When comparing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons vs Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, the Slant community recommends Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition for most people. In the question“What are the best editions of Dungeons and Dragons?” Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition is ranked 1st while Advanced Dungeons & Dragons is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition is:
Provide an almost endless series of options for the game.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Gary Gygax's personal touch
Later editions were, to varying degrees, designed for market appeal; but the original AD&D is little more than one man sharing notes on his personal vision. It's tailored to his thematic tastes, and very often as much care is put into explaining the reasoning behind a rule as into defining the rule itself.
Pro Has a vibrant online creative community
The Old School Renaissance community has a significant online presence on Blogspot and Google+, and features some of the most creative minds in fantasy gaming, all offering their ideas to the gaming audience for free or for generally low prices on PDF storefronts. As they aren't bound by Wizards of the Coast's need to cater to a mass market, they aren't obligated to present only a single "flavor" of fantasy. People playing 1st Edition (or one of its many available retroclones) will have no lack of material and inspiration to draw from.
Pro Cover art and visual representation in the mind is great
Pro Huge volume of works created for 1e & 2e
Provide an almost endless series of options for the game.
Pro Optional rules
2nd Edition AD&D presents a number of optional rules DMs can implement in their campaigns if they wish. Later books in the line, the Players' Option books and the revised core rulebooks, offered alternate rules to customize games according to preference. Some of these rules were incorporated into 3rd Edition, yet in 2nd, none are necessary to play the game.
Pro Compatible with 1st edition material
AD&D 2nd Edition cleans up and clarifies a lot of the rules, but the core mechanics are the same. Adventure modules, monsters, etc. written for 1st Edition can be used with little or no revision.
Pro The rules give vivid explanation of the game
Since AD&D 2E gives vivid explanation of the game it comes with twists and turns you wouldn't normally see in a regular game of D&D.
Pro Numerous and varied campaign settings
TSR published many fully-developed and well-received game worlds for AD&D 2nd Edition, spanning a variety of fantasy themes. Examples include Dark Sun, Hollow World, Planescape and Spelljammer.
Pro Very challenging
2E causes players to re-think their decisions before engaging in risky behavior. Death can happen at any stage, and there won't be a chain of saving throws to stave off the reaper: You reach 0 HP, you're dead! Much of the focus, then, reverts to problem solving and role playing.
Pro Power is with the DM
Player power is way under 3rd-5th edition. Monster stat blocks small, Great treasures and a huge host of great adventures.
Cons
Con I actually think this edition is pretty good
Con Rules are awesome and make much sense
Con Lots of rules that a skilled DM can use to create the optimal experience
Con Core setting does not contain nudity, unlike 1e.
Due to concerns over public perception, for 2nd Edition TSR chose to eliminate mature themes and explicitly "evil" player options; remove references to angels, demons and devils; and otherwise smooth over potentially offensive content in the core game. This deliberate sanitization is easily reversed in personal play.