RetroRoleplaying: The Blog

My Sunday game group is more enthusiastic about Microlite81 than I expected them to be. In fact, they suggested when I finish Microlite81, I use it to base a draft of Lords & Wizards on, then when we are fairly happy with it, expand that draft into the real version of Lords & Wizards. I tentatively think that would be a good way to do it as it takes far less work to make major changes to Microlite7x/81 rules (as they are brief and cut out most of the friendly explanation that new gamers need).

After some discussion, my players convinced me to base the Microlite81 experience progression on the system used by ACKS. It's not that different of a progression from the original B/X version, but if Microlite81 uses the ACKS progression, it will make it easy for people who own a copy of ACKS to add new classes to Microlite81. I've also tentatively decided to (that is, I've been convinced to) use a variant of the single saving throw system from Swords & Wizardry for Microlite81 instead of the system I used in Microlite74 or the original B/X system. A B/X like system will probably be included as an optional rule as I know many people prefer it.

B/X has a very lumpy to-hit chart. For example, in B/X the Fighter's hit chart (converted to a BAB system) looks like this:

+0...Level 1-3
+2...Level 4-6
+5...Level 7-9
+7...Level 10-12
+8...Level 13-14

After a bit of discussion, I decided to use a smoother BAB progression similar to that of Labyrinth Lord. This means that BAB the fighter (and all classes) will progress in units of +1, giving a smoother advancement with fewer levels where the BAB does not change.

The latest version draft of the rules (Playtest Version 0.15) includes these changes as well as more complete class descriptions, magic system changes, monster updates (A-C), experience and advancement changes, and probably a number of minor changes I've forgotten about.

RetroRoleplaying Cancer Fund Donors can download a copy of Microlite81 Playtest Draft 0.15 from the link below using the usual donor password:

Download Microlite81 Playtest Draft 0.15. (1.3 meg PDF)