/tg/ Old School Renaissance General

What is the OSR?The Old School Renaissance focuses on systems, modules andgameplay based around the early TSR era editions of Dungeons& Dragons, namely OD&D (LBB or 0e), D&D Basic/Expert(B/X), the Rules Cyclopedia (RC) and AD&D (1e and 2e).

From Wikipedia: “The general ethic of OSR-style playemphasizes spontaneous rulings from the referee, or GameMaster, over set rules found in a book. The idea is for the playersto engage with the fantasy as much as possible, and have thereferee arbitrate the outcomes of their specific actions in realtime.

The idea of game balance is also de-emphasized in favor of asystem which tests players skill and ingenuity in often strange orunfair situations. The players should expect to lose if they merelypit their numbers against the monsters, and should insteadattempt to outwit or outmaneuver challenges placed in their way.Keeping maps comes highly recommended.”

OSR games emphasize dungeon and wilderness exploration, withresource management (in the form of rations, light sources andspells) and time-keeping being vital to proper gameplay.

What retroclone should I use?There are dozens of systems available, with most staying fairlytrue mechanically to their original D&D inspiration. There is noright answer, as each one may have aspects you prefer overanother, such as race & class options, saving throw mechanics,descending or ascending armor classes, encumbrance tracking,magic usage, etc.

Some of the more popular retroclones include:

OD&D: • Sword and Wizardry: White Box• Whitebox

B/X and RC:• Labyrinth Lord• Basic Fantasy RPG• Lamentations of the Flame Princess• B/X Essentials• Adventure Conqueror King• Dark Dungeons• Sword & Wizardry: Complete

AD&D:• Labyrinth Lord: Advanced Edition Companion• OSRIC• Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers Of Hyperborea• For Gold and Glory

Additionally, there are numerous systems available that closelyemulate the mechanics of TSR era D&D but allow for game settingsoutside of the fantasy genre.

Science-Fiction:• Stars Without Number• Machinations of the Space Princess

Horror/Occult:• Silent Legions• Dark Places & Demogorgons

Post-Apocalyptic:• Mutant Future• Other Dust• Ruinations

Feudal Japan:• Ruins and Ronins

Stone Age:• Wolfpacks & Winter Snow

Steampunk:• Engines & Empires

Superhero:• Hideouts & Hoodlums• Mystery Men

Western:• Boot Hill

Is _______ considered OSR?Many systems often lumped into the OSR hold contentionamong enthusiasts due to differing mechanics and core gameplayemphasis. These include:

• Dungeon Crawl Classics• Mutant Crawl Classics• The Black Hack• Into the Odd• Torchbearer• Dungeon World• Low Fantasy Gaming• Gamma World• Retro Phaze• Knave• Maze Rats• Searchers of the Unknown

Typically, the resounding answer is “No”.

What is a good module to run?Some of the most commonly suggested in /osrg/ include:

Adventures:• B1: In Search of the Unknown (B/X)• B2: Keep on the Borderlands (B/X)• B4: The Lost City (B/X)• UK4: When a Star Falls (AD&D)• T1: Village of Hommlet (AD&D)• S1: Tomb of Horrors (AD&D)• S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (AD&D)• I6: Ravenloft (AD&D)• Shadowbrook Manor (LL)• Tower of the Stargazer (LotFP)• Death Frost Doom (LotFP)• The God That Crawls (LotFP)• Tomb of the Iron God (S&W)• Lost City of Barakus (S&W)• Operation Unfathomable (S&W)• Tomb of the Serpent Kings• Craft Dungeon of Reynaldo Lazendry• Grizzly Graveyard of Grimgortha• Gone Fishin’• City State of the Invincible Overlord

Megadungeons:• Barrowmaze (LL)• Stonehell (LL)• Dwimmermount (LL)• Anomalous Subsurface Environment (LL)

Hexcrawls:• World of the Lost (LotFP)• X1: Isle of Dread (AD&D)• JN2: Monkey Isle (BFRPG)

What are the agreed upon OSR aspects?

• Rulings over rules.• Rule simplicity.• Heroics, not superheroes.• Quick character generation.• De-emphasis on character stats.• High lethality.• Role-playing over roll-playing.• Resource management.• Time keeping.• Vancian magic.

What are some recommended GM tools & resources?

• 1e Dungeon Masters Guide• Vornheim• Veins of the Earth• d30 Sandbox Compendium• Tricks, Empty Rooms & Basic Trap Design• The Dungeon Alphabet• Random Esoteric Creature Generator• Grimtooth’s Traps• Wonder & Wickedness• Hack! Issue 1: Firearms• Cityographer (PC Application)• Dungeonographer (PC Application)• Hexographer (PC Application)

What are some OSR style video games?

• Legend of Grimrock I & II• Eye of the Beholder• Wizardry• Caves of Qud• Darkest Dungeon• Vaporium• Dungeon Master• Bard’s Tale• Delver• Most “Roguelikes”

What are some OSR based podcasts?

• Hobbes and Friends of the OSR• Roll For Initiative• Save or Die Podcast• Fear of a Black Dragon• Gaming and BS• Spellburn/Glowburn (DCC)

What are some useful OSR websites?

• Trove #1

• Trove #2

• OSR Sandbox

• OSR Tools and Resources

• OSR Blogs

What does FOEGYG mean?Similar to a Tourette Syndrome vocal outburst, it is the lamentingwail of many a TSR era autist.