Looking for reference materials for running games using 2nd edition ruleset (AD+D). I would need access to and possible downloads of the players guide and DM guide. For use with the various tabletop creator apps available and other world building toolsets. As for the monsterous compendiums available, are these critters although 5th edition ruleset scaled usable with 2nd edition games? I know there were 2nd edition compendiums available in the 70's, but are these materials still available in digital form?
Unfortunately, all of those publications are still covered by copyright and the rules of the forum prevent posters from sharing where or if these might be available in digital form. If they are available, I'd suggest trying your favorite search engine and see what you can find.
2nd edition from the 70's Advanced Dungeons and dragons. Ok I guess it is called 1st edition now. Back then the paperbacks were the first editions, just Dungeons and Dragons. And 2nd edition was the first hardbound tomes. I found what I am looking for at Dungeon Masters guild! Thank you so much Greenstone_Walker , exactly whnt I want, PDF versions of the rules that I can make copies of and distribute among the players (the guide). Now all I need to do is find players at my senior living community I hope to live at soon! I guess I wont need a DM screen or dice anymore either!
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons from the 1970s is still "1st edition."
In the 1990s, there was a "Second edition of AD&D" which is what people usually mean when they talk about "2nd edition." This was the last edition that was called "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons," and the last that TSR published. After WOTC took it over, they dropped the "advanced" name, stopped publishing alternative "basic" rules that took you all the way to epic levels but with a simplified rule set, and started just calling it "Dungeons and Dragons."
But the original AD&D is NOT the "second edition" of D&D. It is the FIRST edition of AD&D.
But note, this version and any others are not the actual original printings. They will be PDFs or reprints if you get the paperback/hardback.
Scans of the Big 3 books for 1e AD&D are clean and look great. There are a few minor errata in them but otherwise they are excellent in quality. I have the PDFs and also the hardback print-on-demand from Drive Thru. They are great.
Note that some of the other books, like Deities and Demigods and Fiend Folio are based on what appear to be much older/lower quality scans. They are readable, but unlike the DMG, MM, and PHB, you will be able to tell it is a scan. The "big 3" books look as clean as if they were first-run original prints, on the inside, but not the other books I've tried. Still worth getting them if you want to play AD&D or even just have the reference.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
If you are looking to get some folks interested in playing D&D - I would suggest 5e rather than 1e. I've been playing D&D since the late 70's and the game, in my opinion, has evolved over the years and I would say 5e is the most accessible and streamlined while retaining the same flavor of classic D&D. You can probably find pdf versions of 5e out there as well and it would likely be a better choice for folks who have played any previous version of D&D (except maybe 4e since that one took a distinctively different approach).
I would also tend to avoid 3e, 3.5e and Pathfinder since the complexity ramped up quite a bit through those editions. 5e has the advantage that folks can build fun and interesting characters but even if they don't optimize they will still have fun and contribute. I'd also add that the magic using classes are far more balanced and fun to play in 5e than in 1e (low level wizards or illusionists were very challenging while high level ones became the masters of creation - 5e does a bit better on balance).
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Looking for reference materials for running games using 2nd edition ruleset (AD+D). I would need access to and possible downloads of the players guide and DM guide. For use with the various tabletop creator apps available and other world building toolsets. As for the monsterous compendiums available, are these critters although 5th edition ruleset scaled usable with 2nd edition games? I know there were 2nd edition compendiums available in the 70's, but are these materials still available in digital form?
Unfortunately, all of those publications are still covered by copyright and the rules of the forum prevent posters from sharing where or if these might be available in digital form. If they are available, I'd suggest trying your favorite search engine and see what you can find.
DMsguild/DriveThru has these for sale.
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/16868/Players-Handbook-Revised-2e?src=hottest_filtered&filters=0_0_45381_0_0_45347_0_0
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17552/Dungeon-Master-Guide-Revised-2e?src=hottest_filtered&filters=0_0_45381_0_0_45347_0_0
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/16865/Monstrous-Manual-2e?src=also_purchased&filters=0_0_45381_0_0_45347_0_0
Note that this includes MC1 and MC2 and monsters from other books.
2nd edition came out in 1989.
I’m not saying this as a gotcha. I’m just trying to clarify if you are looking for 2nd edition or 1st. Since first was what was around in the 70’s.
2nd edition from the 70's Advanced Dungeons and dragons. Ok I guess it is called 1st edition now. Back then the paperbacks were the first editions, just Dungeons and Dragons. And 2nd edition was the first hardbound tomes. I found what I am looking for at Dungeon Masters guild! Thank you so much Greenstone_Walker , exactly whnt I want, PDF versions of the rules that I can make copies of and distribute among the players (the guide). Now all I need to do is find players at my senior living community I hope to live at soon! I guess I wont need a DM screen or dice anymore either!
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons from the 1970s is still "1st edition."
In the 1990s, there was a "Second edition of AD&D" which is what people usually mean when they talk about "2nd edition." This was the last edition that was called "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons," and the last that TSR published. After WOTC took it over, they dropped the "advanced" name, stopped publishing alternative "basic" rules that took you all the way to epic levels but with a simplified rule set, and started just calling it "Dungeons and Dragons."
But the original AD&D is NOT the "second edition" of D&D. It is the FIRST edition of AD&D.
If you want that original version, it's here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/17003/Players-Handbook-1e
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
But note, this version and any others are not the actual original printings. They will be PDFs or reprints if you get the paperback/hardback.
Scans of the Big 3 books for 1e AD&D are clean and look great. There are a few minor errata in them but otherwise they are excellent in quality. I have the PDFs and also the hardback print-on-demand from Drive Thru. They are great.
Note that some of the other books, like Deities and Demigods and Fiend Folio are based on what appear to be much older/lower quality scans. They are readable, but unlike the DMG, MM, and PHB, you will be able to tell it is a scan. The "big 3" books look as clean as if they were first-run original prints, on the inside, but not the other books I've tried. Still worth getting them if you want to play AD&D or even just have the reference.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
One quick comment ...
If you are looking to get some folks interested in playing D&D - I would suggest 5e rather than 1e. I've been playing D&D since the late 70's and the game, in my opinion, has evolved over the years and I would say 5e is the most accessible and streamlined while retaining the same flavor of classic D&D. You can probably find pdf versions of 5e out there as well and it would likely be a better choice for folks who have played any previous version of D&D (except maybe 4e since that one took a distinctively different approach).
I would also tend to avoid 3e, 3.5e and Pathfinder since the complexity ramped up quite a bit through those editions. 5e has the advantage that folks can build fun and interesting characters but even if they don't optimize they will still have fun and contribute. I'd also add that the magic using classes are far more balanced and fun to play in 5e than in 1e (low level wizards or illusionists were very challenging while high level ones became the masters of creation - 5e does a bit better on balance).