Other D&D Variant Best D&D Clone for open table play with beginners?

mamba · 2025-12-30T00:46:13+0000

HellfireVanWinkle said:
I would need a system that emulates D&D while still being welcoming to RPG beginners,

Maybe Bugbears and Borderlands fits your bill

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/528549/bugbears-borderlands-2e

The first edition is available for free, but offers considerably fewer classes

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/409630/bugbears-and-borderlands

Mark Hyde1 · 2025-12-30T04:19:19+0000

Shadowdark is the common recommendation. I've heard of people house-ruling BFRPG for modern players. S&W and Dragonslayer from Greg Gillespie are another recommend for old school play feel.
Greyhawk is a good choice for a setting -it's the default now for 2024 5e DMG - - lots of resources online for it too.
Greyhawk Grognard – A blog about the World of Greyhawk, tabletop RPGs, wargames, and pop culture - Good resource blog from the YT-er of the same channel name

HellfireVanWinkle · 2025-12-30T04:54:37+0000

Morrus said:
I"m curious which of these editions you want a clone of? That will help narrow down the options immensely.

My ideal D&D would be a version that ressembles OSR, but with all the Old School "trinkets" (this is me being polite) either corrected or deleted entirely. Because I always hated things such as : Thief Skills, Descending AC, Thaco and other things which I probably forget.

Micah Sweet · 2025-12-30T06:59:14+0000

HellfireVanWinkle said:
My ideal D&D would be a version that ressembles OSR, but with all the Old School "trinkets" (this is me being polite) either corrected or deleted entirely. Because I always hated things such as : Thief Skills, Descending AC, Thaco and other things which I probably forget.

So...Shadowdark.

TiQuinn · 2025-12-30T15:46:49+0000

HellfireVanWinkle said:
My ideal D&D would be a version that ressembles OSR, but with all the Old School "trinkets" (this is me being polite) either corrected or deleted entirely. Because I always hated things such as : Thief Skills, Descending AC, Thaco and other things which I probably forget.

I would go with Shadowdark first because that really seems to hit all the qualifications - it’s dead simple for a player to get into as a beginner. As a backup choice, I’d look at OSE which is probably the cleanest, direct clone of D&D while ticking most of the boxes for you.

Other D&D Variant Best D&D Clone for open table play with beginners?

mamba

Legend

Mark Hyde1

Villager

HellfireVanWinkle

Villager

Micah Sweet

Level Up & OSR Enthusiast

TiQuinn

Registered User

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