EU 1st, 2nd editions vs. NA (and remake) Rules revisited...

[BlackJax]

Ok so it appears that the scale compatibility might be less of an issue than I thought (which is a bonus), price appears less of an issue, at least at the moment, as I can get the original box set from eBay for £75 and the new one for around £80 so pretty similar.

"A bookcase was only 3 squares in actual footprint, but technically it covers six in game" - I thought the bookcase was 3x1 on the quest maps?

"The mechanics are literally the same, with only the smallest of tweaks" - apologies I might not have been clear when I was referring to the original 90s game, I was talking about the 1989 UK edition ("the original") rather than the 1990 North American remake which as you say appears to be the same ruleset as the modern version (bar a few clarifications/tweaks).

I hadn't considered that using different rulesets makes a difference to the components because the rules aren't only in the rulebook but on the cards, so if I went with original 1989 ruleset then it would be easier to use the corresponding cards or if I went with the remake ruleset again it would be easier to use the corresponding cards, so I'm probably better off deciding on my ruleset first and then buying the matching version, although as you say Onan the cards and books from the original are available online anyway to download and print...

I'm inclining towards the original rather than the remake, mainly for the nostalgia factor, but I need to spend some time studying the rules in depth, because it has been a long time since I have played that edition (25 years!), looking through the Inn there are been tonnes of house rules, corrections and clarifications and on top of all that it is clear from the Inn that what you got in the original box back in 1989 in terms of the ruleset was significantly expanded by all the expansions so I really need to consider the full "original & expanded" ruleset, plus any clarifications, corrections and house rules before I can compare with the modern edition.

I suppose what would be useful, whilst I'm doing all that research, is a kind of high level summary of the differences between the "original & expanded" ruleset and the modern ruleset (at least the NA 1990 & Modern), not so much in terms of specific differences but just the general feel, the significant differences, if you see what I mean.

And thanks for the welcome Onan (and no not first, only! I'm trying very hard not to get carried away with spending on toys for myself )

EDIT: For any other new peeps reading this I have found two other useful threads on this same topic here:

US or UK edition?
EU vs. NA rule comparison

[Kurgan]

apologies I might not have been clear when I was referring to the original 90s game, I was talking about the 1989 UK edition ("the original") rather than the 1990 North American remake which as you say appears to be the same ruleset as the modern version (bar a few clarifications/tweaks).

EU and NA editions are compatible enough... yes, you have some different cards (and the Armory board taking the place of some cards in the first edition). I would say the Remake edition, if anything, is MORE compatible because it has some of the assets from the '89 edition ported back into the '90 edition. So you have Holy Water and Potion of Speed back though they are Equipment now instead of Treasure. Bracers are more expensive and usable by other heroes but they're back. Hand axe is back. Nothing card re-appears in the newly released Wizards of Morcar remake (which is appearing alongside the remake of ATOH).

I hadn't considered that using different rulesets makes a difference to the components because the rules aren't only in the rulebook but on the cards, so if I went with original 1989 ruleset then it would be easier to use the corresponding cards or if I went with the remake ruleset again it would be easier to use the corresponding cards, so I'm probably better off deciding on my ruleset first and then buying the matching version, although as you say Onan the cards and books from the original are available online anyway to download and print...

The components are the same, so you can swap out the cards and play the remake edition according to 1st or 2nd edition rules easily enough. What are you missing? Yes, a few of the Treasure cards are going to be different, so you print those out yourself. Instead of the Cloak of Protection Equipment you have the Wizard's Cloak Artifact. Yes, there are some differences in the quests, but apart from the Maze being missing, things are very, very similar and you can play it the old way by printing out the old booklets.

If you are starting from zero and buying your copy, that makes a lot of sense, but if you just wanted to use the modern game with the old rules, and you didn't mind printing some cards and booklets, you could easily do it. I prefer the classic nostalgic art for most of it myself, so I'm with you there.

[BlackJax]

I’ve bitten the bullet and ordered a copy of the original 1989 uk edition from eBay! I haven’t felt this excited waiting for a parcel to arrive since I was a kid back in the mail order days (and back then you had to allow at least 28 days for delivery).

Now I just have the small tasks of sorting out my ruleset and finding some players…nothing major!