I grew up in the middle of nowhere before the Internet was a thing. But found a D&D Basic Rules Set (1983 revision) at a flea market for $1. So we all got to playing! The funny thing though.. it would be years before we had access to any other books. So with no Expert Rules in sight we just had to wing it when hitting level 4. At first we just started over. Hitting a theoretical Level 4 was the goal. A big deal! Like graduating 6th grade. But from there things got weird.. House rules were added and evolved. Taking the players in directions Gygax never intended. Thieves learned magic and by level 6 could cast "Spring All Traps" for a given dungeon. Clerics picked a Deity and prayed for help getting it based on the nature of who they worshiped. Very free form. Very fun! When we finally got the actual books later in high school? We were not interested in going back. #ttrpg #dnd