OSR What's more important for a retroclone?

[Dbudzik]

To me, a retroclone is defined by copying the rules of an older game as closely as possible. Like Old-School Essentials.

There are plenty of great games out there that copy the feel of the old-school games, but they're not retroclones. Like Shadowdark.

Exactly. A retroclone is about restating the ruleset, usually in a clearer or more concise way.
The OSR scene is about recreating the feel of old-school games. It is inclusive of retroclones.

 

[Koloth]

Almost by definition, a 'clone' should be a close copy. But it can change some things otherwise just play the original. For example, grafting in for initiative the modern 'everyone rolls a d20 and goes in descending order' vs whatever 1st Ed called for but was often house ruled.

Nothing wrong with an "In the spirit of" or "Inspired by" game, but it really isn't a clone.

 

[AlexofBarbaria]

I don't think we've needed retroclones since WotC put the old core rulebooks up for sale.

I do appreciate the online OSE SRD though.

 

[Composer99]

I'd concur that the purpose of a retroclone is, by definition, to port over rules and mechanics with great fidelity, and have voted with that in mind.

 

[mixmastashizz]

I don't think we've needed retroclones since WotC put the old core rulebooks up for sale.

I do appreciate the online OSE SRD though.

Their purpose has shifted since the originals are more accessible. Now I think the focus is making them more user friendly with modern layout and organization.