Basic Fantasy RPG is what I run, and I absolutely love it. My players have all adopted the osr-style of play after effectively all coming from only playing 5e. It's truly a great game.
Great Video!! Castles & Crusades is my favorite -- with Basic Fantasy and Advanced Labyrinth Lord tied for #2, and Lamentations of the Flame Princess at #3. Basic Fantasy is definitely IMO the value leader of OSR games -- the print book is like you said dirt cheap -- and like you said crazy how many free adventures and content is available as PDFs on the web site -- and the rules are super crisp and well done.
Gygax published his last books through Troll Lords (book of names, canting crew, etc.). He also was writing Castle Zagyg, which was Castle Greyhawk by a different name, for Castles & Crusades. Though Gail put the kibosh on it after Gary's passing in 2008, a lawyer of the estate has allowed them to start re-releasing and finishing (w/help from Luke Gygax) the items Gary was in the middle of late last year. C&C has been my favorite system for AD&D worlds since '05-'06. Even after playing/running 5e for 4 years I have moved back to it. And while I started w/Labyrinth Lord back in that time frame I jumped on BFRPG a couple of years later. The fact that EVERYTHING is free is a great plus for running Mystara. All the options on the site gives you just about everything to copy the gazetteer rules. The only thing i've needed the Cyclopedia for is TM monsters (like the beholder).
Hey thanks for the reply! Indeed I am planning on purchasing the Castle Zayg and the Hermit when it comes out 😊. I have not actually run C&C yet just read it a lot. I am planning to run it this year after I finish my 5e campaign. I find Basic Fantasy you can of course port a lot from cyclopedia to as well. Which is what I ended up doing for my OSR game I run. I'm planning on converting that to C&C in the end though.
Love both. I must say I find the OSE fighters progression a little lackluster but that's it. The rest I love! How's you BRFPG going? Mine they just escaped Ravenloft.
@@Shamefulroleplay yah, in old school you really need to let the fighter earn cool items. BFRPG is a blast. They are moving through a lost city in an underground pass to warn their homeland about an impending invasion.
What a lovely comment! I try and be upbeat about all of it. It's all wonderful to play and I am blessed my group will let me try what I ask them to try from time to time also. 😀
That's a really nice comment to see and means a lot. Encourages me to make more 😁. Thanks for your engaging comments too. I love seeing what everyone else plays and enjoys. Gives me ideas to try.
Hey thanks so much! Really appreciate it a heck of a lot. I will certainly have a look at olde swords reign this evening. Is it like 5 torches deep? As for Shadowdark. Me and friends have had a really good fair few one shots with it. Not sure how it would pan out long term. We have enjoyed it a lot however. I'd of liked to of seen more classes in game. For me Castles and Crusades fills that itch with more options in an old style, but newer mechanics.
@@Shamefulroleplay kinda, it has a osr feel, but use proficiency and 2 types of saving throws for monsters/npc's... some changes are recommended between this and 5e, but you could really use monsters as they are.
Shadowdark is streamlined. And for those folks who are a bit frustrated with OSE and/or 5e. It's not for everyone but I don't understand the NEED to put down other games. If it's not for you... Hey, we're grateful there are so many other games. Just... Move on.
@@thetabletopskirmisher not putting down Shadowdark, don't be alarmist. Just pointing out there is a very similar game at cost. If you live in Europe and look into the shipping cost of Shadowdark it is crazy.
Also….I’m a Yank, but some of the fun and simple UK stuff is worth a mention. The original FF RPG was first expanded (Advanced Fighting Fantasy), but of late (even ignoring the recent revival of AFF), many good and solid games have utilized the original FF mechanics… Toika! or at least Spellzard! Super simple and super fun and easy as well! Cheers again! 🙂
I love the presentation on these books. Black and white, images basically boxed off in sections, large tables, they are meant to be used the way we used Advanced D&D back in the day. I left the hobby for decades, and when I got back in, I loved how beautiful the books look, but they are a pain in the azz to read, there's too much information, and the graphics bleed into the brown-on-brown text. I basically only use the internet to look up things during play, which is not the same experience. I'm going to try and get a game together with one of these old-school systems, show the young'uns how it used to be done. Excellent video, thank you!
