OGL Swords & Sorcery?

[kaomera]

So, what d20 / OGL resources are there for running a Swords & Sorcery -style game? I know about Conan (and I hear there's a second edition on the way), and I expect someone will bring up Iron Heroes, but is there anything else out there?

I have both the Conan OGL and Iron Heroes core books, and while they're both great books they don't seem to be quite what I'm looking for. I'd like to find (if possible) something a bit more generic and possibly a bit more rules-lite... Specifically both pile a lot of class features on the PCs, making them a lot more complicated. IH does this to keep up with vanilla D&D power levels, I'm not 100% sure why they went this route with Conan, possibly the same idea.

 

[jdrakeh]

Grim Tales fits the bill, as does Mongoose's Lankhmar via Runequest (it's not d20, but it is OGL).

 

[Aus_Snow]

I'd like to find (if possible) something a bit more generic and possibly a bit more rules-lite

Sounds like True20 might work well for you. It's what I would call "rules medium", based on a [fundamentally] d20-type system, and is certainly generic by design.

If you haven't already, maybe check out the (free) quick start rules there. That'll probably give you an indication as to whether it's your style.

 

[Fenris]

So, what d20 / OGL resources are there for running a Swords & Sorcery -style game? I know about Conan (and I hear there's a second edition on the way), and I expect someone will bring up Iron Heroes, but is there anything else out there?

I have both the Conan OGL and Iron Heroes core books, and while they're both great books they don't seem to be quite what I'm looking for. I'd like to find (if possible) something a bit more generic and possibly a bit more rules-lite... Specifically both pile a lot of class features on the PCs, making them a lot more complicated. IH does this to keep up with vanilla D&D power levels, I'm not 100% sure why they went this route with Conan, possibly the same idea.

A second for Grim Tales. Generic and completely tweakable so that it can fit your ideal of swords and sorcery.

 

[Particle_Man]

ryancanada has an E6 system that I think is OGL. Might be useful to you.

 

[Ry]

As mentioned by Particle_Man (Particle_Man, doing the things that particles can), See the sig for E6. Especially if your players don't like learning new rulesets, you could do a game with non-magic casters on the PC side with basically no changes (use Reserve points from Unearthed Arcana and you're there).

 

[Flynn]

A second for Grim Tales. Generic and completely tweakable so that it can fit your ideal of swords and sorcery.

I'm running a Sword and Planet campaign, essentially Sword and Sorcery with rayguns instead of sorcerers. The two genres are very closely related. I'm using Grim Tales, and it handles the genre beautifully. The campaign has covered the range from 4th to 17th level so far, and GT has done a great job. I'd suggest taking the One-Skull variant on action points, as that makes for a very cinematic style of game, very much in keeping with the swashbuckler-y feel of certain S&S/S&P series. You can, of course, dial up the grit to whatever desired level you need. The magic system should cover your Sorcery needs easily.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[RFisher]

I've long thought something along these lines would work:

Only one class. (Or no classes, depending upon how you look at it.) HP = Con. BAB & the saves become skills. Give them a feat every level or whatever rate seems good to you. Many class abilities become feats as with the UA generic classes.

Have a defense skill, or give PCs a defense bonus based on their BAB skill.

Spells are like d20 Call of Cthulhu. (PCs seldom cast spells, & doing so is usually dangerous.)

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I'd also recommend Grim Tales. The toolkit approach is awesome for tweaking the flavor and feel of the game without requiring tons of optional rules, and since it's essentially d20 in all the places that matter, it's easy for existing players to make the transition.

True20, to me, is the antithesis of Sword and Sorcery. It has exactly the opposite feel.

 

[GlassJaw]

I'd also recommend Grim Tales. The toolkit approach is awesome for tweaking the flavor and feel of the game without requiring tons of optional rules, and since it's essentially d20 in all the places that matter, it's easy for existing players to make the transition.

True20, to me, is the antithesis of Sword and Sorcery. It has exactly the opposite feel.

+1 on this whole post