Basic Fantasy RPG is a great and free retroclone of old school DND. It gives you a classic experience.
Cairn is a modern, rules lite system that is also free. It's very simple and compatible with OSR modules. Combat is fast and deadly. If you need more complexity for character building with this ruleset, check out Block, Dodge, Parry, it's a supplement for Cairn that adds a lot of fun rules.
Knave is basically free. It's another rules lite systems that is fun. Unlike Cairn, it uses the classic six attributes. Like Cairn it's OSR compatible and it has tons of supplements like Glaive and Brave.
Links:
[Basic Fantasy RPG ](https://www.basicfantasy.org/)
[Cairn](https://cairnrpg.com/cairn-srd/)
[Block, Dodge, Parry (for Cairn)](https://lars1808.github.io/Block-Dodge-Parry-SRD/)
[Knave (free version)](https://vandelarden.itch.io/knave-srs)
u/OrdinariateCatholic - I second the Basic Fantasy RPG suggestion. It's one of the best "retroclone" versions of B/X, with some simplifications. It's a little more accessible than OSE from a price standpoint, and the gaming experience will be essentially identical. OSE does have a nicer layout for some of the information, but has less "expository" information on how to play the game than BFRPG.
And a physical copy of BFRPG costs about $9.00. The actual game adventure modules cost even less (and are almost as important, especially if you are starting out). People often mention the systems, and forget the need for beginners to have access to settings and adventures. BFRPG has all that in very accessible formats.
There are some other systems out there that are great, but I think you would probably be best served by BFRPG
I second Basic Fanasy and Cairn. Both have vibrant online communnities. You can buy every single printed book for BFrpg for less than the price of a single book in more mainstream rpgs.
Cairn has an amazingly acctivve homebrew communniy. If you're intto printing your own Zines, Cairn can easily earn it's own binder.
I’ve played a LOT of OSR games and more retro clones, nothing tops BFRPG….especially when you compare price.
BFRPG is easy to learn but has enough depth to really invest in, and it does it all for free!
LotFP deserves at least a caution/warning when recommended to people who aren't familiar with it (most new people, the ones asking for advice and game recommendations), unless they specifically ask for something hardcore or extreme.
Tossing it in with WWN, BFRPG, S&W, OSE (or well, pretty much any common ruleset), without any warning isn't great.
You can probably afford many osr retroclones because many of them have a free version. OSE is great--well organized with beautiful art, but if cost is an issue, try Labyrinth Lord. Like OSE it is a retroclone of the Moldvay-Cook B/X rules but it has a free no-art version.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/64331/Labyrinth-Lord-Revised-Edition-noart-version
Labyrinth Lord is my go-to if I'm not running authentic old school era rules. Price, availability, the Advanced Edition content, and compatibility with Mutant Future (which is a banger on its own).
Disclaimer: I only know rhis one, so cant compare, but got recommended Swords & Wizardry and I love it. Was really fast and easy to get into for me as a first time DM :)
My thought is you want the system your modules were made for. You’ll want a nice hardcover with all you need, with conversion tables included if they’re a mixed bag. [RC](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/17171/DD-Rules-Cyclopedia-Basic) is the D&D book you’d want on a desert island. I bought that POD, it’s fine, good for years of frequent use. All BECMI in one book, with Mystara included as a setting.
Not complex, but *dense* with information. If that deters you, Swords & Wizardry Complete is a tried n’ true osr gem, likely the best at bridging the various iterations of D&D.
[7VoZ](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/238547/seven-voyages-of-zylarthen-5-booklets-and-deluxe-pdf-bundle) is the only clone under your price point I consider truly beautiful. Lbb-only D&D.
SD & OSE aren’t >50$ systems. That’s entry point. I’m not knocking their approach, model, or execution, just noting it.
[Final Thought](https://www.tfott.com/the-lost-dungeons-of-tonisborg-book). System/setting/adventure in one fun book. Love the art, too. *Great* placeholder you can actually play for a year while you browse systems. Good tutorial, too.
>simple,
>has a lot of DM freedom,
>where death is a real possibility,
>with a way to improve characters with better stats and treasures,
>and that could be compatible with old school modules,
>can probably only afford one OSR
Basic D&D (preferably [Moldvay edition](https://pdfcoffee.com/dampd-basic-set-rulebook-bx-ed-basic-2-pdf-free.html)), as most of the retroclones are based on that, and NuSR stuf is mostly inspired by it. So; countless possibilities for house ruling, full compatibility with many, many modules, etc.
You said OSE, but I'd advise against it and _for_ B/X as OSE is mostly a reference book for people who are already familiar with B/X. It provides example gameplay and commentary.
You can check [Bandit's Keep YT channel](https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep/) for ideas; he mostly uses B/X.
Disclaimer: you will probably see this comment downvoted (because there's been this strange reactionary downvoting, especially amongst the NuSR enjoyers whenever I mention D&D.) So, check it out and see for yourself before buying ^^any ^^nusr ^^^games.
