OSR stands for "Old School Renaissance." It is an umbrella term encompassing pre-D&D 3.0 versions of Dungeons & Dragons. The various older editions are closely related enough that an answer for one is often applicable to other editions.
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Overview of D&D retro-clones
I'm getting more and more interested in the D&D retro-clones. I keep seeing various names thrown around, like Labyrinth Lords, Swords and Wizardry, Lycanthropes &… something else starting with ...
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5answers
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What's the deal with alignment languages?
In early D&D, there was the concept of an "alignment language."
The original "little brown book" D&D says only:
Law, Chaos and Neutrality also have common languages spoken by each ...
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10answers
821 views
What defines the “old school renaissance”?
I'm aware that the old school renaissance (OSR) is all about hearkening back to old versions of D&D and the play styles of the 70's and 80's, but what characteristics really define this movement? ...
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9answers
543 views
What happens in adventure locations between adventures?
I'm running a sandbox with several adventure locations that have been visited, but not entirely cleared, and ones that have been left open for new residents to arrive.
I'm looking for a method for ...
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4answers
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How to randomly generate a village or town for old school D&D game?
There is a lot of material written on random generation of dungeons for play. But inevitably characters have to return from the to spend those ill-gotten gains. And where else but a nearby ...
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4answers
488 views
Was Original D&D an Historical Wargame?
At the dawn of roleplaying, the Castle & Crusade Society and Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association (LGTSA) focused on Medieval Britain, and produced the Chainmail tabletop wargame rules with a ...
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1answer
543 views
Where did exceptional (“percentile”) strength come from?
I run a B/X game for a few guys, most of whom have only played 3E before. It leads to a lot of talk about the change in power level between basic and 3E. One of the things that came up was the ...
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9answers
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What adventures are there out there that would fit in this campaign?
In a few weeks I'm starting a game of old school D&D for a group of fairly new players, and I'd like to be able to have a few published modules to drop on my hex map, so I can mix it up a bit and ...
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4answers
742 views
How can players learn the nature of magic items?
I'm running a sandbox campaign with Adventurer Conqueror King System (essentially Moldvay-Cook Basic/Expert D&D). My players are starting to find probably-magic items during their expeditions and ...
13
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4answers
698 views
What kind of rulings predated ability or skill checks in old school D&D?
As I grow more weary of 4E and more nostalgic for my days playing 2E, I'm spending more and more time reading the old rules and the retroclones. I'm having a great time.
One of the things that I ...
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7answers
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In early D&D, why would chainmail ever be preferred over plate armor?
In early D&D, both chainmail and plate armor were considered metal armor, and to slow the wearer to 60' per turn. Chainmail cost 40gp, and plate armor 60gp. Their encumbrance was 400 or 500 coins ...
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9answers
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How do you powergame 1st Edition AD&D?
1st Edition Dungeons and Dragons gives its players a few strategic options during character creation, many of which are restricted by randomly generated attributes. With this in mind, what are some ...
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1answer
270 views
At what point does a trap on a lock spring?
So a thief finds a chest which is trapped and locked (though he knows neither of these things at this point).
He fails his find traps roll and assumes / risks that it's not trapped. At what point ...
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3answers
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How can I convert D&D 3.5 to 2nd Edition or older AD&D?
I have accumulated a lot of D&D 3.5 modules and adventure settings, but I play older editions of the game. What is the best way to convert these to an older edition, say AD&D 2nd edition? Is ...
12
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1answer
416 views
What's the history of the Darkness spell?
In D&D 3.0, the darkness spell was a sphere of blackness, impenetrable even to darkvision, which was terrifyingly powerful (except against demons and devils).
In D&D 3.5, it's a zone of 20% ...
12
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3answers
482 views
Why can't a Cleric use a sling?
So by the book 1st Edition AD&D, clerics can't use a sling.
Other than game balance (it essentially means that other than the odd thrown hammer clerics have no ranged weapon ability which further ...
11
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4answers
190 views
Megadungeon or modules for a weekend of play?
I've been having gaming/camping weekends with some friends and we've only played Call of Cthulhu so far, using modules. This time I plan on running an OSRIC/1e game, and would like to run the ...
11
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3answers
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AC differences between AD&D 1E and Basic D&D?
I understand that there are differences between the way Armor Class works in AD&D (first edition) and Basic D&D (the boxed sets, Rules Cyclopedia, etc.), but I don't have the books to check it ...
11
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6answers
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Using 2x on d12 instead of x on a d6 in OD&D/Classic D&D/Clones
A staple of of early D&D is the "1 in 6" or "2 in 6" chance for surprise, finding secret doors, and so on. Recently, some of the retro-clones, mostly noticeably Lamentations of the Flame Princess ...
10
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1answer
596 views
What's the big appeal to Majestic Wilderlands?