Assuming that the Rules Cyclopedia (which I own, but can't be troubled to check) includes the *complete* Companion rules, then it is also a source for the BEST grappling rules ever published for D&D. Simple, effective, and fast (I used it for AD&D, and my players grappled a giant scorpion with it). =^[.]^=
@@Shamefulroleplay The "Wrestling" rules comprise one page in the [original] D&D Players Companion (along with Striking, for two pages of unarmed combat rules on pages 6 and 7). Setup is easy, with each character having a more or less stable Wrestling Rating: Character level/2 rounded up, +/- bonuses/penalties for STR and DEX (using it w/AD&D, we used DMG/AC bonuses), + AC WITHOUT MAGIC OR DEX BONUSES (i.e., raw, physical, whatever you're wearing, so AC 10, clothes, is better). WR is added to a D20 roll, highest roll wins. Three wins in a row means opponent is pinned, with some variables for ties and failures. Monster WR is calculated similarly, based on HD, and there are some additional rules for multiple wrestlers and such. =^[.]^=
I definitely like Dark Dungeons, which is a free retroclone of the Cyclopedia. There's also Dark Dungeons X which is almost the same (it goes to ascending AC and other things) and is Pay What You Want.
Great video bud :-) Also another one is OSRIC by First Edition Society its also free on Drivethrurpg 402 pages and then a monster book as well thats 128 pages brilliant stuff. All of these system can be used to play each others stuff as they are very similar you might need to do some very minior changes. Example I am going to be running Shadowdark using Megadungeon called Gunderholfen made for OSRIC, AD&D etc... the only major changes I will need to do is to XP to slow down the leveling and maybe something with the gold :-) OSR is amazing the creators care about what they make, can run so many things from the very first adventure put out ever to something that came out an hour ago. Great video bud had to sub and going to check out more videos :-)
Hey thanks for the lovely comment! I did mention OSRIC at the end I believe. As you say wonderful thing about OSR is it's all so interchangeable. Love it all. Please let me know how a shadowdark mega dungeon goes 😀
Most are pretty good. We like Castles & Crusades for more crunch, options, and higher level play. For lower levels and beginners , Old School Essentials is hard to top. Swords & Wizardry kind of splits the difference between them. Still fast play and a few more options, but not as fleshed out as C&C, which was done on purpose, though Matt Finch will soon be expanding it a bit. I can't really see the appeal of Shadowdark, which seems like nothing more than a Frankenstein of various systems and house rules. But some people dig it.
I agree OSE had one of the most memorable games we had in which a character died still :). never played Swords and Wizardry. I heard the guy who made it wanted to replicate BECMI with it, but I may be wrong. Shadowdark for myself is just easier to get a 5e group to transition to I personally think. To me, it's basically stripped down 5e with grittier mechanics and of course a different spell system. I have played it with my group for one shots when people can't make it and with my kids and it has always been enjoyed. I cannot speak on longevity for a campaign however. For character abilities, options etc I totally agree C&C is where I want to play. It is that sweet spot of more modern mechanics with that old school feel. Thanks for the comment also by the way :)
Totally agree and all the source books and errata for it also free or at print for such a low price is amazing. I use it so much! An amazing community around BRFPG.
You’ve got to check out olde swords reign if you haven’t. It fits right in with all of these choices, but in my opinion Is the best mix of old school and 5e.
Thanks for a video on free or cheap D&D. Please rotate your phone/camera for widescreen in the future so you don't have to wave the books back and forth so they get in the frame.
I run a BECMI group with the Cyclopedia. I got my feet wet with BFRPG during the 3e days before the craziness. My home table is WBFMAG. You really can't go wrong with any of what you showed. I think I favor WBFMAG the most BECAUSE it's so rules lite. OSR's strength is that DIY/GM Fiat attitude, in my opinion.
WB:FMAG has been my ‘go to’ since 2018 or so…. Except when I wanna use B/X!.. heh (and I began in the mid 80’s so I imagined the RC much later was what I always wanted! Haha!) Cheers, man!
Ah, that sounds interesting. I may have to look at Adventurer conqueror as I've never actually read it! Thanks for the suggestion. There's been a few on here I plan on looking at this evening 😁
@@Shamefulroleplayoh, dude! BECMI Berserker. Check him out. You may like him. But I only base that on the fact that you're both Bri'ish. All seriousness, his channel is great.
Yes, Rules Cyclopedia is BECM. They sold this boxed set in the 90s called the "Wrath of the Immortals" that gave you the I. Yes, never really known anyone who's ever played Immortals.
For me the art work had a big deal to do with it. Greats like Elmore had a style. Also of course newer editions use the d20 mechanic. Skills bloat also. Lots of reasons? Maybe all had something to do with it?
personally my page numbers didn't have anything wrong with them. However if you are worried then go with black blade :). The players book on amazon for OSRIC is also lovely and great to have around the table for the group.
