Long List of Old School Games and Clones
Posted by
Randall
Labels:
DnD,
Free RPGs,
Microlite74,
Old-School Renaissance,
retro-clone
The following in the initial revision of the list of major old school fantasy RPGs and retroclones for Microlite74 Version 3.0. Please let me know if I am missing any major games. I haven't found a list on the Internet that seems more complete than this one, but I still think I am missing a game or two. If you know of any I'm missing, please comment (please include a link to the game's site if you have it)
Old School Games and Retro-Clones
Microlite74
is designed to be an introduction to “old school” gaming for players more
familiar with the 3.x version of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying
game. While I’ve tried to design Microlite74 for long running campaigns, if you
find the “old school” style of play espoused by Microlite74 fun you may want to
move to one of the original games or one of their retro-clones.
What is
a retro-clone? The OGL has allowed fans to recreate the rules of older, out of
print editions of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game. These are
usually called “retro-clones” because they are “clones” of the rules to older
(“retro”) editions of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game. Most
retro-clones have free PDF versions and most have nicely bound printed copies
available for a very reasonable price. Retro-clones allow play of an older,
out-of-print game system without the trouble and expense of tracking down a
copy of an out-of-print game. While no retro-clone is an exact copy of an
earlier game, they generally are close to identical in play.
0e and Retro-Clones
0e: The Original Game
The
original 0e booklets and supplements can be found at auction on eBay or RPG
Marketplace or at specialists like Noble Knight Games, but they are generally
very expensive collectibles. Some excellent third party 0e adventures (and an
excellent campaign setting) from the late 1970s are also available in PDF
format. These adventures could easily be used with Microlite74 or a 0e
retro-clone – and converted for use with any other early edition/retro-clone
with only a little effort.
Original Edition Characters (for Labyrinth
Lord)
Original Edition Characters is a supplement for Labyrinth Lord (see the B/X and
Retro-clones section below). It modifies the Labyrinth Lord rules to emulate
the 0e game.
Swords & Wizardry
Swords & Wizardry is an OGL retro-clone of the 0e
version from the mid-1970s, the same edition Microlite74 is loosely based on. Sword & Wizardry is handy for
complex spell and monster descriptions for use with Microlite74 as well as a
great game itself. The spell lists and monsters can be used as drop in
replacements for those listed in Microlite74. There are three versions of this
game. One uses just the material from the three LBB and the other two also use
selected material from the 0e supplements.
B/X and Retro-Clones
B/X: The Original Game
The
original B/X boxed sets and the revised version of this edition, the five box
BECMI edition, can be found at auction on eBay or RPG Marketplace or at
specialists like Noble Knight Games, as can a very large number of excellent
adventure and campaign modules. Many of these modules could be used with
Microlite74 or other B/X retro-clones with little modification -- and converted
for use with any other early edition/retro-clone with only a little more
effort.
Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game
The Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game is
loosely based on the so-called B/X edition of the world’s most popular fantasy
roleplaying game from the early 1980s. There are a number of minor tweaks like
ascending armour class and separation of races and classes.
Dark Dungeons
Dark
Dungeons is based on the single volume RC version of the BECMI edition from the
early 1990s. The rules are fairly close to the original but some chances have
been made, especially where setting specific material is concerned.
Labyrinth Lord
Labyrinth Lord is more closely based on the so-called B/X
edition of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game from the early
1980s. While some minor changes have been made for compliance with the OGL and
copyright law, many people have a hard time finding any truly major differences
between Labyrinth Lord and the
original.
1e and Retro-Clones
1e: The Original Game
The
original 1e rulebooks and adventures can be found at auction on eBay or RPG
Marketplace or at specialists like Noble Knight Games – often at good prices if
you do not need collectible condition. Also, some excellent third party 1e
adventures are available in PDF format. 1e adventures and campaign settings
could be converted for use with Microlite74 or any other early edition/retro-clone
without much work.
Advanced Edition Companion (for Labyrinth Lord)
The Advanced Edition Companion is a supplement for Labyrinth Lord
(see the B/X and Retro-clones section above). It modifies the Labyrinth Lord
rules to emulate the 1e game – or at least those parts of it that most players
actually used.
OSRIC
OSRIC (Old
School Reference & Index Compilation) is an OGL version of the first
“advanced” edition of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game from
the late 1970s and early 1980s. The first edition of OSRIC was designed to be just something that would allow publishers
to legally publish OGL materials compatible with 1e. This attitude is also
responsible for the boring name. The second edition of OSRIC is much more complete and is written with both players and publishers
in mind.
2e and Retro-Clones
2e: The Original Game
The
original 2e rulebooks and adventures can be found at auction on eBay or RPG
Marketplace or at specialists like Noble Knight Games – often at very good
prices if you do not need collectible condition. Also, some excellent third
party 2e adventures are available in PDF format. 2e adventures and campaign
settings could be converted for use with Microlite74 or any other early
edition/retro-clone without much work.
For Gold & Glory
For
Glory & Glory is an attempt to create a close
adaption of the 2e rules, or at least those in the three 2e core rulebooks.
Other Games
Adventurer Conqueror King System
Adventurer
Conqueror King takes the end game (ruling a domain) assuming in early editions
of the world’s most popular fantasy RPG and rebuilds the entire game around it,
with special attention to a simple but functional economic system.
Adventures Dark and Deep
This
game is not a retro-clone, strictly speaking. Instead, it is an attempt to
create an alternate universe version of 2e. 2e as it might have been if it had
been written by the author of 0e and 1e.
The Big Brown Book
The Big Brown Book takes the rules of 0e
and gives them a new spin — What would the world’s most popular fantasy role
playing game look like had it continued its wargame roots?
