RC is perhaps the single most complete volume of the classic D&D game... I can't think of any other one book you could buy that would so completely support all levels of play.

RCs are getting expensive... I found one last year in immaculate condition for $25, a feat I don't think I'd be able to repeat.  Your other option would be to go with some sort of simulacrum product... I recently bought a copy of Labyrinth Lord and plan on bringing that to the table instead to save wear and tear on my old books.  The simulacrum games are similar enough that you could import optional RC systems whole-hog with little difficulty, in fact I've seen a few PDFs of BECMI-style systems for LL and BFRPG.  

Really, what I'll end up running is LL with D&D/AD&D monster supplements (AC9, the Fiend Folio, and the Random Esoteric Creature Generator), the jousting rules from Chainmail, and Mass Combat and Dominion rules from BECMI/RC should the players ever get there.  I'll also probably import the high-level options for fighters and clerics (Paladins, Avengers, Knights and Druids) but again that's sometime down the road.

A $5 PDF is certainly a good deal, its a very detailed system, the result of nearly two decades of development.  I heard the scan wasn't of the best quality though.

Quote from: Technomancer;280761Do you know anyone with high speed internet and a CD burner?  If so just download it to their computer and copy it to a CD.

Heck, you might be able to do it at a public library or university.

Not for a while. I've asked customer services if there is any way around it. We'll see, i guess.

Quote from: One Horse Town;280755As i thought. My piddly PC cannot download it and i'm not resetting and starting again. I've bought the damned thing, so i don't mind asking if anyone here has the pdf that they wouldn't mind e-mailing me with. If a kind soul is game, i'll PM you my e-mail address.

Thanks awfully.

Edit: Actually, that could be too big a file for my e-mail to cope with. I wouldn't mind giving it a try though.

You could get Free Download Manager, then download the pdf using that. That way if your connection drops out, you won't have to start again.

I like the RC for collecting the BECM rules into a single volume (despite a few errors, here and there, and despite the horrible interior art).

If you're looking for an in-print book that won't cost you an arm and a leg (and with a free PDF), you might consider Labyrinth Lord, which is a B/X retro-clone that's even available through Amazon.  Like any retro-clone, there are a few minor differences from the original B/X rules, but you can check out the PDF for free to see if it's your thing, or not.

Quote from: Age of Fable;280794You could get Free Download Manager, then download the pdf using that. That way if your connection drops out, you won't have to start again.

Better yet, get out of the 90's and upgrade from dial-up.  

On a serious note, didn't one of the online places offer to burn purchased pdfs to a cd and ship it to you?  I seem to remember that being an option from one of the sites (can't remember which), but maybe I'm mistaken.  Granted, even if available that would cost more.

I prefer Holmes over Mentzer but the RC is a good book.  Some things about Basic bother me a bit, such as race/class and 3 alignments.  But Basic strips away some of the poorly motivated complexities of AD&D. RC gives you all the rules in one hardbound book, which is handy as my basic and expert rule books are in very poor shape.

Quote from: Nicephorus;281008Some things about Basic bother me a bit, such as race/class and 3 alignments.

I still think Alignment Languages are tricky to use in a semi-realistic way, but race/class is now something I like (again) very much.

[Aside]I'm going to be starting a game using B/X in March. At the moment it looks like it could be a pretty big group.  Old School big. [/aside]

I meant the 3 vs. 9 alignments of D&D vs. AD&D. But it's a very minor thing as it's easy to switch one for the other or largely ignore alignment.

Quote from: Nicephorus;281008I prefer Holmes over Mentzer but the RC is a good book.  Some things about Basic bother me a bit, such as race/class and 3 alignments.  But Basic strips away some of the poorly motivated complexities of AD&D. RC gives you all the rules in one hardbound book, which is handy as my basic and expert rule books are in very poor shape.

Actually I've always preferred the simple, iconic classes of basic D&D. It's just more pure. Half-elves? Multi-classed characters? Level 1 paladins? It just seems wrong to me!

Quote from: Philotomy Jurament;280992I like the RC for collecting the BECM rules into a single volume (despite a few errors, here and there, and despite the horrible interior art).

If you're looking for an in-print book that won't cost you an arm and a leg (and with a free PDF), you might consider Labyrinth Lord, which is a B/X retro-clone that's even available through Amazon.  Like any retro-clone, there are a few minor differences from the original B/X rules, but you can check out the PDF for free to see if it's your thing, or not.

The only advantage Labyrinth Lord has over RC is that LL is free.
Aside from that, like most "retro-clones" it ends up being a poorer product than the original, and when I read it I was smacking my head asking myself "why the fuck would anyone do this?! Why take the original and make tiny pointless fucking changes and then call it an entirely different game?  Why would anyone PLAY this instead of the original?"

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;281172The only advantage Labyrinth Lord has over RC is that LL is free.

Well, yeah, so it's a good way to see if the system works for you.  And you can get a new book (hardcover or softback) in print for cheaper than a used RC (unless you're super lucky).  And if you like B/X better than BECM, LL might be one-book solution that is closer to your preferences than the RC.  (And the RC's interior art bugs the shit out of me.)

QuoteAside from that, like most "retro-clones" it ends up being a poorer product than the original, and when I read it I was smacking my head asking myself "why the fuck would anyone do this?! Why take the original and make tiny pointless fucking changes and then call it an entirely different game?  Why would anyone PLAY this instead of the original?"

In almost all cases, I'd encourage people to play the original.  That is, if you like B/X, then get those boxed sets with the Erol Otus cover art and go to it.  If you like original D&D, then get on ebay or purchase some PDFs and go to it.

But, I also think the retro-clones have their place.  I addressed that in the other thread, already, so I won't repeat it, here.

Quote from: RPGPundit;281172The only advantage Labyrinth Lord has over RC is that LL is free...

People reading LL should know that it is based on the Moldvay/Cook Basic/Expert D&D rules, not the BECM/RC D&D rules.  LL is not meant to be a 'retro-clone' of the RC.

Quote from: RPGPundit;281172... when I read it I was smacking my head asking myself "why the fuck would anyone do this?! Why take the original and make tiny pointless fucking changes and then call it an entirely different game?  Why would anyone PLAY this instead of the original?"

RPGPundit

The minor changes are included for legal reasons.  

They're meant to be minor enough to (1) not substantially affect how the game is played (the experience of playing LL is pretty much the same as the experience of playing Basic/Expert D&D), and (2) the material produced for the retro-clone can be used directly with the original game.

It's really quite simple.

Quote from: Akrasia;281367People reading LL should know that it is based on the Moldvay/Cook Basic/Expert D&D rules, not the BECM/RC D&D rules.  LL is not meant to be a 'retro-clone' of the RC.

Yeah, I probably should have made that clearer.  I forget that not everyone knows of (or cares about) about the distinctions between stuff like 'BECM' and 'B/X'.

Right now I'm writing out some of the house rules for the game I'm running in March.  I have the Moldvay book next to me, but I've used the LL PDF a few times because it's easier to do quick searches with it.

Quote from: Stuart;281403

Could be because the monetary/economic system of D&D is completely whacked and prices don't make a hell of a lot of sense.  

Here's what I'm using: Philotomy's OD&D price list.  In this price system, you can think of a CP as being $2, a SP as being $10, and a GP as being $100 (all very roughly, of course).  It helps in estimating prices.  Not perfect, of course, but I like it better than the standard prices, and the monthly hireling prices help put things into perspective.