I've been looking over the RC lately based on recommendations here and some interest which people in my area have expressed in playing some of the game.

I'm wondering for those familiar with the game, why are Druids designed to be a class that you switch to after playing as a Cleric from levels 1-8?

I'm thinking of tweaking the class concept (as described in the RC) slightly and I'm wondering whether it would work to turn Druids into a separate class altogether. Simply follow the cleric progression but assume the Druidic strictures and allow use of Druid spells immediately.

Would this unbalance the class--making Druids too powerful, or alternately no one would want to play a Druid from 1st level? If the former would it help to disallow use of Cleric spells by Druids?

Quote from: Elliot Wilen... Would this unbalance the class--making Druids too powerful, or alternately no one would want to play a Druid from 1st level? If the former would it help to disallow use of Cleric spells by Druids?

I don't think there's any problem with allowing the Druid class from level 1 onwards, and letting them use regular cleric spells in addition to druid spells.

Keep in mind that druids have more stringent armour & weapon restrictions and cannot turn undead.  So they lose in terms of combat ability in return for extra spells.  Also, they have to be Neutral.

Quote from: Elliot WilenI'm wondering for those familiar with the game, why are Druids designed to be a class that you switch to after playing as a Cleric from levels 1-8?

From what I understand, it was a practical concern.  Druids (and Avengers/Knights, I think) were introduced in the Masters set.  Making the new classes work like a proto-"prestige" class reduced the need for ret-conning on the part of DMs who had worked their way through the books from Basic on up, and it allowed players who had put in just as much time to make use of the new classes rather than re-start at level 1.

I might trim there spell list to fit the campaign worlds 'Druids' a bit more, and don't forget you don't get spells as Cleric (or Druid) until level 2

Keeping the normal druids as advanced versions, but exchanging the elf's access from the Magic User spell list to the Druid spell list is another interesting option...

For the non-D&D-philes that read the forums, can someone explain what "RC" is?

Quote from: VellorianFor the non-D&D-philes that read the forums, can someone explain what "RC" is?

Rules Cyclopedia - a 1991 compilation of the Basic D&D rules from the various boxed sets.

Quote from: NicephorusRules Cyclopedia - a 1991 compilation of the Basic D&D rules from the various boxed sets.

Knowing so little of D&D or its various iterations, is such a thing even relevant these days?  Haven't 3.0, 3.5 and the rumored 4.0 basically relegated such a thing into the archival depths?  Or is this a nostalgia thing?

Quote from: VellorianOr is this a nostalgia thing?

It's a retro nostalgia thing.  For people who are tired of D20's rule bloat, RC is, on the whole, the cleanest simplest version of D&D (I like my Moldvay basic rules but the differences are very minor.)  Basic D&D never had as many weird complexities or extraneous charts as AD&D.

Quote from: VellorianKnowing so little of D&D or its various iterations, is such a thing even relevant these days?  Haven't 3.0, 3.5 and the rumored 4.0 basically relegated such a thing into the archival depths?  Or is this a nostalgia thing?

Part nostalgia, part simplicity. There's everything you need in that book, classes, monsters, constructing strongholds, becoming immortal...

Quote from: VellorianKnowing so little of D&D or its various iterations, is such a thing even relevant these days?  Haven't 3.0, 3.5 and the rumored 4.0 basically relegated such a thing into the archival depths?  Or is this a nostalgia thing?

:rolleyes:

Lots of people prefer pre-3e versions of D&D over 3.0 & 3.5.

Check out the OSRIC thread for info on an entire grass-roots movement to get new 1e AD&D material in print.

Quote from: VellorianKnowing so little of D&D or its various iterations, is such a thing even relevant these days?  Haven't 3.0, 3.5 and the rumored 4.0 basically relegated such a thing into the archival depths?  Or is this a nostalgia thing?

Relevant to what?  And what's with the "just" a nostalgia jab?

"I dunno, those percentile skill scores for thieves just don't speak to me, you know?  Using the d20 just makes more sense these days, given my life situation and the politics of the new century." :rolleyes:

[edit: gotta stop taking 10 minutes to post a note...Akrasia said it better!]

Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of D&D fantasy and level progression, ergo investing in 3.x isn't worth it for me. But since I know the old stuff reasonably well, and I've come across some people who've never played D&D and want to give it a try, I reckon I can use it for some quick & dirty adventuring with a clean rules set that's easily accessible to the players.

Thanks for the feedback, folks!

Quote from: SosthenesKeeping the normal druids as advanced versions, but exchanging the elf's access from the Magic User spell list to the Druid spell list is another interesting option...

An option that was already undertaken: its in the Elves of Alfheim gazeteer (actually, if I recall correctly, a combination of M-U, Druid and a couple of unique spells).

RPGPundit

Quote from: KenHRRelevant to what?  And what's with the "just" a nostalgia jab?

Well, firstly, apparently you read the "just" in there, because it's not in my original post, nor is it in your quote thereof.

As someone who doesn't know much about D&D (I've never played), I thought my questions were legitimate and there was no intention of running anyone down.  From my perception, when a new version supercedes an older version, the older version tends to fade away.  My experience is mostly with some specific games and quite a lot of software.  Usually those hanging on to the older versions do it for nostalgia reasons.  (Not "just" nostalgia reasons, I never said that.  You did.)

Quote"I dunno, those percentile skill scores for thieves just don't speak to me, you know?  Using the d20 just makes more sense these days, given my life situation and the politics of the new century." :rolleyes:

[edit: gotta stop taking 10 minutes to post a note...Akrasia said it better!]

Perhaps if you took 10 minutes to post a note, you might also take another 30 seconds to read through it and be sure that you're not "just" jumping down the throat of someone in your knee-jerk reaction to an insult that was never given, nor implied, anywhere except in your own mind.