When comparing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition vs Basic Set ("BECMI") / Rules Cyclopedia, 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 Basic Set ("BECMI") / Rules Cyclopedia is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition is:
Provide an almost endless series of options for the game.
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Pros
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.
Pro Focus on the game, not the character sheet
Basic D&D is 6 ability scores, a few skills, a character's saving throws, some equipment and, if a spellcaster, some spells; and that's it. This makes the game more about what's happening in the game rather than an exercise in firing off various powers on your character sheet.
Pro Vibrant online community
As with AD&D 1st Edition, Basic/Expert D&D is one of the favored editions of the Old School Renaissance community, who regularly offer wildly creative material for it and have published several retro-clone editions, all of which are currently available online either for free or for low prices. OSR blogs on Blogspot and Google+ communities serve as sources of considerable materials that can be used without modification for this edition, and some of these materials break far away from the "standard vanilla fantasy" flavor of Wizards of the Coast's publications.
Pro Character balance
Warriors with weapon mastery and wizards with spells at higher levels feel more on par with each other than in other editions, where the wizards easily overshadow the warriors of the party. Magic is the best in other editions whereas in BECMI they had a place in the party and it was usually in the face of some monster.
Pro Lamentations of the Flame Princess
Lamentations of the Flame Princess is a horror/fantasy game (not for kids). Fully compatible with Basic D&D material, it features a few non-breaking adjustments such as a vastly simplified encumbrance system.
Pro It goes with grimtooth's trap handbook
Pro Feels mysterious and gritty
Cons
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.