Free OSR - For Gold & Glory (AD&D 2e Clone)

I just finished playing in a 2-year-long AD&D 2e campaign run by JoetheLawyer. I realized mid-campaign that, except for my trip to Gen Con in '94, it was the only time I played 2e as a player. Go figure...

Today's Free OSR Pick is For Gold & Glory, a free clone of the core AD&D 2e rules.

Within these pages lie the keys to open worlds of wonder and adventure! Whether you are exploring dank dungeons, forging mighty kingdoms, or questing to save the world, For Gold & Glory contains all that you need to run a complete game. Inside these covers, you will find rules to:

• Create heroic characters and guide them as they advance in power.
• Equip characters with everything they need to survive the perils of adventure.
• Guide characters through encounters, whether through wits and skill or strength of arms.
• Reward characters with glittering wealth and wondrous treasures.
• Challenge all characters, from novices to veterans, with over 140 creatures both fair and foul.
• For players and game masters alike, For Gold & Glory is compatible with the second edition of the "advanced" version of the world's most popular role-playing game.

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Dungeons & Dragons Setting Sale at DTRPG - All Editions - Some Deep Discounta

There is a Dungeons & Dragons Setting Sale at DTRPG at the moment, and some of the discounts are deep. The average discount is 30%, but some discounts hit 40% or as high as 67%. I'll be highlighting a few Tavern Picks below.

Planescape Campaign Setting (2e) - love it or hate it, the original Planescape Campaign Setting is a thing of beauty. I'm partial to Sigil, The City of Doors myself. Discover the multiverse! Enter infinite universes of infinite variety, worlds beyond the prime-material settings of the AD&D game. Explore Sigil, the City of Doors, filled with portals to every layer of every plane. All you need is the right key. Until now, only the most powerful wizards could peek into the magnificent multiverse, but no longer! Gone are the unimaginable distances and the insurmountable obstacles that only the ultrapowerful could hope to overcome. Now even the greenest adventurer can enter the planes, though surviving long is another matter . . . . Have at it, berk! Powers, proxies, planars, petitioners, and wondrous monsters await just beyond the portal. Step through and partake of the infinite excitement of Planescape. 14.99 4.99

Dragonlance Campaign Setting (3.5) - With the new Dragonlance series from Weis & Hickman on the way, Dragonlance may see a resurgence. - Sagas from the lands of Krynn are filled with valiant heroes destined to discover ancient secrets and vanquish terrible evils. Like those great champions, you will band together with brave companions to set forth on daring adventures. The tales of those bold deeds will become the newest legends in the world of Dragonlance. From Solamnic Knights and Dragon Riders to kender, tinker gnomes, and draconians, the rich tapestry of the Dragonlance world comes alive in this campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. With historical content covering eras from the War of the Lance to the War of Souls, along with expanded rules for aerial combat, the Dragonlance Campaign Setting provides the character races, prestige classes, feats, spells, monsters, and maps you need to fully explore the world of Dragonlance. 14.99 4.99

T1-4 Temple of Elemental Evil (1e) - probably my favorite release from the 1e era of AD&D, I've run it multiple times. Good stuff. What began years ago, with the introduction of the players to the quiet village of Hommlet and the amazing lands of Greyhawk, at last is complete. Here is the long-awaited campaign adventure, featuring the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil, where a great evil broods and grows beneath its blasted stones. This is your chance to drive it back and scatter its force again. This product includes the village of Hommlet, the filthy shire of Nulb, and reveals the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil and the labyrinths that lie beneath, a warren of darkness. And beyond these ruins, even more is revealed. For the first time, this product provides a complete campaign adventure, which will take beginning characters from 1st all the way to 8th level and possibly beyond! Hours of adventuring await you! 9.99 5.99

