Ars Technica:
No matter your edition or specific RPG of choice, today D&D continues to be the measuring stick by which other pen-and-paper games are judged, be it on sales, popularity, or even complexity. For many gamers over the course of the game’s existence, D&D has been the entry point into role-playing which sparks a lifetime of storytelling and adventure.
So, with more than a year behind it, how does the newest edition of D&D hold up for newbies and hardcore fans alike?
I’m tempted to find a game to play this latest edition but I’m afraid the game won’t be as fun in middle age as it was in high school and college. I think I’ll leave my fond memories of playing intact.
If finding people near you who are fun to play with is a stumbling block, there are lots of DMs who hold pickup gaming sessions over Google+ hangouts.
CF https://nerdarchy.com/2014/09/play-dungeons-dragons-5th-edition-google-hangouts-air/
While I’d rather play 5e than 3e or 4e, and while 5e does—in some ways—recall some of the style of earlier TSR editions; I still choose to play the older games. Which, unlike 5e, Wizards sells full versions of in digital form.
And there are some great clones of the older editions available for free: Labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry, Basic Fantasy, Lamentations of the Flame Princess Weird Fantasy Roleplaying…too name just a few.
Strange. I played a bunch of RPGs but none of those. My favorite was DragonQuest. I also liked the learning system from RuneQuest. And I liked the dice from EarthDawn.
I still have my original D&D books (3rd printing with 1st printing of some supplements). The AD&D 5th edition sounds good but just don’t have time to join a campaign for now. It is hard enough finding time to play war-games from the 70s and 80s solitaire. But some day . . .
Well, all the ones I named are—to one extent or another—simply classic D&D with some minor variations. Made because the creators wanted to do something with classic D&D but couldn’t legally (at least at the time).
On the RuneQuest front, I think there are a couple of free clones of it out there. Mongoose publishes their version under the name “Legend” since they lost the license. And Chaosium is republishing the old 2nd edition.
I don’t think there is currently a DragonQuest clone, but I know at least one person who is contemplating creating one.
It’s good. Try it out! (Former retired player)