Bought Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set (1980) What next?

Question

I am trying to get my daughter interested in D&D. I bought the 1980 Basic Set on ebay. Once we get the hang of this do I just buy different modules or do I have to purchase games? Plus does anybody know the name of the solo adventure in the basic set? Plus are the newer basic sets the same? I went with the 1980 set because it was cheaper, plus I had this set when it first came out and it got lost when I moved.

Answer 1

Oh wow, I'm going to make you a very happy person I fear! :) My daughter played some she just turned seven. Here's what you do, keep that set, because it's really good and should have everything you need.



First download my first SOURCE. It's a free module, HAUNTED TOWER, for a beginning character and a beginning player and can be played with just one player. It's fun, it's sort of a haunted house set up, and was created for a six year old using Classic (which covers the Basic Set) rules.



Next peruse the DragonsFoot forums, particularly the CLASSIC forums (my second SOURCE). This is a place where you can find information on rules clarifications, or ask questions to get clarifications and help. You'll find a lot of help and great suggestions there. I'd register as a user there, but you don't need to to read, only to post questions.



Other free resources/downloads that you should check out, when you've gotten refamiliar with the BASIC rules is the Labyrinth Lord Game (next SOURCE) and Basic Fantasy Role Playing Game (last SOURCE) both simulcra. Separate games the evoke the true spirit of Old School D&D which basic is a part. They help clarify some of the rules, but they have changes to rules as well. You can use them to see if there are ways to simplify or personalize your game. There's lots of free resources at those two websites, as well as at DragonsFoot, for you to download as well!



But please, definitely download my first source, it's a free adventure module, and great fun. It's a PDF, but if you don't have the ADOBE reader, thats a free download as well.



Good luck and good gaming!

Answer 2

Don't worry about getting the 'new' stuff. It's a different game going under the same name, you would hardly recognize it.



The Basic set is for starting out. For the higher levels they put out other Boxed Sets like Expert, Masters, Companion, & Immortals. Those boxed sets tell you what higher level characters can do. And what a DM can throw at them.



Adventures/modules are the stories/obstacle courses that characters actually explore, where the real playing is done.



There are Lots of modules compatible with the Basic D&D set you now have. They are available from a couple of different online merchants as cheap downloads. E bay isn't your only source.



When you get through with those, make your own. Or start using modules written for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First Edition. They'll be more compatible & cheaper than the 4th edition junk.



The name of that solo adventure is BSOLO: Ghost of Lion Castle



Stick with the rules system you know & love. You don't need to learn a new rules set- because new doesn't mean better.

Answer 3

You don't mention the age of your kid, that might be a big missing point.



Depending on the age, i'd follow different routes :



6-10 : the basic (red) set is fine, you'll find a lot of adventures by searching a bit on the internet. As time goes, you'll get to the "advanced" and "expert" sets (blue and green). most of the old modules have been re-edited for almost nothing. If you have a printer, pdf is your friend (it's cheap). Also you might want to find a few of these "be-the-hero" books, look in "used" bookstores, they're great introductions to roleplaying and fantasy settings, and this way your kid feels he does things by himself.



11-13 : basic is just a bit... basic, kid may want a bit more challenge, a bit more options. Either you go the 2nd edition way, still easy to play, lots of cheap books on ebay, i'd say find the forgotten realms set and buy the corresponding novels as an aside (it's great reading an epic novel and visiting the same places with your character)



14-16 : forget the basics, your kid is seeing everyday MMORPG players, computer RPG players, you need diversity, lots of options and real scale roleplaying. Go fot he 3.5 edition. the rules are free on the internet (www.d20srd.org) and by cruising the net you'll find the biggest free ressources available (settings, scenarios, etc.). Also with 4th ed coming, you may find great discount prices on 3.5 books (they sell for less than 15$ apiece right now)



If price is really a big matter, google is your best friend, you'll find nice free things for each and every edition there is. Otherwise, ebay is a good source, there are also very good sites which offer used books for a nice price. Internationaly-wise i can't help, but in france we have "ludikbazar" where you can find modules and scenarios for as cheap as 5$ apiece.

Answer 4

round up your friends for some good D&D fun



you only need sufficient dice to play your character

or enough to be the DM

books you need are the players handbook more than 1 is fine

as the players are constantly looking stuff up in them

Dungeon Masters Guide only 1 is needed for the DM

1 Monsters Manual also for the DM

a dry erase mat for drawing dungeons or other encounter sites on

miniatures are nice to have but not required

character record sheets either from the set or scanned into then printed out from your computer

several hours on a night everyone can gather to play



as for the new stuff on the market now

none of it is compatable with the 1980 box set

all this new stuff is for the 3.5-4th Ed's

you will need to keep looking on EBAY for the 1st-2nd Ed stuff