Retro-clones - explain?

[Nellisir]

OK, I get the concept of retro-clones (recreating in an OGL form an older, "retro" ruleset that's no longer commercially available) and I get the appeal - but honestly, I'm confused by the growing number of them, and the variants.

OSRIC, Labrynth Lord, Basic Fantasy, Swords & Wizardry - can someone fill me in on what the differences are and which covers which era? And, for that matter, what exactly are the commonly accepted D&D eras?

I feel like I keep seeing the same game over and over under different names.

Thanks

 

[Particle_Man]

OSRIC is a retro-clone of 1st ed AD&D.

I think Labrynth Lord does the same for Basic/Expert D&D.

If it counts, Castles and Crusades is a 3rd edization of 1st/2nd ed AD&D.

Hackmaster (if it counts) is, I think, a mod of 2nd ed. AD&D.

 

[S'mon]

OSRIC is a retro-clone of 1st ed AD&D.

I think Labrynth Lord does the same for Basic/Expert D&D.

If it counts, Castles and Crusades is a 3rd edization of 1st/2nd ed AD&D.

C&C is a d20ified version of 1e AD&D with the addition of the Primes & Siege mechanic.

LL is a straight copy of Moldvay-Cook Basic/Expert D&D, complete with race classes and race level limits, except Clerics get a spell at 1st level. Mutant Future is an adaptation of LL to post-holocaust, the feel is Gamma World.

Basic Fantasy RPG is a somewhat modified Moldvay/Cook, it splits races and classes (humans get an XP bonus), no race level limits, uses ascending AC, but the overall feel is still Moldvay-Cook. It has a second print edition coming out soon that looks well worth getting off Lulu.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

• Swords & Wizardy (White Box) -- OD&D74 without Supplements. Should be very close.
• Swords & Wizardry (Core) -- OD&D74 + Supplements. Mostly compatible with TSR D&D, in general.
• OSRIC -- 1e AD&D. Very close.
• Labyrinth Lord -- Classic D&D (similar to B/X). Very close.
• BFRPG -- not really a clone. Mostly like Classic, but more of a mix (separate class/race, d20-style AC, etc)
• GORE -- BRP (Runequest/Call of Cthulhu). Very close.
• Mutant Future -- similar to Gamma World, but not really a clone (awesome game, though)
• ZeFRS -- Conan
• C&C -- not really a clone, more like a via media between TSR D&D and WotC D&D, favoring TSR D&D, IMO. Or like the "AD&D 3rd Edition" that never was.

Probably some others, too...

 

[Wik]

Hey, someone give ma link to this mutant future? Sounds cool...

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Mutant Future page.
Print version (Lulu)

Incidentally, MF's rules are based off of Labyrinth Lord, so there's a high degree of synergy, there (the Mutant Future book includes a section about combining the games). It's a great game with a lot of possibilities. And check out the spidergoats.

 

[Nellisir]

OK, so flipping it around....
OD&D74 = Swords & Wizardry (WB)
OD&D74+ = Swords & Wizardry (Core)
D&D = Labyrinth Lord, BFRPG (derived)
AD&D1 = OSRIC

Gamma World = Mutant Future
Conan = ZeFRS
Runequest/CoC = GORE

 

[Particle_Man]

Incidentally, MF's rules are based off of Labyrinth Lord, so there's a high degree of synergy, there (the Mutant Future book includes a section about combining the games). It's a great game with a lot of possibilities. And check out the spidergoats.

Hmmm, That very idea of combining old fantasy and post holocaust future is a clone of the rules for that same combination in the 1st ed AD&D DMG.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Hmmm, That very idea of combining old fantasy and post holocaust future is a clone of the rules for that same combination in the 1st ed AD&D DMG.

I forked the thread to talk about the possibilities from LL + Mutant Future (or D&D + Gamma World, etc).

 

[RFisher]

Some other retro-clones to Google for—if you’re interested in such things: Four Colors, Double Zero, and Legends of Ancient Earth.