Thanks for all the comments! Lots of great systems suggested here as well 😊
Basic Fantasy RPG is what I run, and I absolutely love it. My players have all adopted the osr-style of play after effectively all coming from only playing 5e. It's truly a great game.
I very much agree for an actual OSR Basic Fantasy is brilliant and I used it to replace BECMI.
Great Video!! Castles & Crusades is my favorite -- with Basic Fantasy and Advanced Labyrinth Lord tied for #2, and Lamentations of the Flame Princess at #3. Basic Fantasy is definitely IMO the value leader of OSR games -- the print book is like you said dirt cheap -- and like you said crazy how many free adventures and content is available as PDFs on the web site -- and the rules are super crisp and well done.
Thankyou so much for the comment 😄 never seen labyrinth lord
@@Shamefulroleplay Labyrinth Lord was one of the first three OSR games. Basic Fantasy and OSRIC came out just slightly ahead of LL.
Gygax published his last books through Troll Lords (book of names, canting crew, etc.). He also was writing Castle Zagyg, which was Castle Greyhawk by a different name, for Castles & Crusades. Though Gail put the kibosh on it after Gary's passing in 2008, a lawyer of the estate has allowed them to start re-releasing and finishing (w/help from Luke Gygax) the items Gary was in the middle of late last year.
C&C has been my favorite system for AD&D worlds since '05-'06. Even after playing/running 5e for 4 years I have moved back to it.
And while I started w/Labyrinth Lord back in that time frame I jumped on BFRPG a couple of years later. The fact that EVERYTHING is free is a great plus for running Mystara. All the options on the site gives you just about everything to copy the gazetteer rules. The only thing i've needed the Cyclopedia for is TM monsters (like the beholder).
Hey thanks for the reply!
Indeed I am planning on purchasing the Castle Zayg and the Hermit when it comes out 😊. I have not actually run C&C yet just read it a lot. I am planning to run it this year after I finish my 5e campaign.
I find Basic Fantasy you can of course port a lot from cyclopedia to as well. Which is what I ended up doing for my OSR game I run. I'm planning on converting that to C&C in the end though.
@@Shamefulroleplay Very cool. I am doing a small C&C stint for my 1e/2e group now.
Please let me know how it goes and if they enjoyed it more?
@@Shamefulroleplay 3 of them did. One is very set in AD&D so I believe it wasn't his jam.
Love live videos like this showing the books as you speak about them.
Thanks 🙏 will do more!
I’ve been running BFRPG for 2 and a half years and I love it. And Old School Essentials is a masterclass in page layout.
Love both. I must say I find the OSE fighters progression a little lackluster but that's it. The rest I love!
How's you BRFPG going? Mine they just escaped Ravenloft.
@@Shamefulroleplay yah, in old school you really need to let the fighter earn cool items.
BFRPG is a blast. They are moving through a lost city in an underground pass to warn their homeland about an impending invasion.
The white border on the Rules Cyclopedia reminds me of the books that libraries would hard-bind themselves in decades past.
God yes it does doesn't it lol
@@Shamefulroleplay Honestly if you hadn't shown the back I would've asked if you bought it from a library!
Stumbled upon this vid today and Iit ignited my imagination. Subscribed hoping for more of your upbeat comments on the TTRPG hobby.
Cheers!
What a lovely comment! I try and be upbeat about all of it. It's all wonderful to play and I am blessed my group will let me try what I ask them to try from time to time also. 😀
Basic Fantasy Roleplaying Game is great and definitely free.
It is such a great game and even if you buy it, it's such good value. The errata for it also is priceless.
Nice. The only one I don’t have of those is Shadowdark.
Get the free download up to level 3 it's in the description. Give it a go. 🙏😊
I'm gonna have to subscribe, my brother. Idk how your channel was under the radar for me until now.
That's a really nice comment to see and means a lot. Encourages me to make more 😁. Thanks for your engaging comments too. I love seeing what everyone else plays and enjoys. Gives me ideas to try.
Olde Swords Reign is free pdf and at print cost on a physical copy, also based on 5e... Can't understand all the hysteria with shadowdark. Subscribed.
Hey thanks so much! Really appreciate it a heck of a lot. I will certainly have a look at olde swords reign this evening. Is it like 5 torches deep?
As for Shadowdark. Me and friends have had a really good fair few one shots with it. Not sure how it would pan out long term. We have enjoyed it a lot however. I'd of liked to of seen more classes in game. For me Castles and Crusades fills that itch with more options in an old style, but newer mechanics.
To update you I just ordered it off amazon, thanks for recommendation!
