Other D&D Variant Let’s list the 5E variants

[Mannahnin]

Shadowdark really isn't a 5E variant at all, but I can see why people put it on the list.

They're confused. As far as I can see it takes 2-3 mechanics from 5E. Advantage/Disadvantage, surviving at 0 but not having negative HP, and the chance to wake up on a roll of 20 while you're down at 0.

 

[Thraic Ogmund]

They're confused. As far as I can see it takes 2-3 mechanics from 5E. Advantage/Disadvantage, surviving at 0 but not having negative HP, and the chance to wake up on a roll of 20 while you're down at 0.

While I do think that Tales of Argosa (or "Low Fantasy Gaming" as it was once called) has some interesting things to offer (e.g. I cribbed LFG's artificer class and tweaked it for a system I have been working on here and there), I would agree that it isn't a 5e variant.

EDIT: Dang it, the Artificer wasn't from "Low Fantasy Gaming"! It was from "The Dozen Dooms." I guess that the title should have told me that. Artificers aren't typically thought of as "low fantasy"...

 

[Fenris-77]

They're confused. As far as I can see it takes 2-3 mechanics from 5E. Advantage/Disadvantage, surviving at 0 but not having negative HP, and the chance to wake up on a roll of 20 while you're down at 0.

It's more like B/X with some modern sensibilities.

 

[Brotton Goodfellow]

Is ToA actually based off 5E? I remember when I first read its predecessor, Low Fantasy Gaming, it seemed more a mix of 3E and TSR D&D.

ToA uses roll-under attributes instead of the unified D20 mechanic of WotC D&D. It uses a flatter ability score bonus/penalty curve partway between WotC D&D & B/X. It DOES use Advantage and Disadvantage, but a lot of games have adopted those. It doesn't have Proficiency Bonus, instead every class has an Attack Bonus progression like 3E. Non-proficiency with a weapon instead means you have disadvantage to attack with it. Short Rest is only a few minutes (like 4E) rather than an hour (5E), though the recover benefits are stingier and more variable than either.

Doesn't look like a 5E variant to me.

I’ll kindly see myself out

 

[Fenris-77]

I’ll kindly see myself out

Maybe you could fade back into the shrubberies...

 

[Mannahnin]

I’ll kindly see myself out

I still appreciate you mentioning it! I think that game deserves more love and more people talking about it. I just don't think it fits what the OP was asking for.

 

[Mannahnin]

It's more like B/X with some modern sensibilities.

I'm not sure I can even quite call it that. One of the signature parts of BX is race-as-class, but SD has separate race and class like every version of D&D except B/X, BECMI, RC.

It's a really well-curated mix of elements from OD&D, BX, 3E, 4E and 5E plus OSR /non-D&D elements like roll to cast, the talent progression tables, luck tokens, torch timers... Probably the single edition it takes the most important/central elements from is 3E (unified D20 mechanic, ability score progressions), but even that's pretty minimal.

Edit: I think I get what people mean when they compare it to B/X, though, in that B/X is probably the closest edition to Shadowdark in terms of strong, restrained and tasteful editing, keeping the rules compact and succinct.

 

[Fenris-77]

I'm not sure I can even quite call it that. One signature part of that is that it has separate race and class like every other version of D&D except B/X, BECMI, RC.

It's a really well-curated mix of elements from OD&D, BX, 3E, 4E and 5E plus OSR /non-D&D elements like roll to cast, the talent progression tables, luck tokens, torch timers... Probably the single edition it takes the most important/central elements from is 3E (unified D20 mechanic, ability score progressions), but even that's pretty minimal.

Yeah, sure, if you want to, you know, get all specific and stuff.

 

[Mannahnin]

Yeah, sure, if you want to, you know, get all specific and stuff.

I think I get what people mean when they compare it to B/X, though, in that B/X is probably the closest edition to Shadowdark in terms of strong, restrained and tasteful editing, keeping the rules compact and succinct. Focused on a good dungeon crawl first, with strong and clear procedural elements to support that focus.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Amazing Adventures by Troll Lord (adapting 5e to mid 20th century setting)

Isn't that just adapting C&C to the mid-20th century? C&C is built off of 3E, not 5E.