Visiting Gamma World
The 1st edition Dungeon Masters Guide contained rules for converting characters between AD&D and Boot Hill or Gamma World, the other two RPGs produced by TSR at the time AD&D was initially released. I found this all rather interesting, especially since I had no real idea about other RPGs at the time. Moreover, my access to other RPGs was limited as well, both by availability and cost. The cost is easier to explain. As a child in middle school I just didn't have a ton of disposable income. Actually, pretty much all of my income was disposable, I just didn't have all that much of it. And those game books were expensive - as I recall, the Players Handbook ran for $12 and Dungeon Masters Guide for $20. As a DM I of course got the Dungeon Masters Guide first. A bit confusing when you tried to combine it with the D&D Basic and Expert rules but I was far from the only person who did that. As far as availability goes. My initial source of gaming books were from the...