@@Shamefulroleplay kinda, it has a osr feel, but use proficiency and 2 types of saving throws for monsters/npc's... some changes are recommended between this and 5e, but you could really use monsters as they are.
Shadowdark is streamlined. And for those folks who are a bit frustrated with OSE and/or 5e.
It's not for everyone but I don't understand the NEED to put down other games. If it's not for you... Hey, we're grateful there are so many other games.
Just... Move on.
@@thetabletopskirmisher not putting down Shadowdark, don't be alarmist. Just pointing out there is a very similar game at cost. If you live in Europe and look into the shipping cost of Shadowdark it is crazy.
Also….I’m a Yank, but some of the fun and simple UK stuff is worth a mention. The original FF RPG was first expanded (Advanced Fighting Fantasy), but of late (even ignoring the recent revival of AFF), many good and solid games have utilized the original FF mechanics… Toika! or at least Spellzard!
Super simple and super fun and easy as well!
Cheers again! 🙂
I love the presentation on these books. Black and white, images basically boxed off in sections, large tables, they are meant to be used the way we used Advanced D&D back in the day. I left the hobby for decades, and when I got back in, I loved how beautiful the books look, but they are a pain in the azz to read, there's too much information, and the graphics bleed into the brown-on-brown text. I basically only use the internet to look up things during play, which is not the same experience. I'm going to try and get a game together with one of these old-school systems, show the young'uns how it used to be done.
Excellent video, thank you!
What a lovely comment! Great to hear about how you play and the compliment makes it all worthwhile to do the video. Many thanks to you 😁😊
Assuming that the Rules Cyclopedia (which I own, but can't be troubled to check) includes the *complete* Companion rules, then it is also a source for the BEST grappling rules ever published for D&D. Simple, effective, and fast (I used it for AD&D, and my players grappled a giant scorpion with it). =^[.]^=
I need to re-read this section and have a look. BECMI itself is a treasure trove.
@@Shamefulroleplay The "Wrestling" rules comprise one page in the [original] D&D Players Companion (along with Striking, for two pages of unarmed combat rules on pages 6 and 7). Setup is easy, with each character having a more or less stable Wrestling Rating: Character level/2 rounded up, +/- bonuses/penalties for STR and DEX (using it w/AD&D, we used DMG/AC bonuses), + AC WITHOUT MAGIC OR DEX BONUSES (i.e., raw, physical, whatever you're wearing, so AC 10, clothes, is better). WR is added to a D20 roll, highest roll wins. Three wins in a row means opponent is pinned, with some variables for ties and failures.
Monster WR is calculated similarly, based on HD, and there are some additional rules for multiple wrestlers and such. =^[.]^=
You are correct! What D&D Rules Cyclopedia is missing is the Immortals Rules -- so D&D Cyclopedia = BECM. (without the I). 😂
I definitely like Dark Dungeons, which is a free retroclone of the Cyclopedia. There's also Dark Dungeons X which is almost the same (it goes to ascending AC and other things) and is Pay What You Want.
Thanks for the recommendation. I have the PDF of dark dungeons, but have only skimmed it. I’ll give it a deeper look.
Great video bud :-) Also another one is OSRIC by First Edition Society its also free on Drivethrurpg 402 pages and then a monster book as well thats 128 pages brilliant stuff. All of these system can be used to play each others stuff as they are very similar you might need to do some very minior changes. Example I am going to be running Shadowdark using Megadungeon called Gunderholfen made for OSRIC, AD&D etc... the only major changes I will need to do is to XP to slow down the leveling and maybe something with the gold :-) OSR is amazing the creators care about what they make, can run so many things from the very first adventure put out ever to something that came out an hour ago. Great video bud had to sub and going to check out more videos :-)
Hey thanks for the lovely comment! I did mention OSRIC at the end I believe. As you say wonderful thing about OSR is it's all so interchangeable. Love it all. Please let me know how a shadowdark mega dungeon goes 😀
Amazing art and quality! I would also suggest checking out Hyperborea (formerly known as Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerors of Hyperborea).
Most are pretty good. We like Castles & Crusades for more crunch, options, and higher level play. For lower levels and beginners , Old School Essentials is hard to top. Swords & Wizardry kind of splits the difference between them. Still fast play and a few more options, but not as fleshed out as C&C, which was done on purpose, though Matt Finch will soon be expanding it a bit. I can't really see the appeal of Shadowdark, which seems like nothing more than a Frankenstein of various systems and house rules. But some people dig it.
I agree OSE had one of the most memorable games we had in which a character died still :). never played Swords and Wizardry. I heard the guy who made it wanted to replicate BECMI with it, but I may be wrong.
