This was my favorite thread on the old r/OSR. So is your favorite system/systems?
I’ll start:
Basic Fantasy - BF gets overlooked a lot because the print books are sold at cost so I think it ends up being a lot of peoples introduction to OSR, but I keep coming back to it. The modules are really well written.
Old School Essentials - Just got the Rules Tome and I love it, though I haven’t had the change to dig into a game with it yet.
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TSR: Rules Cyclopedia.
OSR: Cy_Borg.Rules cyclopedia simply because it has the highest level cap
It’s also in print 💁🏻♀️ and there was that cute Japanese edition a few years back.
Hah nice
Have been reading Old School Essentials and rather enjoying the experience.
Labyrinth Lord. https://goblinoidgames.com/
Just want B/X? Labyrinth Lord
Want AD&D-ish? Labyrinth Lord + the Advanced Edition Companion. (Druids, Monks, Paladins, Illusionists, Gnomes, Half-Orcs, Half-Elves, Rangers, and Assassins, oh my!)
Want Gamma World? Mutant Future.
Want Planet of the Apes? Apes Victorious.
Want GW + AD&D? **Labyrinth Lord **+ the Advanced Edition Companion + Mutant Future.
Want Full-Knuckle Gonzo? Labyrinth Lord + the Advanced Edition Companion + Mutant Future + Apes Victorious.
Is it as pretty as OSE? Nope. But you can download all of those titles without art for free. If you want art, you do have to pay. * They all work with each other.*
Labyrinth Lord introduced me to the concept of OSR back in 2009 or so and will always be special for that reason.
Swords & Wizardry my review of Revised - OD&D rather than B/X which is very cartoony. Much more, uh, complete than White Box, much simpler than AD&D, really a great sweet spot.
Advanced Fighting Fantasy, Troika!, etc. - great simple game, minimalist rules, setting-as-system in Troika’s case.
Monsters! Monsters! is replacing Tunnels & Trolls, which has been bought & sold a couple times now and is in limbo. M!M! runs all the T&T adventures, esp. the solos, and is a great pick-up game.
I love the adventures for Lamentations of the Flame Princess, but the system’s been neglected, the Referee book is still not out, there’s no monster book, etc. But the adventures work in any OSR game with minor tweaking.
There is a monster book, but it’s a book about generating monsters rather than using existing ones. This is a deliberate choice that’s explicitly stated in the guidance Raggi gives to writers interested in submitting new content you can find posted… uh… somewhere.
Hyperborea (Described to me as effective AD&D 1e but refined) is my first, so it’s all I know. That said, I’m really enjoying pouring through it. My players for my Delta Green game are very excited to play too, but none of them have played OSR before either, so part of me worries they’re in for a rough time with how deadly combat is.
We’ll find out soon!
Embrace the bloodshed! I hope it goes well!
Lots of warts, but AD&D 1st edition is still my favorite.
Honestly not a bad choice. I remember when I was a kid, those books were already pretty old and were very cheap. (early 90s) I wish I had collected more of them.