I've been seeing a lot about this setting lately, and although I've looked over some of the material, I don't feel like I "get" it. That is by no means a criticism--I'm pretty interested, but it ...
10
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1answer
173 views
Is OD&D faster than D&D 3e at low levels, and why?
I've never played OD&D, AD&D or retro-clones, but fans of those games often say they run much faster than D&D 3e and 4e, especially to resolve combat. However, it's my experience that ...
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3answers
801 views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of oldschool D&D combat initiative?
Old D&D and D&D3E/4E treat initiative and combat order differently like so:
D&D 3.5 / 4E: All participants roll individual initiative, once only at the start of combat. Each player takes ...
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6answers
304 views
Can you use a Spelljammer ship to get to Krynn?
Following on from this (can-you-use-a-spelljammer-ship-to-get-to-ravenloft) question, I seem to remember that Krynn is similarly impossible to get to, mainly for plot reasons since no character on ...
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1answer
357 views
Concealed door vs Secret door
In AD&D 1st edition, what is the difference between a concealed door and a secret door?
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3answers
146 views
Rules for delaying action?
Does Advanced Dungeons & Dragons have rules for holding/delaying action in combat?
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3answers
684 views
Cavalier, Acrobat, Barbarian
What's the name of the AD&D book (1st Edition) that has the other character classes that were popularized in the Saturday morning cartoon?
I'm talking about the Cavalier, Acrobat, Barbarian, ...
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4answers
310 views
Pitfalls of using the optional 'XP for Gold' rule in a Basic D&D Retro Clone game?
Basic Fantasy (a Basic D&D Retro Clone) has the XP for Gold optional rule: 1 GP of coin or treasure returned to a safe place rewards the party with 1 XP. This is in addition to normal XP rewards. ...
7
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3answers
266 views
Old school dungeon with undead toads
I remember reading a dungeon that involved either undead or vampiric toads as the final encounter. Now I can't find it again. Does anyone know what it was?
I know it was from one of the OSR-type ...
7
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4answers
279 views
Stone battle axe vs steel battle axe
What damage is done by a stone battle axe as opposed to a normal steel battle axe? Specifically the kind sometimes wielded by troglodytes?
7
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4answers
458 views
Has anyone released Castle of the Mad Archmage upper levels?
I'd really like to run COTMA, but for some reason the idea of coming up with the ruins and level 1 kind of intimidate me. I'd like to see some examples that I could either use as written or just use ...
7
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1answer
379 views
Where can I find a database (sqlite, csv, etc) of Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set character and monster data?
I'm writing an engine for Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (Red and Blue Box) First Edition (1E) in Python and would like to be able to read from an existing database of what is in the players and ...
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12answers
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Which D&D modules are the classics? [closed]
Which pre-written D&D modules do you consider to be classic, and why?
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2answers
312 views
In calculating Basic D&D monster experience, what's a special ability?
I really like my good ol' Moldvay Basic D&D. Every once in a while, it's missing a rule I want, and I make it up. Then I feel clever. Sometimes, though, I want to know what everybody else did ...
6
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2answers
347 views
How can the GM go diceless in classic D&D?
For those unfamiliar with the concept semi-diceless gaming is only having the players roll the dice. It's used in Cinematic Unisystem and the old (and now free) game Legendary Lives.
I'd like to ...
6
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2answers
285 views
Enchant Item Spell
Is Enchant Magic Item (a 6th level AD&D spell) is written up anywhere in the OD&D books, supplements, or Strategic Review? I am researching the difference between OD&D magic item creation ...
6
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2answers
239 views
How can I do conversions from OD&D to nWoD?
I'm running a Changeling: the Lost game and I'm going to be running an OD&D (clone) module soon (Death•Frost•Doom) and I was wondering if anyone had tips on converting the crunchy bits to nWoD. ...
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2answers
184 views
What is a good example of implementing old-school design in a 4e module?
I've done some poking around and haven't found anything. It looks like the RPGA "Village of Hommlet" drew on its heritage a bit, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get my hands on that. I also ...
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1answer
124 views
How does damage outside of combat work in Carcosa?
In Geoffrey McKinney's old-school setting and ruleset Carcosa, hit dice are handled unusually. If you already know how, skip to the actual question, below. Otherwise, here is a refresher: a ...
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2answers
132 views
Rules for increasing ability scores in Basic D&D?
Are there any rules (house or otherwise) for increasing ability scores in Basic D&D or any of it's retro clones? (Other than magic items or wishes.)
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vote
2answers
236 views
Spell to change the appearance of minions?
In old-school DnD, what spell would a wizard (or illusionist) use to change the appearance of his minions? For example, if a wizard had a bunch of bugbear henchmen, what spell would she cast to make ...
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1answer
120 views
Where can I get a copy of Monsters of Myth? [closed]
I was wondering where I could get a softcover copy of the OSRIC book, Monsters of Myth.
Any help would be great.
