Some easy house rules to enhance the enjoyment of the AD&D2E. Firstly, resources:
All you need to play AD&D2E is the following, and exactly the following:
AD&D2E Player's Handbook, 1st printing
AD&D2E Dungeon Master's Guide, 1st printing
AD&D2E Monstrous Manual, Any printing from here on out. Also every Monstrous Compendium in the known universe.
PHBR1 Complete Fighter's Handbook
PHBR2 Complete Thief's Handbook
PHBR3 Complete Priest's Handbook
PHBR4 Complete Wizard's Handbook
Tome of Magic
Restrictions:
Race, ability score, and level restrictions are enforced.
Generating ability scores: 3d6 in order.
Fighters are required to take a Kit from PHBR1. Paladins and Rangers are restricted from taking a Kit (and as a reminder, may never specialize in a weapon). Other choices in PHBR1 are in effect and usable by all warrior classes (weapon groups, etc)
Thieves are required to take a Kit from PHBR2. Bards don't exist as an adventuring class, because they make no sense to be an adventuring class and never have.
No Clerics or Druids for the same reason as Bards. All Divine classes are built with the Priest's Handbook, no kits, baseline with Cleric stats. This is the Cenobite or Mendicant or Prophet or Miracle Man/Wise Woman class, and is not beholden to any organized religion (but can be if they choose to).
Tome of Magic rules are in play, all of 'em.
Options:
The most divisive one: Don't use Non-Weapon Proficiencies. Secondary Skills are fine flavor, just expect people are competent with adventuring stuff and use ability score rolls (d20 roll under ability score) should the need arise. Adding skills to the system just makes people want to roll skills more often than think about situations and consider courses of action. I think one of the weaknesses of D&D was it adopting skills and using them as a crutch for characterization.
I said that first to say this; Try to use no Optional Rules I haven't mentioned.
Straight up House Rules:
Humans get one die larger hit die for any class they play. Also they add one to any damage roll they make (from any source). Humans are generally more resilient and destructive than other races.
No PC races have infravision.
Only Fighters get exceptional Strength or Constitution bonuses.
Fighters subtract one from the Speed Factor of all weapons they use.
Use my XP for gold spent houserule.