Shadowdark for myself is just easier to get a 5e group to transition to I personally think. To me, it's basically stripped down 5e with grittier mechanics and of course a different spell system. I have played it with my group for one shots when people can't make it and with my kids and it has always been enjoyed. I cannot speak on longevity for a campaign however.
For character abilities, options etc I totally agree C&C is where I want to play. It is that sweet spot of more modern mechanics with that old school feel.
Thanks for the comment also by the way :)
@@Shamefulroleplay Shadowdark borrowed the idea of roll-to-cast from Dungeon Call Classics.
Basic fantasy is awesome ... all game in one book
Totally agree and all the source books and errata for it also free or at print for such a low price is amazing. I use it so much! An amazing community around BRFPG.
You’ve got to check out olde swords reign if you haven’t. It fits right in with all of these choices, but in my opinion Is the best mix of old school and 5e.
You're the second person here to recommend that. Deffo going to look at it tonight! Thanks! 😊
ordered a physical copy to look at tonight. May do a book flick through of it too for video at some point. Thanks for the recommendation :)
Thanks for a video on free or cheap D&D. Please rotate your phone/camera for widescreen in the future so you don't have to wave the books back and forth so they get in the frame.
Yes my next thought was "why didn't I rotate the phone". Will do in future thanks for the comment!
I run a BECMI group with the Cyclopedia. I got my feet wet with BFRPG during the 3e days before the craziness. My home table is WBFMAG. You really can't go wrong with any of what you showed. I think I favor WBFMAG the most BECAUSE it's so rules lite. OSR's strength is that DIY/GM Fiat attitude, in my opinion.
WB:FMAG has been my ‘go to’ since 2018 or so…. Except when I wanna use B/X!.. heh
(and I began in the mid 80’s so I imagined the RC much later was what I always wanted! Haha!)
Cheers, man!
I'd include Fantastic Heroes and Witchery (my all time favorite), and Adventurer Conquerer King
Ah, that sounds interesting. I may have to look at Adventurer conqueror as I've never actually read it! Thanks for the suggestion. There's been a few on here I plan on looking at this evening 😁
I've been meaning to read the Cyclopedia soon, what with all these videos I've seen from some Beserker lad here on YT
The berserker lad? Who is that?
@@Shamefulroleplay goes by @becmiberserker
@@Shamefulroleplayoh, dude! BECMI Berserker. Check him out. You may like him. But I only base that on the fact that you're both Bri'ish.
All seriousness, his channel is great.
BEMCI Berserker is my favorite.
BECMI for life!
(well, 38 years now anyway)
I deffo will!! Cheers me old mucka!
Rules encyclopia does not include the BECMI I of Immortal
It includes some immortal rules but not the entirety no. Not that I knew many that played an immortal campaign personally.
Yes, Rules Cyclopedia is BECM. They sold this boxed set in the 90s called the "Wrath of the Immortals" that gave you the I. Yes, never really known anyone who's ever played Immortals.
Love a bit of shadow dark. That torch mechanic has to be my favourite mechanic
Indeed adds suspense!
Fantastic video, thank you very very much!
That's exceedingly kind of you 😁 thank YOU very much.
When TSR run D&D it had a certain taste that i do not experience now with wizards of the coast....why???
For me the art work had a big deal to do with it. Greats like Elmore had a style. Also of course newer editions use the d20 mechanic. Skills bloat also. Lots of reasons? Maybe all had something to do with it?
The text in Shadowdark seems to run uncomfortably close to the spine. Am I seeing that right?
My copy is a printed PDF I sent to a professional printer not the actual book from arcane library to be honest. So can't speak for the actual book.
The print text is not that close to the spine.
Thanks for the clarification!@@Shamefulroleplay
@@Shamefulroleplay Good move. Although the ShadowDark PDF is also pricey.
Where did you get your OSRIC Hardcover?
I got it from lulu my friend 😁 I love it. The players guide is also on Amazon for a cheap price.
@@Shamefulroleplay I was considering getting it on Lulu but apparently the page numbers cut off due to a printing error.
Black Blade Publishing is the best route for an OSRIC hardcover, IMO.
personally my page numbers didn't have anything wrong with them. However if you are worried then go with black blade :). The players book on amazon for OSRIC is also lovely and great to have around the table for the group.
My my! Now that is shameful roleplay. 😂
The most shameful you've ever seen. You should see me as a player, I'm downright "rotten".
You should be ashamed!!!!
Oh.....
I see now.....
You are ashamed.
Well done, then.
I'm shameful to the extreme.