Dark Sun Boxed Set (2e) - I had a lot of fun running the Dark Sun Setting, until we literally burned out -Amid the barren wastelands of Athas lie the scattered city-states, each in the grip of its own, tyrannical sorcerer-king. Protecting their own positions with dark magic, they demand absolute obedience. The restless mobs are placated with bread and circuses --the arenas overflow with spectators seeking release from their harsh lives. The land outside the cities belong to no one. Savage elves race across the deserts while insectoid Thri-Kreen satisfy their taste for blood. Dwarves labor at projects beyond the scope of men, and feral halflings lie in ambush. Athas is a land of deadly magic and powerful psionics that offers the promise of glory or even of survival. Those who do not have the cunning to face life on Athas will surely perish - leaving nothing but bones bleached white under the blistering rays of the DARK SUN.  9.99 5.99

B2 The Keep on the Borderlands (Basic) & Return to the Keep on the Borderlands (2e) - Possibly the best known of the original D&D modules, I ran it using 1e rules. The 2e version adds extra details while remaining true to the original source material. This module includes a cover folder with maps and a complete description booklet to form a ready-made scenario for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® Basic Set. It has been specially designed for use by beginning Dungeon Masters so that they may begin play with a minimum of preparations. Within are many features to aid novice players and Dungeon Masters: legends, history and background information, a list of adventuring characters, tips on how to be an effective Dungeon Master, plus an interesting area for characters to base themselves in (the Keep) before setting out to explore the Caves of Chaos.  Both versions: 4.99 2.99

Note: Unrelated to the above, Doug Rhea (NTRPG Con) is currently hospitalized regarding complications to his Stage 4 Cancer. Prayers and positive thoughts would be appreciated. I will update you when more information is available - Tenkar

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

News - Jeff Grubb's Lost Manuscript of the Mystara Setting for AD&D 2e to be Released for Free Later This Year

WotC actually gets it!

Sure, their attempts to appease the loud voices that don't actually play their games often fall flat, both with fans and those with the loud voices. This time, it's the less loud, but consistent voices that got heard, and I tip my hat to WotC for doing right by the fans of Mystara, also known as The Known World.

On Saturday, April 10th, over on the Piazza, it was announced that Jeff Grubb's lost manuscript of the Mystara Setting for AD&D 2e was going to be released to fans for free later this year at The Vaults of Pandius

Indeed, the cat is out of the bag now - I had been intending to make the announcement on the release of the unpublished AD&D Mystara worldbook. I had been in contact with Wizards of the Coast from whom I received consent to release it. Since then I've been working on editing the document to tidy it up, and to learn some graphic design to put the product into a more polished output. Given that the 25th anniversary of the Vaults was coming up I thought that that would be an appropriate date to work towards its release.

Further details can be found at Havard's Blackmore Blog: 

The Mystara Sourcebook was commissioned by TSR in 1990s and was to be part of the companies relaunch of the Classic D&D setting under the AD&D 2nd Edition rules. Mystara first appeared in published form in 1980 with the release of the adventure X1 Isle of Dread and was from that point on the default setting of the B/X and BECMI D&D line which also incorporated Blackmoor. 

Sadly, the nearly completed book that Jeff Grubb had written was never published as curious reversals of decisions within TSR's management and sales department at the time suddenly decided that instead of a book presenting all of Mystara to AD&D 2nd Ed fans, they instead wanted a product focusing only on the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. 

Jeff Grubb describes some of the contents of "the lost manuscript" on his blog, Grubb Street. 

Lastly, there were suggestions of publishing this anyway. The document itself was in first draft state and then abandoned before it was completed, is awash in typos, sarcastic comments, and unfinished sections. It is unplaytested, unreviewed, unrevised, and untouched by human hands. Even with permission, it would need a lot of work. So I have doubts about its usefulness, other than as a historic artifact. But I am posting here a summary of what survived in the files I had printed out at the time.  I'll point out that most of them are just gatherings of previous information scattered about the various Gazetteers, updated and brought into 2nd edition. Here's how it all broke down: (you'll need to go to the source to see the breakdown).

If you'd prefer a video recap, you can find it here:

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

New “Old” in Print - Guide to Hell (AD&D 2e)

This might be one of a handful of AD&D 2e releases I do not own from back in the day. I remember how 2e did away with demons and devils, and the 2e Guide to Hell brings back devils - and Hell. Go figure ;)

Diabolical threats lurk everywhere in the world of the AD&D game. Heroes who fight evil on the Prime Material Plane may contend with forces whose power rises from the depths of Hell. Adventurers who travel to Hell meet devildom on its own terms and risk not only their lives, but also their everlasting souls.  

