SeveredFane
Villager
Thanks to you for that, I am enjoying that advice of Tom Moldvay! I will add it to my knowledge for when I am beginning my next game.
OSR What OSR System for Barrowmaze?
- Thread starter jdrakeh
- Start date
jordane1964
Villager
I've found OSE is usually the best direct translation of old school d&d, but I favor LotFP when I want to make it weird and horrifying.
Gus L
Adventurer
My own experience with LotFP as a system is that much of what people like about it breaks down around 4-5th level. The to hit bonuses, the magic, the thief skills. Many of the earlier adventures are decent and that's where most of the Grimdark rests, but I wouldn't try using it for Barrowmaze which is a very standard sort of fantasy dungeon crawl with a lot of undead.
If what you want is something that has high lethality, a flatter power curve, and swingy combat I'd honestly say Pre-Greyhawk 0D&D will deliver both. A 0D&D based system (unless it includes the pernicious Greyhawk rules) will maybe do better.
If you want the grim and gruesome - that's going to be mostly adventure choice. My favorite gross weird adventure with a lot of body horror is "Sleeping Place of the Feathered Swine".
Another vote for DragonSlayer - especially given the author connection and you have the pdf/?. I got to play DS with Giuseppe, and enjoyed it - but we already have a bunch of OSE books, and didn't need more books, some in our circle own the HC, and i have the pdf. I would find Shadowdark too 5e influenced to be OSR per the request, the system just to easy for the setting.
As mentioned Old School Essentials has a basic edition free online, and downloadable pdf. Basic Fantasy, all pdf's are free and the print is dirt cheap, so that has an advantage there and would be fine with Barrowmaze as well.
A few in my circle have the Shadowdark HC, I've read through it a few times - no one wants to run it.. maybe if we want something closer to 5th it will hit the table, def not for an OSR feel. We stick with OSE, Basic Fantasy isn't bad, we leverage the materials often.
As mentioned Old School Essentials has a basic edition free online, and downloadable pdf. Basic Fantasy, all pdf's are free and the print is dirt cheap, so that has an advantage there and would be fine with Barrowmaze as well.
A few in my circle have the Shadowdark HC, I've read through it a few times - no one wants to run it.. maybe if we want something closer to 5th it will hit the table, def not for an OSR feel. We stick with OSE, Basic Fantasy isn't bad, we leverage the materials often.
I do like the RC/BECMI though, rarely has our games gone to 36 & Immortal ranges
//proud owner of 3 [retired] Immortal [handbook] characters.
colombus1592
Villager
I would go with ACKS, because I like its "antique" feel more than plain vanilla medieval fantasy. Everything but OSRIC, too much ADD1 for me when I was young.
cavalier973
Hero
Other options include “Blueholme”; the “Prentice Rules” pdf is available free of charge. It is a clone of the Holmes Basic rules.
“Delving Deeper” also has a free download; it is a mimic of 0D&D.
You might check out the Microlite rules, too. There isn’t a lot of hand-holding with Microlite, though. No monster descriptions, as I recall. There are only three attributes.
White Box Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game is a variant of Swords & Wizardry, and is available free of charge.
My highest recommendation is to spend the $5 for the Moldvay Basic pdf. If you have it, spend another $5 for the Expert rules. A really good investment.
“Delving Deeper” also has a free download; it is a mimic of 0D&D.
You might check out the Microlite rules, too. There isn’t a lot of hand-holding with Microlite, though. No monster descriptions, as I recall. There are only three attributes.
White Box Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game is a variant of Swords & Wizardry, and is available free of charge.
My highest recommendation is to spend the $5 for the Moldvay Basic pdf. If you have it, spend another $5 for the Expert rules. A really good investment.
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