OSR What OSR System for Barrowmaze?

Gus L said:

If it's your first time running an OSR system or your players first time with the playstyle I'd actually recommend the Moldvay Basic (the acid fantasy cover with the sorceress and warrior with a spear fighting a dragon) from 1981 as it has a lot more examples and discussion of whys and how then most OSR retroclones.

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bmfrosty said:

Old school essentials. I would want to use the Fighter, Thief, Cleric, Magician, and core rules from dolmenwood, but it would just confuse the players.

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cavalier973 said:

Dolmenwood clerics can use swords.

Also, the “search” skill is available to all classes.

Also, magicians can take a turn to try to detect magic, without burning a spell slot.

Also, there are dogs that can scare undead with their barking.

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Caveman said:

OP what did you end up going with? When I run bm I use my homerules printed out as a zine booklet.

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jdrakeh said:

I'm committed to running Barrowmaze in 2025, but am a little torn on what system to use.

Labyrinth Lord is what Barrowmaze is explcitly written for, but the most current edition of that game (Advanced Labyrinth Lord) has quite a lot of errata (and has never been updated to include said errata). It's also nearly $40 for the core hardcover, which isn't overly expensive, but, again, the ERRATA.

Basic Fantasy is both inexpensive (free if you just want the PDFs, less than $20 for the core hardcover) and only AC needs to be adjusted when using LL products with it (subtract LL AC from 20 to get BFRPG AC). That said, the art direction is a little rough. I know it's a petty nitpick, but I'm petty.

Old School Essentials. The most expensive of all four options, but AFAICT, it's also the most polished, both in terms of editing and art direction (you get what you pay for, I guess). Also, being a B/X Clone, it's 99.9% compatible with LL products.

Swords & Wizardry Core is somewhere between Basic Fantasy and LL/OSE with regard to price. It's very nice in terms of presentation and editing (it HAS been updated to address errors in previous printings), but is probably the least compatible rules-wise with LL products (mainly due to its single Saving Throw system).

Other options I'm aware of include Pacesetter's B/X system (which I love dearly, but I don't think it had ANY editor's eyes on it) and B|X Fantasy Roleplay (a system I own but admit that I know almost nothing about). And I'm likely missing others. Help, ENWorld! I need your feedback!

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