What is the C&C MM?

[Zardnaar]

Hi everyone. I went to RPGnow.com and bought the C&C PDFs yesterday. I now have the following

Castle Keepers Guide
Players Hand Book
Monsters and Treasure

I was not 100% sure what the difference was between Monsters and Treasure and Classic Monsters. All I really new aout C&C was that is was a d20 clone of 1st of sort of with some 3rd ed elements.
I bought the PDFs to have a look through them and I am considering getting dead tree copies of the PHB and maybe a monster book along with dead tree format Adventurer Conqueror King so if anyone can recommend a website where I can get both books for a reasonable price + shipping to NZ that would also be great. And by reasonable I mean it doesn't have to be as cheap as Amazon but not an absurd price either.

[Arduin]

PHB is of course the PHB. M&T is the default Monster book and also has the C&C treasure/magic items info. These 2 are required to run & play C&C. The Castle Keepers Guide is a book of OPTIONAL rules/ideas. Classic Monsters is a collection of "Classic" D&D monsters not found in the M&T. You could consider it a MM2.

[Zardnaar]

Ok thanks. I almost bought classic monsters 1st. What is a good 1st adventure to buy for C&C for your 1st game?

[alcyone]

Ok thanks. I almost bought classic monsters 1st. What is a good 1st adventure to buy for C&C for your 1st game?

It's a matter of taste of course. I usually recommend Arcana Creations' Ruins of Ramat
It's short, it's simple, it's statted for C&C, and it's easy to run.

Of course, if you have ever played D&D, and have favorite modules from there (or buy them from dndclassics.com), they are readily adapted. If you search the forums you'll find guidelines for conversion, but the easiest way is to look up the monsters in your handy M&T and wing it for any that aren't there.

I differ with folks here on recommending the A series for first time CKs and players; I think it is a little complicated and a big commitment for a first foray. Tackle it after you get your feet. A good starter dungeon from Troll Lord would be Shadows of Halfling Hall. I've also run Goodman Games' "Mysterious Tower"; it's for levels 3-5, but nothing says you can't start your characters with higher xp; it gives them a chance to do multiclassing if you allow it.

Of course, if you have time, it's rewarding to make your own dungeons and simple sandboxes. Draw a map, make an encounter table, and follow your player's natural instinct to seek out danger.

Have fun and let us know how it goes.

[Zardnaar]

I have played D&D for 20 years, BECMI-4th ed. 4E was a bridge to far, burnt out on 3.5/Pathfinder and went beack to 2nd ed and clones like Myth and Magic, ACKs, and now C&C. PLayed 1st ed did not DM it though. My Pathfinder players will play retroclones as long as they can understand them as they struggle with THAC0 for the most part.

Just bought Classic Monsters and Ruins of Ramat thanks for the recommendation.

[Arduin]

Ok thanks. I almost bought classic monsters 1st. What is a good 1st adventure to buy for C&C for your 1st game?

I actually used my dog eared D&D B2 Keep on the Borderlands. Just used the monsters straight out of the M&T. Worked fine.

[Zardnaar]

I have a nice copy of B2. We have recently played B5, ToEE and I am using the maps from B3 and changing the encounters for a game tonight.

[Arduin]

I have a nice copy of B2. We have recently played B5, ToEE and I am using the maps from B3 and changing the encounters for a game tonight.

B3 would work as well. That's what I like about C&C. Porting/converting is easy peasy. I checked out the main page and there are a few retail outlets listed in N.S.W. Don't know if shipping is expensive from there...

[Courham]

I simply use the 1E monster manuals (I & II) and FF though one player (looking at DMing soon) has recently bought monsters & treasure.

As for adventures, any from 1e or 2e will do for me. I use a lot from Dungeon mag- Inheritance (Dungeon 26) kicked off my current campaign. Previous campaigns have started with U1 and L1.

I think I picked up my two 5th printings to NZ through Noble Knight, one of my players got them direct from the Trolls.

Courham