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From: lasko@regina.DEC
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Re: "The AD&D Module Competition"
Message-ID: <3721@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Sep-84 10:05:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.3721
Posted: Mon Sep 24 10:05:34 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 07:43:47 EDT
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Organization: DEC Engineering Network
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[SET FLAME/LOW]

I'll assume that "DM/Gandalf_as_a_player_character/Republican" was 
referring to me by the nickname "Mr. Democrat".

Since D/G/R apparently misunderstood me, I will repeat myself.  AD&D and 
D&D ARE NOT THE SAME.  TSR currently owns four fantasy role-playing games
(one of them, Dragonquest, doesn't enter into this discussion).  The first
Dungeons & Dragons (the old brown or white box, now called the Original
or Collectors set), Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (characterized by hardcover
books), and the newer Dungeons & Dragons (characterized by softcover books
or boxed sets, lacking the word "Advanced" on the cover.)  In fact, there
was even an intermediate version of Basic D&D that was sold in a boxed set
with a light blue rulebook, but I haven't seen any of those around in some
time.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons contains rules to cover levels 5-15.  And I 
believe that the top level covered in the Expert Set of the D&D rules is
14, but I will double check.  One cannot mix AD&D and D&D rules systems
together officially (such as for a contest entry), and I wouldn't really
want to in any case, since AD&D covers quite a bit more.  So, D/G/R, which
is it?  D&D, AD&D, either, both, or neither?  And, if I'm restricted to
just the Expert Set of D&D rules, I'm going to have a lot of angry
MUs who can't cast 1st level spells because they aren't "covered" in the
Expert Set, and players in general will be a bit peeved if they can't
use the Cure Light Wounds spell because it isn't "covered" in the Expert
Set.  And I, as a module designer, would like to have access to the
beasties described ONLY in the Basic Set.  But, I suppose you are correct,
levels 5-15 are not covered by the Basic Set!  Gosh.  I hesitate to
correct your grammar, but perhaps you meant:

Frankly, levels 5-15 may ONLY be covered by either the Expert, or the 
  Advanced rules, ...

instead of...

>>Franly, level 5-15 may ONLY be covered by Expert & Advanced rules,

I fail to see how "expert D&Ders" can not be aware of the differences
and history behind the several Dungeons & Dragons games.  I can read quite
well, thank you, and I've been an avid GM and role-player for over eight
years. I could have come up with a clearer, and more consistent set of rules 
by cribbing from the rules to several of the Dragon's Module Design 
Competitions.  Please, do feel free to post clarifications.  What stands 
now sounds a lot like: "Hey everyone, give me all of your good ideas,
'cause I've run out." 

Again, correcting your grammar, hesitatingly, and only to prove my point:

>>This has been a DM, and Gandalf as a player character

implies two people, since one cannot be a DM and a player character at the
same time.  DM's run non-player characters.

[SET FLAME/MEDIUM]
Incidentally, I am a moderate Republican, not any flavor of Democrat.  I don't
wish to engage in politics here, merely state my position.

(And why don't you use your name(s)?)

Tim Lasko             
Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard Mass.
"The opinions expressed are not those of my employer"

{decvax, ihnp4, allegra, ucbvax, ... }!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-regina!lasko 
lasko%regina.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA