OSR Interested in dipping my toe into OSR but don’t know where to start. Any recommendations?

[Aldarc]

This is generally my policy when trying any new system, and getting a better feel for this different style of play is exactly what’s got me interested in OSR, so I’ll definitely keep this in mind.

I’m thinking I’ll probably go for OSE, with some of the optional stuff from Advanced Fantasy (particularly separating race from class). Seems like if my goal is to experience old-school play, the best place to start would be the old-school rules, as they originally worked. Once I have a feel for that, I’ll have a better idea of what I like and dislike in that style of play and can seek out or design something more tailored to my preferences.

I would still recommend looking at some of the other OSR systems, because some either have a free version (e.g., Worlds Without Number) or are pretty cheap (Black Hack 2e - $6; Beyond the Wall - $5).

 

[Malmuria]

I can certainly see that, but to me that looks like an argument against having a different mechanic for reaction rolls rather than using the core resolution mechanic. Again, maybe it works out more smoothly in play, but to me the preponderance of bespoke mechanics for specific situations is one of the things that most turns me off of old-school systems.

Again, I think the Black Hack has you covered with translating thing like turn procedures and reaction rolls into an easy-to-reference system. The only thing that's a little wonky with the black hack is the armor system, but it seems for people who play a lot that's not really an issue (fwiw, this is one of the reasons I like White Hack).

OSE is good for all the dnd-isms. All the classic spells, monsters, treasures and associated tables. But again, for what you are looking for, it might not be the right ruleset, and not worth the money (though the SRD is free).

 

[Charlaquin]

My advice would be to use OSE as a starting point, as so many OSR games use B/X as a chassis. For a more AD&D feel, there's OSRIC, though I don't follow that anymore and I'm not sure how much material is still being developed for it. I used to be a big fan of Swords & Wizardry because you could get the game as text files, which made writing hacks a cinch, but these days for any OSR type shenanigans I noodle around with use OSE.

Yeah, I think that’s where I’m leaning towards. Thanks for the recommendation!

Two outliers I don't think I've seen mentioned are 1) Lamentations of the Flame Princess, which elicits strong reactions from people (and doesn't fit your no race as class criteria), but is an elegant re-tooling of the B/X rules to a specific OSR purpose and 2) Dungeon Crawl Classics, which is all about embodying a specific, semi-mythical style of old school play. These might be worth looking over if you get the chance, but OSE would definitely be my digging-in point if I was getting into the OSR today.

That’s interesting. Could you (or anyone else knowledgable about the subject) elaborate a bit on what makes Lamentation of the Flame Princess such a hot topic, and what the specific style DCC tries to emulate is like?

 

[Voadam]

I’m thinking I’ll probably go for OSE, with some of the optional stuff from Advanced Fantasy (particularly separating race from class).

If so then that means in addition to OSE specific stuff that original Basic D&D materials (modules and monster books and such) and Labyrinth Lord materials will be mechanically compatible. A number of other OSR systems are based off of B/X to a greater or lesser extent and a lot of OSR and AD&D and OD&D are roughly compatible with Basic, but OSE, LL, and actual Basic D&D are designed to be one and the same.

The only significant mechanical difference would be ascending/descending AC conversions in the original D&D stuff.

 

[Malmuria]

Yeah, I think that’s where I’m leaning towards. Thanks for the recommendation!

That’s interesting. Could you (or anyone else knowledgable about the subject) elaborate a bit on what makes Lamentation of the Flame Princess such a hot topic, and what the specific style DCC tries to emulate is like?

Lamentation of the Flame Princess: 1. James Raggi, the person who made it, is an alt-right type, 2. Much of its popular content is by one Zak S., serial abuser and toxic internet troll, 3. A lot of their products have an "edgy" grimdark aesthetic that seems to mistake shock-value for maturity. And ultimately it's just another b/x clone.

 

[JAMUMU]

Yeah, I think that’s where I’m leaning towards. Thanks for the recommendation!

That’s interesting. Could you (or anyone else knowledgable about the subject) elaborate a bit on what makes Lamentation of the Flame Princess such a hot topic, and what the specific style DCC tries to emulate is like?

The writer and publisher of LotfP is a but of an edgelord, and an excellent painter. This combines to some very gory full-colour paintings in the core rulebook. The implied setting (that is further developed in some of the many, many LotfP scenarios) is that of 17th Century Europe, and is a combination of grimdark historical realism and gruesome, silly, often sexualised, whimsy. One of the writers involved in some of the big LotfP releases is also pretty much persona-non-grata in the RPG industry.

DCC on the other hand, is daft, gonzo, whacky 70s acid-trip fantasy, full of psychedelia and rock'n'roll with the dice turned up to 11. It also has some of the deadliest 0-level adventures you'll find anywhere, and huge amounts of fan-created content.

 

[Charlaquin]

Again, I think the Black Hack has you covered with translating thing like turn procedures and reaction rolls into an easy-to-reference system. The only thing that's a little wonky with the black hack is the armor system, but it seems for people who play a lot that's not really an issue (fwiw, this is one of the reasons I like White Hack).

I watched Questing Beast’s review of the Black Hack, and the armor system definitely did sound weird, as did the dice system for tracking consumable resources. Much more abstract than I would have expected from OSR, but maybe that’s an outsider bias.

OSE is good for all the dnd-isms. All the classic spells, monsters, treasures and associated tables. But again, for what you are looking for, it might not be the right ruleset, and not worth the money (though the SRD is free).

Yeah, I’ve been going over the SRD. Definitely has the feel I’m looking for, but I’m unsure if it’s going to be too fiddly for my tastes.

 

[Voadam]

Yeah, I think that’s where I’m leaning towards. Thanks for the recommendation!

That’s interesting. Could you (or anyone else knowledgable about the subject) elaborate a bit on what makes Lamentation of the Flame Princess such a hot topic, and what the specific style DCC tries to emulate is like?

1 Lamentations of the Flame Princess has a lot of sex and gore and uncomfortable themes. It is also a bit of a weird alternate 1600's default setup as opposed to D&D fantasy. Expect there to be a good shot to be horribly mutilated and scarred or mutated if you make it out of a LotFP module alive and without unleashing horrors on the world.

2 Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG goes for a specific OSR feel, it starts with a character funnel where you play multiple 0 level people and the survivor becomes your 1st level character. The default fantasy style is 70s weird with a strong high magic swords and sorcery feel but magic is unpredictable (roll for each spell casting with various effects for different rolls). In feel it ranges from Lankhmar, fantasy Appalachia, crashed spaceship D&D, Courts of Chaos, and such.

 

[Voadam]

Yeah, I’ve been going over the SRD. Definitely has the feel I’m looking for, but I’m unsure if it’s going to be too fiddly for my tastes.

B/X had a dungeon time tracking system that was probably the best executed dungeon pressure system in the various D&D editions. Everything was interrelatedly tracked in easy to use 10 minute turns including searching, random encounters, torch duration, and combat. This tied into the primarily gold for xp system incentives as random encounters were dangerous with low gold and therefore low xp reward, which created an incentive to avoid dallying.

Encumbrance was optional, but allowed a trade off of armor and gear, loot, and speed.

 

[Yora]

Lamentations of the Flame Princess has some really fascinating tweaks on the old B/X chasis.
I wouldn't recommend it as an entry into oldschool games except for people who are super excited about 30 Years War Grindhouse Fantasy, but I think some of the new ideas are really cool.

(Only fighter gets an attack bonus, everyone else is always 1d20+Str. Everyone can use all weapons and armor. Spellcasters are prevented from casting by encumbrance instead of wearing armor.)