Getting this one for Christmas along with some of the Accessories That have come on Drivethru's P.O.D. Love the fact this version is available again especially at an affordable price.I I may well be bringing some concepts from Goblinoud Games Labyrith Lord. In the new year looking forward to run Hollow World as that box set is also available via Drivethru.
Thanks for sharing . I personally think that the rules cyclopedia was one of the best role-playing books ever made. . A person could run a game indefinitely just with that book .
The boxed sets of 1983 and on were the brainchild of Frank Mentzer. "Basic" was a simplified, less complex version than Advanced D&D, starting with only 7 character classes. It meant less rules-lawyering, more focus on story. Some complex systems did come in like the first Skills system for D&D, mass-combat in The War Machine, Siege Machine, etc. By the way, the page numbers are in the bottom center of each page, kind of hidden in the foliage... The many Gazetteers and the Hollow World boxed set were well done. The Immortals boxed set, with rules not given in the Cyclopedia, said that, if you go through all 36 character levels Basic to Master, then the Immortals levels, and voluntarily reincarnate yourself into a 1st-level character and do it all again, then you have "won" Dungeons & Dragons!
It really is the only book you'll ever really need. Though I would pop for the Hollow World set as well just to make good on the teases the RC gives you for it.
So, more then a year ago I bought the DCCrpg. It's a fun system, though I don't like the funnel. It made me nostalgic for BD&D. But, like many others back in the day, I was distracted by AD&D and never went far into BD&D. I own the Holmes edition, the B/X expert set and the Grand Duchy of Karameikos Gazetteer. So, because of DCCrpg I went and bought an original edition of the Rule Cyclopedia. It looks like it was sitting on a shelf since the 90's. Going through it, I was very impressed with how basic it wasn't and really wanted to play it. But, I like to highlite and scribble notes in m rulebooks and I wasn't going to do that with a very good original copy. So, I ordered the pod version from Dmsguild and I am very satisfied with what I bought . I just wish that more of the gazetteers were pod.
Really nice review, thank you. I came here wondering what the POD version looked like. This one came out when I was in highschool and my group and I had already 'graduated' to AD&D 2e, but this was always a book I meant to pick up but I dragged my feet and never got around to it. Looks well worth the price to pick it up printed.
@@DM_BluddworthGlad it was useful feedback! I meant it thoroughly positively. It's easy to go read paragraphs on these kinds of books and systems, but it's good to have a reference for the experience of actually buying one. Which, by the way, I just did!
@@DM_Bluddworth I don't blame you for not noticing it. I have an original copy and when I got it I couldn't find the numbers either until someone told me where to look. The margin art on the bottom kinda makes it hard to see.
I have my original copy from 1991 and was really excited to see that you can now get a new hardcopy printing of this until you mentioned the page numbers missing. O_o Holy smokes! How did they goof that up?! That's a deal-breaker, if you ask me. I'm happy I have my old copy, I guess. lol
KabukiKid actually the page numbers are there. The graphics on the lower page cast an illusion spell, masking them. It’s like the Jedi mind trick, “These are not the page numbers you’re looking for.”
I have the original... And it is half thick as yours... Maybe your paper is thick, or mine is thin Same content Same love Playing with this Cyclopedia since early 90s
Unfortunately, if you get it from DrivethruRPG you are giving WotC money for a product they labeled with a disclaimer that states it is written by bigots, misogynists, sexists, homophobes, etc etc etc. Buy it off of EBay or other 2nd hand trade hub.
Getting this one for Christmas along with some of the Accessories
That have come on Drivethru's P.O.D.
Love the fact this version is available again especially at an affordable price.I
I may well be bringing some concepts from Goblinoud Games Labyrith Lord.
In the new year looking forward to run Hollow World as that box set is also available via Drivethru.
Thanks for sharing .
I personally think that the rules cyclopedia was one of the best role-playing books ever made. . A person could run a game indefinitely just with that book .
Michael Little exactly. That is the thing about TTRPGs in general I believe. You can play the same edition for a life time.
The boxed sets of 1983 and on were the brainchild of Frank Mentzer. "Basic" was a simplified, less complex version than Advanced D&D, starting with only 7 character classes. It meant less rules-lawyering, more focus on story. Some complex systems did come in like the first Skills system for D&D, mass-combat in The War Machine, Siege Machine, etc.
