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Comment by NovemberWhiskey | Hacker News Reader

I think I'm missing something here - what is "OD&D" in this context? Is this just some back formation for the original D&D once AD&D existed?

Looking at the "Basic" D&D rules (red books), they don't cover characters up to the levels where they would be landowners etc. They only cover up to 3rd level.

The "Expert" D&D rulebook (blue books) covers characters up to 14th level, and includes sections on strongholds and land ownership. Once characters are 9th level, they can gain land but the narrative is definitely rooted in feudal concepts (fighters get land from a higher lord, and their realm is a barony etc)

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What to call the many editions of D&D to differentiate them is a bit nebulous. Here is an article with an infographic at the end that explains what the community started calling the various editions.

https://daddyrolleda1.blogspot.com/2024/06/editions-of-dunge...

OD&D usually refers to the Original Edition that was first released in 1974. It consists of 3 little brown books.

Direct link to infographic

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8QrcSdtdy...

OD&D usually refers to the 3BB (three brown books;Men & Magic, Monsters & Treasure, and The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures.), there is a fourth called Sup1:Greyhawk that has additional content. Thats what is usually referred to as OD&D.

However everything is a little fuzzy in that sphere, sometimes anything before 1e is called Classic D&D.

Basic/Expert (and the BECMI -> Rule Cyclopedia) line were parallel to AD&D. TSR claimed these were the rules meant for "Home" play and AD&D was meant for "Tournament" play. More plausibly, this was an attempt to escape from having to pay Arneson any royalties for continued editions of D&D.

OD&D predates both and was the original release.

I believe you are correct; OD&D is the holmes/moldvay/etc. books that existed before AD&D, but I'm not certain.

Nope, that is Basic/Expert, and eventually BECMI/Rules Cyclopedia. These were released in parallel with AD&D.

In theory they catered to different playstyles, in practice it was largely to escape paying Arneson royalties.

OD&D is the original 1974 release co-authored by Gygax and Arneson

Fascinating, thanks! One of the things I love about D&D is that there's so much historical density to it.

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