Guide to Hell is a comprehensive look at the nature of devils, ways for heroes to battle them, and the twisted geography and politics of the Nine Layers in the AD&D game. The decision to "go to Hell" should never be made lightly—but once it is made, this book will give the DM everything he or she needs to make the experience memorable for all the heroes... at least, those who survive. 

Four new PC kits: the Devil Slayer, the Thaumaturgist, the Inquisitor, and the Hellblade A devil-fighting organization adaptable for any campaign New spells and magical items with a diabolical twist Advice for DMs on integrating the infernal into their campaigns Full statistics on the Lords of the Nine, the rulers of the Nine Hells The secret history of Hell and the Dark Lord of Nessus, Asmodeus Statistics for all major devil types, plus a new devil created especially for this book at least, those who survive.

• Four new PC kits: the Devil Slayer, the Thaumaturgist, the Inquisitor, and the Hellblade
• A devil-fighting organization adaptable for any campaign
• New spells and magical items with a diabolical twist
• Advice for DMs on integrating the infernal into their campaigns
• Full statistics on the Lords of the Nine, the rulers of the Nine Hells
• The secret history of Hell and the Dark Lord of Nessus, Asmodeus
• Statistics for all major devil types, plus a new devil created especially for this book

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Kickstarter - MaximumHP - RPG Zine #003

Tabletop RPG Zine Issue #003 "The Wilderness" A zine for 1E / 2E / OSRIC gamers.

Gotta love any magazine that shows love for AD&D :) Maximum HP is the Kickstarter you are looking for...

At Fail Squad Games, we offer rousing content for your classic tabletop roleplaying games. What follows in this and upcoming issues of Maximum HP are articles, notes, tips, tricks, traps, and treasures for your 1E / OSRIC gaming table. To keep the zines fresh and exciting, we have liberated ourselves from a production deadline to allow us to channel maximum creativity into each issue. 

Our intent is to share the Fail Squad Games style with other old school gamers to enrich their gaming experience. The zine format presents small, easy to digest articles firmly rooted in the spirit of the older edition games and magazines. Although the content may be informal, we want the physical product and presentation to be the best we can deliver for the cost.

Welcome to issue #003 – The Wilderness issue of Maximum HP, The old school zine for a new school world. In this issue we delve into the wild forests of the world. The deep green places oft forgotten on the way to the dungeon. Here there are fey, wild creatures, and hidden secrets kept by nature and the unknown. The game might have the word dungeons in it, but it doesn't end there!

News - Fantasy Grounds has just released Officially Licensed AD&D 2E modules for the PHB, MM, DMG and N1 Adventure

I received the following from Doug Davidson (Fantasy Grounds) via the Tenkar's Tavern Facebook page:

Fantasy Grounds just released officially licensed AD&D 2E modules for the PHB, MM, DMG and N1 adventure.  

We added a 2E ruleset to all Standard and Ultimate licenses where people can enter their own data if they don't want to buy the preloaded module content we sell. 

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/?sys=27

I would have preferred 1e or B/X but this is a heluva good sign that there are more classic rulesets in the works. Notice that the adventure converted to Fantasy Grounds is N1 - a classic AD&D 1e adventure.

Interesting times!

edit - From a comment of Facebook:

There is a free extension that makes the 2e ruleset a AD&D ruleset.
You actually get the rules engine (automation) free with the program. You need to buy the books to get the content, but you could enter is all yourself if you wanted to.
DCC also got an official ruleset the same day.

Kickstarter - Citadel of Terror - An Adventure for 5E and 1st/2nd Ed

I'm a huge fan of AD&D 1e. It's literally what brought me into the hobby. I'm a big fan of New Comet Games. Ben Burns knows how to put out quality Kickstarters. Slip in Paul Riegel, about as old school as it comes and Citadel of Terror rates as a no-brainer.

