Retroclones

[jmucchiello]

You'll need to decide what constitutes "clone" versus what constitutes "inspired by."

This is an important point. The original clones (original. clone. right.) were just attempts to create OGL legal SRDs for old editions of D&D. (4c is a retro-clone of the MSH FASERIP system. But I don't think you want to include it on this list.) Since then retro-clone has kind of subsumed any "old school" style game.

Take, for example, Goodman Games' upcoming DCCRPG. It is not a clone (copy) by any stretch of the imagination. But it is compatible with most old D&D modules and most of the retro-clones as well.

 

[JeffB]

Yeah some of these game are retro-themed, and not necc retro clones.

Stars Without Number
C&C
Spellcraft & Swordplay (my personal fave "inspired by")
DCCRPG
LotFP


Even S&W , regardless of which incarnation, has some areas where the truest of the true Grognards don't consider it a clone.

Basic Fantasy is a mish mash of a few 3E ideas, alot of B/X, and some AD&D. Many of the spell details are closer to their 3E counterparts than their B/X counterparts.

LL & OSRIC are probably the two that are as true as can be to the original versions and remain legal. They are the cloniest of the clones

 

[Lanefan]

[MENTION=1]Morrus[/MENTION] do you want homebrew versions as well or just published ones?

Lanefan

 

[Shades of Green]

Some of the best IMHO:

OSRIC, an AD&D 1E retro-clone.

Basic Fantasy RPG (BFRPG), a B/X D&D quasi-clone.

Swords and Wizardry, an OD&D retro-clone.

Stars Without Number, an OD&D/Classic Traveller quasi-clone.

Labyrinth Lord, a B/X retro-clone.

Mutant Future, a Gamma World retro-clone.

Lamentations of the Flame Princess, a weird fantasy/horror B/X quasi-clone (my favorite, BTW).

 

[nedjer]

It is an excellent game, but it is more like a mutant than a clone.

Interesting choice of term A list of clones which made such distinctions would be especially useful. However, what constitutes a retro-clone, a clone and a mutant seems tricky to work out.

On the surface Secret Fire is born of a retro clone and uses very traditional D&Dish artwork, etc . . . However, the mechanics have been re-tuned and though they're dungeon-focused it seems a new, old style - maybe clone?

On the surface Goodman Games' offering is a clone or retro-clone, but the underlying design is all about making play random; which has such an impact on the style of play that it comes across a mutant?

On the surface Thistle Games' Treasure is a mutant, as there are just D6s, character and gameplay visualisation options, and PCs becoming multi-class over time. Except that the gameplay is so very blue book D&D (bet there aren't a lot of copies of that around). So maybe it's a retro-clone?

 

[Morrus]

[MENTION=1]Morrus[/MENTION] do you want homebrew versions as well or just published ones?

Well, they need to be available for folks to easily get hold of - either free or not. I'm not gonna distinguish between "homebrew" and "published" - but making something available for free on the web counts as "published" in my book.

 

[nedjer]

Well, they need to be available for folks to easily get hold of - either free or not. I'm not gonna distinguish between "homebrew" and "published" - but making something available for free on the web counts as "published" in my book.

Bumped into your PC woes earlier. THIS will make your PC life happy.

 

[nedjer]

Back on topic. Free totally counts.

 

[jaerdaph]

Here's a list. Don't know exactly how up-to-date it is.

He just updated it this week:

RetroRoleplaying: The Blog: Revised and Expanded Long List of Old School Games and Clones

 

[Morrus]

The article's up. Thanks for all the help!