[OOC] Return to the Rusty Rat

[Toot]

I guess in a way you might be right about the epicness of 2e.  One big difference is there were a lot fewer combat rules and we didn't use a combat grid.  In 3e it seems like the rules can get bogged down with all the options in combat while in 2e, you just asked the DM if you could do something and they would tell you if it was possible.  We had a dwarf fighter run up the back of a dragon with his boots of spider climbing and start hacking at his face with his battleaxe which would be something nearly impossible to do in 3e.  In 3e you would have to grapple the dragon (good luck) and then pin it (good luck) and then more penalties to hang on and strike with your light weapon (Snowballs chance in hell).  

I do like the combat grid in 3e and when I think back I don't know how we ever ran combat without it.  I guess we put a lot of trust in the DM to not screw things up.  We never worried about reach or how many creatures could squeeze in around a monster to strike at him.  I guess that's one reason why the horde of Pikemen worked so well. 

As for the monsters in 2e, I think they were wimpier and the dragons were always a problem.  Most people felt they were too under powered.  They have come a long way from the maximum hit points of an Ancient Huge Red Dragon being a whole 88 HP; and they always did 1-8/1-8/3-30 no matter what their age (watch out for those baby dragons!); and their breath weapons inflicted their current hitpoints in damage.