Citadel of Terror is a Fantasy RPG adventure module written by Paul Riegel-Green and Ben Burns for Fifth Edition (5E) and also converted to be used in 1st/2nd Edition games. This adventure takes place in a new fantasy setting, The World of Darknoth, being released by New Comet Games later this year. Citadel of Terror can also work in any setting.

Citadel of Terror is a starting adventure module for 4-8 players of level 1-4, written by Paul Riegal-Green. The adventure is set in the Kingdom of Addenshire, on the continent of Draconia, in the World of Darknoth. Darknoth is a dark and dangerous world, born from the ashes of all that has come before and been destroyed.  

To get more information about the Kingdom of Addenshire, be sure to select a Hero Reward Tier or higher, to include the Addenshire Gazetteer in your rewards. The Gazetteer provides an initial look at the description and background for the Kingdom, providing special information for the area surrounding the city of Adwick for a more in depth experience for your players. The Gazatteer will be written by Gary Van Binsbergen, creator of the World of Darknoth. 

PDF is 12 bucks. Print (POD) plus PDF is 19 bucks plus shipping. Higher reward levels include the gazetteer.

Dragons Flash Sale - Classic TSR Era Dragon Related Picks

WotC is running a flash sale on Dragon themed releases from various editions of Dungeons & Dragons. I'll be highlighting some picks from D&D 2e and earlier. (as this post goes live there is just under a day and a half left for the sale)

AC10 Bestiary of Dragons & Giants (Basic) - Red dragons. Storm giants. Dragon rulers. Frost giants. They're all here, in this book, in complete, ready-to-play mini-adventures. No matter what level your characters are, there is something here for you (and them). Need a diversion? Want to spice up a long-running campaign? Want to play, but don't have more than an hour or so? This is the book for your gaming group. As DM, you have everything you'll need to play right at your fingertips. As players, you'll have challenges worthy of your characters.  5.00 1.65

Council Of Wyrms (2e) - Council of Wyrms provides everything you need to create a campaign for dragon player characters. In addition, there are rules for creating elf, dwarf, and gnome "kindred" for your dragon, and details on two new character types: half-dragons and dragon slayers. Inside you'll find: A 64-page Rules book packed full of rules for creating and playing dragon, kindred, and half-dragon player characters, A 64-page Campaign book detailing a dragons' campaign and the legendary Council of Wyrms, revealing the secrets of dragonkind and outlining new player-character kits, A 64-page Adventures book to challenge the strongest dragon characters, 12 full-color reference cards, 3 full-color posters, including a dragons' size-comparison chart, a map of the dragons' island homes, and a guide to the dragon clans.  9.99 3.30

Draconomicon (2e) - The creatures of lore and legend-of myth and mystery - only the dragons know the answers to the secrets and ciphers that surround them. But brave adventuring souls who have gone before have left behind clues and epistles with valuable information for anyone in pursuit of dragons. This tome is a compilation of the lifetime efforts of numerous dragon-hunting adventurers, presented to those who crave hints and leads for dragon-questing.  9.99 3.30

Dragon Kings (2e) - Only the most powerful characters are destined to rule Athas. Warriors with vast armies of followers campaign for glory; rogues become masters of illusory magic to further their deadly schemes; spellcasters who can also master psionics open whole new tomes of magic available only to them - the most powerful spells ever! And not only do they gain greater magic, the spellcasters take on entirely new forms when they advance beyond 20th level - clerics can attain elemental form; preservers mutate into magnificent avangions; defilers can actually transform into dragons themselves! Learn of these advanced beings, the new magical spells available to them, plus new psionic devotions and organizations, military vehicles and army lists, and more, all within the pages of Dragon Kings!        9.99 3.30

The Dragon's Den (Basic) - The dragon laughs and prepares to strike. But you were nearly defeated by his minions, and you are now too weak to wield your sword. Your magic-user is out of spells; your other comrades, too, have lost their fighting spirit. What hope have you of defeating the vile dragon? Do you run, or do you try one last, desperate plan? This new entry-level supplement to the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game lets you and your friends play mighty fighters, crafty magic-users, and cunning elves, thieves, dwarves, and more! Inside this box you'll find three complete adventures, each featuring a different dragon. But before you and your friends can confront a fiendish black, green, or red dragon, you must first fight off hordes of evil lizard men, troglodytes, bugbears, and more! Then it's up to you to escape from the dungeon alive!   4.99 1.65

