The FEZ: I and Quest for the Fazzlewood Giveaway (Mini Cancer Fund Drive) is on (through May 21, 2012). Every $10 donated gives you one chance to win (details/rules described in the above-linked post): either FEZ 1 (the 1982 Valley of Trees version), the Quest for the Fazzlewood from Metro Detroit Gamers. Multiple drawings will be held as described in the above linked post. The two highest donors (in amount donated) will receive TSR's Warriors of Mars, TSR's Metamorphosis Alpha and/or FGU's Royal Armies of the Hyborean Age. These items are in addition to the usual PDF downloads and other benefits of a donation to the RetrpoRoleplaying Cancer Fund. To get help us pay our cancer treatment related bills (and to get access to some special downloads and possibly the above mentioned giveaway items), send a donation in any amount -- small or large -- to me via Paypal. Thank you!
OD&D Rules
Original D&D -- Finding the Rules
TSR kept the Original D&D in print for the last six years of the 1970s. While they are now out of print, copies of the later printings are easy to get (and often very affordable) on eBay -- click here for more information on buying Original D&D items on eBay. Copies in PDF format are also available for US$5 or US$6 a book or set. A PDF of the Blackmoor supplement is even available for free on the author's web site. Click on each rules item in the right column to go to a page with more information on the item and how to obtain it.
Fan Rules Restatements
Fan "restatements" of older editions of D&D using the Open Gaming License and D&D SRD from Wizards of the Coast have become fairly popular in recent years. Such a retroclone of Original D&D is now available. It's called Swords & Wizardry and you can find out more about it here:
Also, one fan has put a hypertext version of the combined Original D&D Boxed Set and Greyhawk rules on the web. Unfortunately, this set leaves a number of important details out -- like how much damage a monster can take before it is dead -- which means it is really only useful for those who already have a copy of the rules.
What Rules Do I Really Need?
The original edition of D&D has a number of rulebooks, however, most are not necessary to play the game. All you really need is a copy of the White Box set of rules. The Greyhawk supplement adds quite a bit to the game and many OD&D players and Dungeon Masters use these additional rules. You will need a copy of Chainmail if you want to use the original combat system instead of the optional system. Everything else for OD&D is optional.
That said, I personally recommend starting with the Holmes Basic Set rules. They are a great introduction to Original D&D. As they are only about 50 pages, you can buy the PDF and print it out at very little cost. While the Holmes Basic Set rules only take you to third level, with the free four page pdf fan "Holmes Companion" you can go to sixth level with no additional purchases. You can then get copies of the White Box rules if you find you like playing OD&D. Pick up a pdf copy of either the B1 or B2 module (which work almost as well with Original D&D as classical D&D) and you are ready to play. Total cost, about US$10.
