much work and easier to use the newer game. Or for those of you who have both or have read, ran, or played in both; is there a major difference?

To anyone who has played old adventure modules for 1e, AD&D, OD&D BECMI, or BX and also some of the 5e anthology conversions. What do you think about the authenticity of the reprint and the spirit and intention behind the original prints?

I was going down a rabbit hole of looking at Classic Modules Today, which are community driven conversions for the old game to 5th edition and also getting into DCCRpg. Between those two things I have been inspired to find and run some of the old original modules published for the game. But I had no idea adventure books have been published by WOTC like Quests from the Infinite Staircase, or Tales from the Yawning Portal containing classic adventures.

Modules like White Plume Mountain, Against the Giants, Thamochan, Taojcanth, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, Barrier Peeks, etc. All seem really cool and good insight into adventure design. I watched a Matt Colevile video recently where he was saying that this is how it used to be with short contained adventures instead of huge adventures that never end like Curse of Strahd.

Anyway now I’m torn, I could buy the conversions and pdf/POD for the old adventures and wait for a few weeks and then I’ll have the ability to run it with old DnD, 5e, and maybe DCC. Or I could just get it new through DnD beyond.

I just don’t know if I’m looking at those old adventures with a nostalgic lens and there isn’t as much going on in them as I think, and if converting myself is too much work and easier to use the newer game. Or for those of you who have both or have read, ran, or played in both; is there a major difference?

I often hear people talk about making builds to last up to level 20 but from my experience play rarely goes past level 5. I have run higher level one shots but I mostly run dnd for new players and start everyone at level 1 so they can learn their characters.

I know it is popular to start at level 3 and I wonder what players prefer to play. Do you like tier 1 play or is there a sweet spot that feels fun but not too crazy or unbalanced?

When I run for game shops people say how it is a mental break to play games that have lower stakes.

What level do you like to play at and why?

I often hear people talk about making builds to last up to level 20 but from my experience play rarely goes past level 5. I have run higher level one shots but I mostly run dnd for new players and start everyone at level 1 so they can learn their characters.

I know it is popular to start at level 3 and I wonder what players prefer to play. Do you like tier 1 play or is there a sweet spot that feels fun but not too crazy or unbalanced?

When I run for game shops people say how it is a mental break to play games that have lower stakes.

What level do you like to play at and why?

Hello fellow Dungeon Masters!

I am very excited to attempt running DND for my Youth Group while traveling for a mission trip.

None of the kids have ever played a RPG. My plan is to use DND Beyond on my phone with premade characters and a downloaded Heroes of the Borderlands module.

I will be rolling their checks for them and keeping the rules as simple as possible.

Any advice on something I may be missing or ways to incorporate the being in the car into the game?

Has anyone done this before.

Also considering scrapping 5.5 and running it in BX to keep it even easier.

Should I get Old School Essentials if I already have BX in print?

Years ago when I first started running DND I purchased basic DND from 1981 thinking it was the one and only version of the game having no idea what people meant when they said “edition”.

I then discovered 5e and migrated to that and never looked back. But sometimes I revisit my old books and feel inspired and creative again and nostalgic for a time I never lived in.

I have been researching OSE and OSR, I am also interested in Shadowdark, Morgbork, Cairn, and others as I feel like I can introduce players easier to rules-lite play.

Basically if I have BX in print is there a reason to purchase OSE? I understand it is a more polished BX but don’t understand if there is anything else to it.

Anyone recommend the box set or otherwise?

EDIT: Thanks everyone for the advice, I will take the consensus to keep using my BX books until I feel like I need an upgrade to move to Advanced fantasy and if I have trouble referencing information during play at the table.