Atlas of the Dragonlance World (1e) - Krynn... Enter the spell-binding world of the Dragonlance Saga with this volume of beautifully rendered maps. Accompany the Heroes of the Lance on their epic travels across Krynn in this magnificently illustrated volume. Behold the beauty of the King Priest's Hall of Audience in the Temple of Istar. Smell Raistlin's herbs as you wander the hallways of the Tower of High Sorcery at Palanthas. Become hopelessly lost in the thirty-five levels of Mount Nevermind. 
4.99 1.65

DLE2 Dragon Magic (2e) - The Moons of Krynn are fading. The alignment forces of Good, Evil, and Neutrality are locked in conflict… and evil seems to be winning! The unnatural machinations of the treacherous Khardra—daughter of Takhisis herself!—have led to a crisis of cosmic proportions. The Heroes journey to the Cloud City Cirulon, heart of the Good Dragon races, there to meet the Astral Dragon himself. The nature of a plague claiming the lives of silver dragonhood is revealed, and the cure is presented to the companions. But the road to success is fraught with peril, the only route leading through a secret portal. If this portal becomes known to the forces of evil, disaster will surely result. This AD&D adventure, set in the world of the Dragonlance saga, follows In Search of Dragons. Some burning questions are answered but more are raised. And as the players investigate, the knowledge they gain seems to point more and more to a sinister threat of evil undreamed of since the War of the Lance.  4.99 1.65 (note - Print on Demand for this release is 4.99)

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Kickstarter - The World of Center Campaign Sourcebook fantasy RPG D&D 2e

"The World of Center Sourcebook presents players and DM’s with an extensive range of expanded material designed around the 2nd edition of the first and original Fantasy RPG. The World of Center was created to be a full campaign world where the DM and players are able to run adventures within the realms."

Here's something I don't quite get - the project creator is particular enough NOT to refer to D&D in the opening paragraph -  "designed around the 2nd edition of the first and original Fantasy RPG" and yet has D&D right there in the project title. He knows he should avoid referring to it, yet he wants it for search engine purposes. Sigh.

Alright, so what exactly is The World of Center Sourcebook? The short of it - Someone's 2e houserules and setting. The long of it:

The World of Center Sourcebook is the core reference guide providing the game features necessary to experience this expanded and augmented adventure setting. It is usable in whole or adaptable in part to any 2nd edition campaign and is adaptable to most other Fantasy RPG’s. 

The 280 page book contains expanded classes, races, spells, magic items, monsters, consolidated combat options, deities, religious orders and more. Individually, the subjects covered can easily be taken piecemeal and inserted into any campaign and collectively provide a fully fleshed framework of rulings and expansions to launch a World of Center campaign. 

I played - and ran - more 2e AD&D than I did 1e AD&D, but once the bloat of Complete Handbooks started, I longed to return to 1e. I have little desire to return to 2e at this stage in my gaming career. (come to think of it, I ran all of our D&D campaigns back in HS and College. Except for two or three sessions early on and two conventions, I only got to be a player in non-fantasy RPG campaigns)

Admittedly I find this project intriguing - price points aren't bad ($12 PDF and $25 for trade paperback print plus PDF) for 280 pages of gaming material, but 2e simply doesn't do it for me these days.

Add in this isn't just a "first created" but also "zero backed" and I'll probably pass on this one. Apparently, its all written and laid out (art included) and will ship next month. For the 2e fans, this may be of interest.

Oh, I do find the color art to be trippy ;)

AD&D 2e Core Books Plus Planescape Bundle - 8 Books - 15 Bucks

Its strange that I don't see these bundles directly linked under the OSR Sale going on at RPGNow. In any case, in addition to the AD&D 1e bundle and the D&D Rules Cyclopedia and Gazetteer bundle there is the AD&D 2e plus Planescape Bundle.

