D&D General Grateful for Old-School Essentials

[Pirate O’ Caribbean]

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[Pirate O’ Caribbean]

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[Cruentus]

I use negative HP and bleeding. If you hit -4 you’re dead. If you are exactly 0 you are just unconscious.

As for saves I use stat bonus applies to AC. Like con applies to poison save. Wisdom to spell saves (so clerics get it twice!) dex for dragon breath, etc.

Crit hits/failures also in play.

I've avoided Crits in play, because I, as the DM, end up rolling way more dice against the players, which causes me to experience more Crits on them. Coupled with the low HD for characters, at least in OSE, means that they're in even more danger from a mundane hit (for example from a spear wielding goblin who normally does d6 and now does 2d6 on a Crit).

One thing I recently stumbled on was using a Nat 20 on the part of the characters to provide "inspiration" or similar to other characters who witnessed the blow. I can see the mighty blow giving a lift to the rest of the party, even if it didn't do any extra damage as a result of a "crit". I haven't used it yet, but I could see a re-roll being useful here and there.

Oh, and I also use Helmets (if worn, can block one to-hit roll of 20 suffered), and Sundering Shields, where the character can choose to have their shield destroyed and block one hit suffered (after seeing the damage roll). These also add some interesting choices (what to equip, whether to carry an extra shield, when to break it), and characters end up looting useful equipment to replace lost or damaged items, and it increases longevity and survivability "that" much. I also run a game where characters can wander into seriously dangerous areas (usually not without warning, though), so its not unheard of for the party to be in over their heads, where that extra chance to survive is helpful.

 

[CellarHeroes]

I too am grateful for OSE. I feel I had overlooked it for far too long after experimenting with other systems. My upcoming "campaign" will just be going through the boxes and shelves of modules and Dungeon magazines I acquired in the AD&D and B/X years.

First I looked at just using RC, but I found it too limiting for what I wanted to accomplish. Then I dabbled with Labyrinth Lord and OSRIC, but they just didn't fulfill what I was looking for. All the while I kept seeing people talk about OSE. When I was about to decide to create my own little jumble of B/X and AD&D, an ad for OSE Advanced appeared. It's exactly what I was looking for.

The part I appreciate the most is the handy variant checklist. I can simply fill it out, hand it to players, and we're all on the same page. Plus, the players can hold onto it to refer to throughout the campaign...and to keep me in check.
The variants even have some warnings about their inclusion in games and they may interrupt the flow or balance.

 

[Mannahnin]

I too am grateful for OSE. I feel I had overlooked it for far too long after experimenting with other systems. My upcoming "campaign" will just be going through the boxes and shelves of modules and Dungeon magazines I acquired in the AD&D and B/X years.

First I looked at just using RC, but I found it too limiting for what I wanted to accomplish. Then I dabbled with Labyrinth Lord and OSRIC, but they just didn't fulfill what I was looking for. All the while I kept seeing people talk about OSE. When I was about to decide to create my own little jumble of B/X and AD&D, an ad for OSE Advanced appeared. It's exactly what I was looking for.

The part I appreciate the most is the handy variant checklist. I can simply fill it out, hand it to players, and we're all on the same page. Plus, the players can hold onto it to refer to throughout the campaign...and to keep me in check.
The variants even have some warnings about their inclusion in games and they may interrupt the flow or balance.

While it's obviously not as compatible with your purpose, having a nice clean standardized set of rules and a few published house rules in one place, I've found that another virtue of B/X AKA OSE is the ease of adding variants and house rules. Like all the new classes in James V. West's Black Pudding zine, for example. (and all over the OSR blogosphere some years back, too, back when everyone was giving away content for free rather than mostly selling it)

 

[Arilyn]

I was sold on the little hardcover books in boxes. It was a very silly reason to buy a game, but am loving it! So easy to tinker with and add bits and pieces to. Dolmenwood has me excited but waiting on the physical fulfillment.