I've been reflecting a lot about what I'd like to do next in gaming. As much as I wish it were otherwise I still struggle a bit with playing 5E vs going OSR. In part I still really want to like 5E despite finding it entirely tedious to run. But more than that I'm afraid I'm being influenced by the specter of nostalgia. I'm afraid I'll run an AD&D game, that it will not live up to my memory and in the end I'll be as discouraged with that as I am with 5E.

Back in July of this year I wrote about why I plan to go OSR. At that time I'd been running a 5E game that just recently concluded.

I've been running 5E since its release and to be honest it has never really scratched the D&D itch for me. I've tried to explain why on several occasions but every attempt has devolved into a rant. It's easy to rant but rules nitpicks aren't the core issue. The core issue is play style which in turn is directly informed by rules.

I've been watching some YouTubers talk about their predictions for future D&D updates recently, and one prediction was the removal of padded armor since it seemed unnecessary to the individual. Sadly I made no note of who this was since I'd love to give an attribution, but I will admit to having two rapid reactions. The first was a little internal chuckle, "of course it makes sense," and then, "oh right, not everyone who plays D&D is all nerdy about armor."

THAC0 has been discussed elsewhere but I want to give it a look here for two reasons. First I find it interesting enough to be worth understanding. Second it would seem that the acronym has become the butt of a joke being told by people who are old enough to know better. Let’s begin with the Eric J. Holmes boxed set because that’s where I began.