Here's what you get for your 15 bucks:

Players Handbook, 2e

DMG, 2e

Monstrous Manual, 2e

Plansecape - Original Boxes Set

In the Cage: Guide to Sigi

Planes of Chaos

Planes of Conflict

Planes of Law

Eight PDFs, 15 bucks

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TSR PDF Release -FRQ1 Haunted Halls of Eveningstar (2e)

I've mentioned before that I cut my gaming teeth on AD&D 1e. I stuck with that to the day AD&D 2e released - because newer is better, right? That all being said, I mostly stuck to 1e adventures when I ran something that was prepackaged. Nothing came close to moving me to 2e adventures until I found Haunted Halls of Eveningstar (2e).

It was a campaign starter, a small setting, a town, a dungeon and hooks for other stuff, assuming the DM was willing to flesh it out. I reused the Haunted Halls many a time. So much to use in a 32 page adventure.

From the blurb:

Welcome to the picturesque village of Eveningstar, nestled at the foot of the Stonelands where the River Starwater winds down a gorge and snakes into the King's Forest. Here, the Knights of Myth Drannor began their famous adventures. Here, the Ladies of the Brazen Blade, The Company of the Singing Sword, The Steel Shield Band, and many other came, clutching royal charters from King Azoun with the ink scarcely dry on the parchment. Some fell, some went on to greatness-but they all came here first; to the Haunted Halls.  

Despite numerous infiltrations, the Halls have not yet yielded all their secrets or treasures. Many dangers lurk as deadly as ever in dark chambers herein, awaiting new companies of eager-eyed adventurers.  

Is it your turn to dare The Haunted Halls? Many come, but few survive to again see Eveningstar's beauty.  

Welcome, then. Enter in, and find in these pages: 

A challenging introductory level dungeon.
A detailed countryside setting, including important local personages, local color, and guidelines for play. Suggested campaign plots and adventures.
New spells.
New magical items.
New monsters. 

A splendid campaign can begin here. Adventurers in an ongoing campaign can stop by for a memorable visit. Those looking for an underground stronghold may even find a home in the Haunted Halls of Eveningstar.

Haunted Halls just released on RPGNow for $4.99 in PDF. Well worth the money if you are looking for a campaign starter.

I'm less impressed with the recent POD releases from the TSR era.

The Ravenloft release is from 3e (and post TSR), and I'm sure the original isnt had to find. Never even heard of The Tree of Life before.

For Gold & Glory - Free PDF (2e Clone)

I was surprised to see that For Gold & Glory was no longer hosted on it's old site. The reason for that apparently is that it is no longer a work in progress but a full release (or at least a true beta).

It's now hosted on Lulu, where it can be grabbed for free in PDF.

No print option as far as I can tell.

I've read thru the rules, but has anyone actually taken them for a spin? I'd love to hear about it if you have.

Carl Sargent - Whatever Happened to the Man that last Defined Greyhawk 2e?

The great +Joe D asked the following question during tonight's game session:

What ever happened to Carl Sargent, the man who defined Greyhawk for AD&D 2e?

So, does anyone know?

I Played More AD&D 2e Than Any Other Version of D&D - So Why Do I Detest it So Much?

Actually, the answer to that is fairly simple, at least at its core:

Bloat.

Sure, 3e probably had more bloat, but it wasn't all coming from the same company, despite the best efforts of FFE.

2e just seemed to collapse under it's own weight - and I'm not just talking about it's infinite number of settings. No, I'm referring to the series of Complete Handbooks. Talk about ways to unbalance and kill a campaign. I guess it was good that there was always a new setting to move on to after the pervious campaign imploded under the new and better unbalanced rules (not even going to touch Skills & Powers or whatever it was called).

Heck, I didn't even know of the EGG drama going on behind the scenes, as this was before the internet for me.

I started gaming with AD&D 1e and ended my first tour of gaming with 2e. When I returned, I wanted a game that felt like 1e. C&C was close but not quite. 3e seemed like 2e on steroids. 4e didn't even seem like D&D to me anymore.

So now I run AD&D 1e / OSRIC and S&W Complete / C&T. I still can't run without houseruling either, but that's a whole 'nother post.

