OSRIC -- update

[grodog]

I hope that someone "re-balances" the stuff from UA and the "intended" classes for Gygax's 2e to match up with the 1e PHB.

There's some discussion of Gygax's original vision for 2e additional PC classes over on Knights N Knaves @ http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1264&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Creating the Savant, Mountebank, etc. for OSRIC is something that I haven't had a lot of time to work on recently, but do plan to dig into again over the holidays. No more thoughts on it beyond that yet (free vs. paid, print vs. .pdf, etc.).

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

Partial list of fixes for OSRIC v1.00

• Nearly 1,000 minor textual corrections for consistency (serial comma, italicisation, etc.), clarity, and grammar (particularly fixing split infinitives) -- the majority of which are due to the excellent work of Mr David Prata in proofreading
• Healing, raise dead, ressurection etc. are now "Instantaneous" rather than "Permanent" (which means that they can no longer be dispelled...)
• All references to "Darkvision" removed and replaced with "Infravision"
• Numerous fixes to tables
• Halflings may now be druids with a ceiling of 6th level

More fixes are in the works.

*gets back to typing*

 

[Treebore]

Maybe you should do two OSRIC's. One that stays loyal to the idiosynchrocies (sp?) of 1E, and another that gets rid of them. Such as I never used level limits or race/class limitations.
Dwarven Paladins and Elvin Druids have always been fine with me. At 20th level as well as first. Plus a whole bunch that I can't remember.

Anyways, maybe hold a few brainstorming sessions of what people changed about the core rules of 1E and write-up another OSRIC addendum of alternate rules. IE your own version of Arcana, but with good solid stuff in there, and other additional or alternative classes, etc...

That way you can make the by the book types and rules tweaking types both happy. Well, mostly anyways. You'll always have the ones who complain just because the sun came up again.

 

[Particle_Man]

In the Celtic Mythos section of the AD&D Deities & Demigods Cyclopedia, it is noted that druids regularly perform human sacrifice.

Actually, if halflings regularly performed human sacrifice, that would cause the humans to think twice before invading halfling lands.

 

[Particle_Man]

Maybe you should do two OSRIC's. One that stays loyal to the idiosynchrocies (sp?) of 1E, and another that gets rid of them. Such as I never used level limits or race/class limitations.
Dwarven Paladins and Elvin Druids have always been fine with me.

You might want to look at Castles and Crusades.

 

[Treebore]

You didn't look at everything I have in my signature area, did you?

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

Treebore, the Core Rules version of OSRIC is almost obsessively backwards-looking. That's a matter of policy -- I'm trying to recreate the 1e systems and algorithms without infringing copyright or the OGL. Not improve on them.

House rules aiming to improve on the OSRIC systems and algorithms are already available (check out Mob United Press' "First Edition Feats" for an example). I applaud the attempt and I expect to see more of those, but the OSRIC core rules will make no attempt to compete with them.

Of course, you're very welcome to create a "Treebore variant OSRIC" .pdf and either sell it or distribute it for free.

 

[Zweihänder]

Forgive me if this question proves me quite dense, but what is OSRIC? It sounds like an adaptation of D&D 1e, but there are some comments that make me think it is more than that. Would someone please explain?

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

Sure.

OSRIC is my attempt to recapture the 1e systems and algorithms in an open gaming context. The core rules are free in .pdf format.

You can download them here: http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/osric

Anyone can publish material and say it's OSRIC-compatible. They need not ask my permission or pay any fees or royalties, provided they comply with a set of terms and conditions that I like to think are fairly reasonable -- they're there for my protection and everyone else's.

At the moment, the OSRIC rules are in a kind of open beta phase. (This doesn't matter to publishers; few people play OSRIC as written. They simply use their OSRIC-compatible material with the original 1e rules, which is what I indended.)

I'm hoping to move to a reasonably final version shortly.

To my surprise, there seems to be some demand for a reasonably-priced print version of OSRIC... perhaps peoples' 1e hardbacks are starting to wear out? In any case, I'm working on providing the core rules in print format at cost price (likely to be under $7.50 for the 132-page 8.5"x11" softback).

This thread is just to keep people informed about recent progress I've made.

 

[RFisher]

I find it difficult to imagine hobbits gathering in a stone ring at midnight to perform sacrifices with bloody knives!

So, you never saw that controversial picture in Dragon? (^_^)

Maybe you should do two OSRIC's. One that stays loyal to the idiosynchrocies (sp?) of 1E, and another that gets rid of them.

To me, this is one of the great benefits of something like Osric. It gives you a big jump start on creating a document that is your game. There doesn't need to be just two: There can be the official one & every group/GM can have their own customized version.

Trying to form a consensus on a single alternative Osric, though...I've been down a few roads like that before...that a that way lies madness.

Actually, if halflings regularly performed human sacrifice, that would cause the humans to think twice before invading halfling lands.

"If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? Maybe, if they screamed all the time for no reason." --Jack Handy