Dragons at Dawn
This
game is an attempt to recreate the rules of the original Blackmoor campaign
from the early 1970s. “Dragons at Dawn is a retro tribute to
the very first fantasy gaming system pioneered by Dave Arneson, the man who
later went on to co-author the worlds most popular roleplaying game. The result
of years of careful historical research, Dragons at Dawn is entirely consistent
with Arneson's original, largely forgotten methods of play developed roughly in
the period 1970-1973.”
(No Free PDF version.)
Forward to Adventure!
This
game is not a retro-clone, but a modern game that was designed with “old
school” dungeon adventuring in mind. While not an “old school” game by any
stretch of the imagination, it would be relatively easy to use FtA! to run a
campaign in the old-school style. Unlike most modern RPG designs, there is
little designed into FtA! that would interfere with this which makes it a
system those who like the “old school” style of play but dislike the “old
school” style of rules might wish to consider. (No free PDF version.)
Spellcraft & Swordplay
Spellcraft
& Swordplay is an OGL redesign of the 0e version from the mid-1970s. The
designer decided to rewrite 0e based on the original combat system (from the
miniatures rules 0e grew out of) instead of 0e’s “alternative combat system.”
The alternative combat system quickly became the standard combat system of the
world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game. This is sort of a retroclone
from an alternate universe where the original combat system was the most-used.
(No free PDF version.)
ZeFRS
David
"Zeb" Cook's 1985 rules for the TSR Conan roleplaying game returns as
a generic sword-and-sorcery RPG complete in one volume. Trample the jewelled
kingdoms of your own world beneath your sandals!
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August 9, 2011 11:01 PM
James Raggi's Lamentations of the Flame Princess is a good contender for the "Other Games" category.
August 10, 2011 12:54 AM
What Allandaros said.
August 10, 2011 6:47 AM
@Allandaros: Good catch. Looking at the list I see I also forgot Castles and Crusades.
August 10, 2011 9:08 AM
Correction: there is a free PDF version of Spellcraft & Swordplay basic, which is complete and playable.
August 10, 2011 10:37 AM
@Jason: I don't know how I missed that. It's at the top of your lulu page and everything. Thanks for pointing this out.
August 10, 2011 4:19 PM
Here's a couple places to find compiled links that I helped out a bit with:
(down the left side)
http://www.tenkarstavern.com/
(scroll down)
http://classicrpgrealms.blogspot.com/p/so-you-wanna-play-old-school.html
And some recent discoveries:
http://www.darkdungeon2.com/
http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/tombs-terrors-old-school-fantasy-role-playing-game/16311312?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/3
Hope that helps.
What about Barbarians of Lemuria?
http://www.1km1kt.net/rpg/barbarians-of-lemuria
I know there is more. Just brain dead right now.
Glad to see you working on the M74-Just hope there is a shot at a Microlite Comp update...you promised! :)
August 10, 2011 9:42 PM
A few more I pulled together:
http://asshatpaladins.blogspot.com/2011/02/osr-list-of-old-school-renaissance-rpgs.html
Medieval Mysteries Role Playing Game
http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/medieval-mysteries-role-playing-game/16114375?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/5
Warrior & Wizard
https://docs.google.com/View?id=dcsfz7gv_22xmrn2sgg
The Age of Shadow
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=93513&filters=0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=3785
+ (for extras)
http://ageofshadow.freehostia.com/downloads.html
Tombs & Terrors Old School Fantasy Role Playing Game
http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/tombs-terrors-old-school-fantasy-role-playing-game/16311312?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/3
Appendix N electronic book availability
http://quicklyquietlycarefully.blogspot.com/2011/08/appendix-n-electronic-book-availability.html
The last one is nice considering how many of the works are now in the public domain now.
August 10, 2011 9:51 PM
@ADD Grognard: Thanks for all the links!
I discovered some games I had forgotten and some new games (new to me at least). Unfortunately, the list is eating up more and more space in the rules. I may just have to cover the main retroclones and refer people to a web page for the "Other Games" section (as I believe I'm up to four columns (two pages) of listings now and I see more to list from your second post.
The new of games has grown a lot in the two years since the M74 rules were last updated.
August 10, 2011 11:27 PM
After the 'upgrade' this evening it would seem folks are still having trouble in their dealings with Blogger. Fred S. emailed me and asked to add these. I understand the growing list these days. I'm half asleep, hurtin' like a mutha and I'm only hitting the high spots myself. We have grown crazy large out here in 'retro' land. There's probably twice as many more in my bookmarks. :)
The links are:
Eppes Et Sorcellerie
(now in English)
http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/ep%C3%A9es-sorcelerie-%28english-translation%29/16178887
Old School Hack
http://www.oldschoolhack.net/
PDQ - Questors of the Middle Realm
PDQ - Jaws of the Six Serpents
http://www.silverbranch.co.uk/questers/index.htm
PDQ - S7S
http://evilhat.wikidot.com/s7s
August 10, 2011 11:32 PM
And we haven't even touched on the whole 'Space Fantasy', 'Planetary Romance', 'Swords & Spaceships' thing going on right now. That genre is growing like a weed! I remember when Human Space Empires came out I thought 'wow, that's kind of cool and different', now it has tons of supporters at over a half dozen blogs.
I'm tellin' ya...I'm lovin' every minute of it! :)
Now if snow would just get here so we could all cool off and stay inside more...yeah!
August 13, 2011 9:21 PM
There should be a Weird West game on that list. ;-)
August 13, 2011 9:35 PM
@Stuart: Is this the one you have in mind? :)
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