I have fond memories of playing 2e, but that seems to be more in spite of the rules, not because of them, at least as we allowed the bloat to take over the game.

What are your memories / feelings about AD&D 2e?

The TSR Reprints Keep on Coming - AD&D 2e Hits in May 2013

I just caught this on Joe the Lawyer's blog - AD&D 2e is being reprinted in May of 2013. I don't think this is "new" news, but it's certainly worth mentioning.

You really can't blame WotC for pushing earlier edition reprints like they are going out of style - they have very little RPG related income coming in between now and the release of 5e based on new products and they need to fill the gap anyway they can.

As a bit (alright, huge bit) of a grognard, I'm very happy with the reprints they are putting forth. My 2e books, much like Joe states on his blog, have the worst binding of any RPG books I own, with the possible exception of Unearthed Arcana for 1e.

I still remember taking a walk out to "Discount Books" in Jackson Heights to grab my copy of the Player's Handbook for  AD&D 2e the day it released. Needless to say, it wasn't discounted. ;)

I want ToEE to be reprinted, as I ran that so many times it is literally beat to all hell...

More TSR Era Reprints on the Way - I'm Guessing These Proceeds Won't be Going the the Gygax Memorial Fund This Time

Grognardia, The Greyhawk Grognard and Bat in the Attic all have posts about the upcoming latest round of reprints from the TSR days.

Now, the AD&D 1e reprints were marketed as giving part of the proceeds to the Gygax Memorial Fund. AD&D 2e was an attempt to remove Gygax's name from the AD&D line. Well, that and the good ole' "New Edition means more money!"

So, I think it's safe to assume there will be no trickle down to the Gygax Memorial Fund from the 2e sales as the books were "Gygax Free".

The A series and the S series in hardcover is damn interesting. I think there's more of a market for the modules than the rules but I could be wrong. Guess we'll know next spring.

At least we know how WotC is weathering the storm between editions. Reprint cash cow is in effect ;)

Let's Play the AD&D 2nd Edition Trivia Game!

We used to play the shit out of this game back in the early 90's.  We never used anything but the trivia cards.  Speed and accuracy in your answers is what mattered.  So I'm going to run a game for fabulous prizes using the AD&D 2e Trivia Game!  Alright, maybe not fabulous, but they should be fairly nice in any case.

Prizes are One (1) $10 gift certificate to RPGNow for the point leader at the end of the game.

Additionally, there will be some PDFs of the Toys For the Sandbox series to give out randomly to all those that enter.  How many?  At least 5, maybe 10.

You entries for a random prize equals your points earned.  So if you have 11 points, you have 11 entries.  The winner of the gift certificate is not eligible for a random prize.

How to play:

I'm going to post questions from the Trivia Game at the end of this post (and at the end of other random posts) until the end of the month.  That means the game ends at the end of the day, May 31st, 2012.

I may post anywhere from 1 to 4 questions.

Each question has a base point value of 1 to 4 (the number will accompany the question)

Points are awarded as follows.

Each wrong answer before the right answer for that question is given - 1 point, maximum 4 points per set of questions.


First right answer per question - base point value (if you correctly answer all questions, you get full point value) - Note, If I got the question wrong when I read it, it's worth an extra point above and beyond if you get it right!


Each right answer that was previously answered correctly, 1 point per question, so long as one question remains to be answered correctly


Wrong or Right answers after all questions have been answered correctly - 1 point for each entrant for the comment in question (not 1 point per question)


Deleted comments will be treated as wrong answers and scored appropriately


One entry per person per set of questions.  First post for the entrant is the one that counts.


When I close a comment thread to additional entries, no more points can be earned from that set of questions


Let the Games Begin!

Question 1 - 2 Points -  If a fighter wants the best Armor Class rating, which of the following should he wear?


a - plate mail and shield
b - full plate armor
c - bronze plate mail and shield
d - banded mail and shield


Question 2 - 3 Points - Which has a longer range, a light crossbow or a longbow?


Question 3 - 5 Points (+1 Bonus)  How is a greater pegasus created?


Those are the questions - now get cracking!