By the way, the page numbers are in the bottom center of each page, kind of hidden in the foliage...
The many Gazetteers and the Hollow World boxed set were well done.
The Immortals boxed set, with rules not given in the Cyclopedia, said that, if you go through all 36 character levels Basic to Master, then the Immortals levels, and voluntarily reincarnate yourself into a 1st-level character and do it all again, then you have "won" Dungeons & Dragons!
It really is the only book you'll ever really need. Though I would pop for the Hollow World set as well just to make good on the teases the RC gives you for it.
@@Dracopol Wow! So you have to get to 36th Level TWICE to “win” the game?? Getting there for the first time would be hard enough in my opinion!!
Page numbers are located in the graphic strip at the bottom of the pages.
Bruce Heard thanks, once they were pointed out to me, then I wondered why I missed them the first time.
Happens a lot. =)
Yes, haha, people expect page numbers in the outer corners, not bottom center.
Oh man! Phew! I was blown away that it had no page numbers, but I guess all is redeemed now. lol
So, more then a year ago I bought the DCCrpg. It's a fun system, though I don't like the funnel. It made me nostalgic for BD&D. But, like many others back in the day, I was distracted by AD&D and never went far into BD&D. I own the Holmes edition, the B/X expert set and the Grand Duchy of Karameikos Gazetteer. So, because of DCCrpg I went and bought an original edition of the Rule Cyclopedia. It looks like it was sitting on a shelf since the 90's. Going through it, I was very impressed with how basic it wasn't and really wanted to play it. But, I like to highlite and scribble notes in m rulebooks and I wasn't going to do that with a very good original copy. So, I ordered the pod version from Dmsguild and I am very satisfied with what I bought . I just wish that more of the gazetteers were pod.
Really nice review, thank you. I came here wondering what the POD version looked like. This one came out when I was in highschool and my group and I had already 'graduated' to AD&D 2e, but this was always a book I meant to pick up but I dragged my feet and never got around to it. Looks well worth the price to pick it up printed.
Great video. Good to just see a casual look at the product.
Ken Haze thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed this “casual look”. I really like that description of what I’m trying to do with my videos and channel.
@@DM_BluddworthGlad it was useful feedback! I meant it thoroughly positively.
It's easy to go read paragraphs on these kinds of books and systems, but it's good to have a reference for the experience of actually buying one.
Which, by the way, I just did!
I still have all my BECMI stuff, luckily. The RC is my go to book though. And if you don't have Hollow World as well, get it.
It's a very dark green, so I hadn't noticed.
Page numbers: bottom center of the page.
Glen Hallstrom really? I must get me a Gem of True Seeing.
@@DM_Bluddworth I don't blame you for not noticing it. I have an original copy and when I got it I couldn't find the numbers either until someone told me where to look. The margin art on the bottom kinda makes it hard to see.
@@GlenHallstrom wow, now that I know, the page numbers do jump out. So weird.
I have my original copy from 1991 and was really excited to see that you can now get a new hardcopy printing of this until you mentioned the page numbers missing. O_o Holy smokes! How did they goof that up?! That's a deal-breaker, if you ask me. I'm happy I have my old copy, I guess. lol
KabukiKid actually the page numbers are there. The graphics on the lower page cast an illusion spell, masking them. It’s like the Jedi mind trick, “These are not the page numbers you’re looking for.”
I have the original... And it is half thick as yours...
Maybe your paper is thick, or mine is thin
Same content
Same love
Playing with this Cyclopedia since early 90s
I want it now
Unfortunately, if you get it from DrivethruRPG you are giving WotC money for a product they labeled with a disclaimer that states it is written by bigots, misogynists, sexists, homophobes, etc etc etc.
Buy it off of EBay or other 2nd hand trade hub.
It dosen't go to Immortals oddly.
No, because according to Frank Mentzer, the Immortals rules are not really D&D. It is mechanically a different game.
@@DM_Bluddworth I'm sure when your God-like things are different then. Hooah!
Immortals (and artifacts from the Masters set) were in the Wrath of the Immortals boxed set. As well as a controversial 10 year campaign.