Shadowdark looks so good!

[Krachek]

My huge hesitation, as always with OSR systems, is the PC's fragility at low-ish level.

My players are not expert gamers nor people with any knowledge of pre-2014 D&D, so notions of Skilled Play, Combat as War and such things are not something they understand. But they do love the simplicity of those systems.

I have a OSR-ish 5e version as a work-in-(not)-progress somewhere on my PC, I should really go back to it and try to make something out of it.

I think that room can be made to make the game less lethal!
The game allow a pulp mode:

There are no maximum luck tokens a player can have.
Players start every session with 1d4 luck tokens.
You can use a luck token to turn a hit into a critical hit.
You can use a luck token to take an extra action.
You can use a luck token to force the GM to reroll a roll.

my self I think of adjustments

you can allow average on hit points.
and even presumed dead PC can spend some session away from the game and return with some penalties.

the encounter rules are base around same total level of pc and monsters.
That can be tone down at first level.

 

[JohnF]

My huge hesitation, as always with OSR systems, is the PC's fragility at low-ish level.

A fair concern, even with Shadowdark...

My players are not expert gamers nor people with any knowledge of pre-2014 D&D, so notions of Skilled Play, Combat as War and such things are not something they understand. But they do love the simplicity of those systems.

...but there are more 5e-ish, less OSR-ish safeties in place, like the death timer and stabilizing. There's no B/X "Any defender reduced to 0 hit points or less is dead."

More importantly, there's no XP for beating monsters in a fight, only for getting (and spending!) treasure. That means there's a different strategic mindset embedded in Shadowdark's design. B/X gives XP for "defeating" monsters and getting non-magical treasure. 5e gives XP almost exclusively for "killing, routing, or capturing" monsters. Shadowdark PCs never need to raise a sword to advance a level.

But, of course, they probably will get into physical confrontations, so they need to be ready to survive, but they aren't beholden to stick around until - morale rolls aside - the monsters' last hit points are depleted.

In other words, invest in caltrops!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm still hesitating about buying it.

My go-to system for my OSR needs is Beyond the Wall, and I have been eyeing OSE (advanced) for some time now.

Sure I could mix and match all of them, but since I'm not rolling in cash right now, I wonder which of them would fit my table the best.

Shadowdark is close-ish to 5e, which is always good. Beyond the Wall's playbooks are really awesome and a lot of fun. OSE is maybe a little too old-school, but the adventures are pretty great.

And I'm also waiting for Shadow of the Weird Wizard....

choices, choices

Just grab the two quickstart booklets, which are extremely complete, and roll with those until Shadow of the Weird Wizard is closer. And you can use OSE adventures with all of them.

 

[Andvari]

Right. I’m in. Just did my $59 pledge. The ranger sold me on it.

Side note: This money would have spent on getting into BECMI, had Drivethrurpg offered a PoD option for the five sets. As that was not an option, and my wife and daughters are adamant that they want simplicity, Shadowdark won. Disappointed about BECMI, but not about Shadowdark.

You can get Rules Cyclopedia as a PoD. It covers most anything you need for BECMI. But it's more of a rules reference and doesn't offer the excellent onboarding of Mentzer Basic.

 

[Aldarc]

I'm still hesitating about buying it.

My go-to system for my OSR needs is Beyond the Wall, and I have been eyeing OSE (advanced) for some time now.

Sure I could mix and match all of them, but since I'm not rolling in cash right now, I wonder which of them would fit my table the best.

Shadowdark is close-ish to 5e, which is always good. Beyond the Wall's playbooks are really awesome and a lot of fun. OSE is maybe a little too old-school, but the adventures are pretty great.

And I'm also waiting for Shadow of the Weird Wizard....

choices, choices

I would also recommend checking out Worlds Without Number by Kevin Crawford, since there is a free pdf of the "basic" version. There are additional character options and rules for more heroic (less squishy) characters in the full version.

 

[deganawida]

You can get Rules Cyclopedia as a PoD. It covers most anything you need for BECMI. But it's more of a rules reference and doesn't offer the excellent onboarding of Mentzer Basic.

I bought the PDF of the RC a few months back, since the PoD had some sporty reviews.

That said, when I am referring to BECMI in situations such as these, I am referring less to the rules themselves if B/X and BECMI, and more to the world design ethos which I’ve seen of B/X and early BECMI.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I would also recommend checking out Worlds Without Number by Kevin Crawford, since there is a free pdf of the "basic" version. There are additional character options and rules for more heroic (less squishy) characters in the full version.

I loooooove WWN, but the rules are a little too removed from traditionally D&D (from my players' point of view).

I do agree that in terms of design, WWN is one step ahead from most OSR or even modern D&Ds.

 

[DarkCrisis]

What classes are in the Cursed Scrolls?

 

[Bill Zebub]

What classes are in the Cursed Scrolls?

Let's see...

The first one is themed "Diablerie" and has:

• "Witch": structurally like a Wizard, but with different spells, mishap table, and gets a familiar
• "Warlock": demonically infused fighter
• "Knight of St. Idris": cursed warrior-wizards

Second one is "Red Sands" and has:

• "Desert Rider"
• "Pit Fighter"
• "Ras Godai" (assassins with mystical powers)

Third one is "Midnight Sun" (e.g., vikings) and has:

• "Sea Wolf"
• "Seer" (the sort who makes human sacrifices...)

Bear in mind two things:

1. These classes are explicitly intended to be used in the mini-settings that come in the same zine. They are not meant to be general-purpose classes to add the original list of 4.
2. The designer has said that these classes are no more "official" than anybody else's homebrew.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Let's see...

The first one is themed "Diablerie" and has:

• "Witch": structurally like a Wizard, but with different spells, mishap table, and gets a familiar
• "Warlock": demonically infused fighter
• "Knight of St. Idris": cursed warrior-wizards

Second one is "Red Sands" and has:

• "Desert Rider"
• "Pit Fighter"
• "Ras Godai" (assassins with mystical powers)

Third one is "Midnight Sun" (e.g., vikings) and has:

• "Sea Wolf"
• "Seer" (the sort who makes human sacrifices...)

Bear in mind two things:

1. These classes are explicitly intended to be used in the mini-settings that come in the same zine. They are not meant to be general-purpose classes to add the original list of 4.
2. The designer has said that these classes are no more "official" than anybody else's homebrew.

Yeah I don't like the sound of any of those except maybe the Witch.

Good to know, thanks.