Taking the 3 LBBs Seriously
I had the opportunity to play OD&D for the first time ever tonight as a DM, and it was an incredible experience. Easily tied for the greatest D&D experience I have ever had. I ran it on the philosophy that the rulebooks, no matter how unhinged or unfinished, are completely correct in everything they say. It not only required enormous worldbuilding work to justify why Martians are in the desert, Arthurian Knights in the woods, and Dinosaurs in the swamps, it also tested every skill as a DM when the players interacted with this zany gonzo world in utterly unexpected ways. It proved to be the most unpredictable game I have ever been a part of, and I love it for that. On a game design level though, the experience was illuminating in one especially important regard. The 3 LBBs (and OD&D in general) reference the Chainmail wargame rules regularly; its referenced in combat, in monster determination, in castle encounters, and the rules assume it is standard. The "Alternate Co