Help me find a unicorn
Posting this here because this community is more likely to know than r/dnd.
Hi! Longtime gamer, first time, er, asker for help. I've played every edition of D&D and several clones besides. My shelf is full of tomes from across the years, and lots of cool OSR games, too (shout out to DCC, Shadowdark, and Mork Borg).
I cut my teeth on AD&D 2e. That will always be "my" D&D. I've mostly played 5e and 5.5e since 2014, and I'm at the point now where - though I like a lot about these systems in terms of PC build options, the d20 system, and so forth - I'm kind of done with certain things and want to try something different. Honestly, I've DMed 5.5e since 2024 and...it's a lot. I didn't know when I began that campaign that I was going to be running supers.
My friend and I were talking and we realized that the perfect game would combine elements of things we love from multiple versions of the game. So - I ask you - is there a version of D&D out there, maybe some retroclone, that contains all or most of the following:
* 5e-like character build options (we love making unique builds) * 2e power levels (high magic, but, you know, within reason) * crunchy tactical combat (we dig the grid) * OSR or AD&D sensibility (we are old and have nostalgia) * less prep for the DM (I'm tired, boss)
Does this unicorn exist? Thank you in advance!