Those of us who play D&D in an iteration other than 5e, what do you play and why?
I’m a fan of AD&D 2e. It’s what was current when I started playing, and I’ve pored over those books with an intensity only a dorky teenager can muster. The last game I ran was a several-year-long 2e campaign. It’s the edition/system I know best, and running it is second nature to me. I typically run homebrewed settings, but I love the diversity of settings published for 2e: Planescape, Dark Sun, and the like really showed how far 2e could be pushed.
The only problem I have with 2e is that my wife did NOT enjoy the system. I’ll likely have to figure something else out when I run another game because given the choice between her and 2e, I’m going to go with my wife.
I have a special place in my heart for 2e. Baldurs Gate introduced me to DnD and the first campaign I ran was 2nd. 15 years later and we’re pretty much the same group, just on 5th now.
I play OSE which is B/X DnD with the serial numbers filed off - 2+ years of “Grand Campaign” (West Marches in modern parlance) gaming, and a folder full of dead characters, most of them from the early days when we were still accustomed to the new school gaming style.
4e!
It’s honestly a ton of fun. I like the tactical combat options, I like that everyone has a chance to shine without feeling overshadowed due to other classes, I like the minion system, the cinematic-like skill challenges, some interesting classes, and feats mean a lot.
I don’t think people realize how much 5e is a streamlined version of 4e with some tweaks. And anyone that says 4e isn’t RP heavy - that’s on your groups. We have entire sessions of roleplay no problem.
I’m not actively playing, but I’ve got a 4e one-shot ready for the next time my group can’t do the regular game, and I keep threatening them with 3e.
2e. We like the role playing more than rolling dice to simulate a pen and paper MMO.
I play 3.x (3.0/.5/PF1e. Folks in my group have different preferences and opinions between the 3, but what I run is mostly 3.5)
We like having a range of options to make characters feel unique.
We like having the game promote tactical movement and positional advantage.To me, these things help form the groundwork for my own encounter design, suspension of disbelief, and worldbuilding.
Does Pathfinder count? Cause I’m playing 2e right now.