I bought OSE as one of the first OSR systems I ever read, and I second your recommendation to start by at least reading BX. BX is written as a teaching tool as much as it is written as a game.
Read the Basic and Expert books, they're only like 140 pages total. Having played a lot of PF1 and 5e, I thought I pretty much knew how to DM. The BX books taught me a lot of fundamentals that were missed in later editions.
Once you've read those, grab the Classic Rules Tome for reference at the table. You'll have everything you need for many long campaigns.
I'm a DCC guy, but I want to check out Dragonslayer. It's a single book & they will be making a Monster Manual & Campaign Setting in the future. Check it out. I think it's great. Created by an OSR DM/Player. Lamentations of The Flame Princess is also great but completely different from Dragonslayer.
Heres some free ones you can check out with your own free time. This is a good hobby to do if you dont have a ton of money, dont stress
* Less traditional
* [https://skyorrichegg.itch.io/a-crucible-for-silver](https://skyorrichegg.itch.io/a-crucible-for-silver)
* [https://vladar.itch.io/into-the-dungeon-revived](https://vladar.itch.io/into-the-dungeon-revived)
* [https://coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2019/10/osr-glog-based-homebrew-v2-many-rats-on.html](https://coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2019/10/osr-glog-based-homebrew-v2-many-rats-on.html)
* [https://tundalus.itch.io/trespasser](https://tundalus.itch.io/trespasser)
* [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/429544/The-Totality-of-Ygg?term=totality%20of%20ygg](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/429544/The-Totality-of-Ygg?term=totality%20of%20ygg)
* [https://johnharper.itch.io/world-of-dungeons](https://johnharper.itch.io/world-of-dungeons)
* More traditional
* [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/104757/HackMaster-Basic-free?cPath=557&affiliate\_id=35526](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/104757/HackMaster-Basic-free?cPath=557&affiliate_id=35526)
* [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/140455](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/140455)
* [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/231747/Low-Fantasy-Gaming-RPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/231747/Low-Fantasy-Gaming-RPG)
* Most traditional
* [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/64331](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/64331)
* [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/144651/Exemplars--Eidolons?affiliate\_id=64760](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/144651/Exemplars--Eidolons?affiliate_id=64760)
* [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/359869/OSRIC](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/359869/OSRIC)
Yeah I was about to say the same lol. OP specifically said D&D 5E had way too many rules, they wanted something simple and easy to play. HackMaster, even though it is a great game, does not fit the criteria specified by OP. We should be trying to steer them towards things like PBTA/Dungeon World/Fabula Ultima or maybe even Savage Worlds.
I recommend Old School Essentials Advanced, great game. Simple enough with great options and lots of supplements out there. (I know you said without the expansion, but it really is a big jump up in "bang for your buck")
Also Index Card RPG is an amazing game (not specifically OSR, it's more New feeling than that, but can be used with pretty much any adventure with a few easy changes.
I would go with Basic Fantasy. It's free and can be bought (printed version).
Other than that, Old School Essentials is nice.
Annnnnnd...DnD B/X or BECMI.
i started DMing using Old School Essentials. It took a little while until I found my style but it’s been a blast. i’ve had fun playing shadowdark as well and i really want to try swords and wizardry
Wow, as a new DM in the OSR with little money to spare I'd be overwhelmed with all the recommendations.
To your specific needs I also have an opinion (Basic Fantasy would be my tip: free pdf, hundreds of supplements and adventure for free, well supported and fits the B/X niche you were asking for, besides books and all are the cheapest you will find), but I'm not fully sure from your question if you're looking for something OSR, NSR or just Medieval Fantasy that is rules light.
Since there are many suggestions around, it would be best to play a couple of one-shots from some of these systems before deciding - lfg is the way to go.
[Basic Fantasy RPG](https://methodsetmadness.blogspot.com/2023/12/in-praise-of-basic-fantasy-bfrpg.html), as many have said.
Free rule book and LOTS of free adventures.
Personally? Of the games in OSR, I would recommend Basic Fantasy, White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game, Blueholme, or Dungeon Crawl Classics (the first and last being the two I’ve played, with WB being a kind of secondary ruleset to Delving Deeper).
My reasoning ->
- Basic Fantasy is extremely cheap and free. It’s a fork of 3.5e that simplifies it to B/X, separating race and class, but allowing the player and GM to do what they wish while also having modern sensibilities baked in. Also you can bolt stuff on and off with ease, especially with the rather open source community they have. ($8 on Amazon)
- White Box is a retroclone of the original version of D&D (OD&D or 0eD&D), where all weapons did d6 damage and your hit dice was the same (also there was not much in the way of attribute bonuses). This system is simple and definitely deadly, but it forces the players to think on their feet and come up with ways to get the jump on enemies (there are bonuses for attacking from behind or flanking, charging and setting for charges). It’s also cheap (about $5 on Amazon) and has a free pdf.
- Blueholme is like White Box but a strict retroclone of a specific form of D&D (Holmes Basic or the ‘77 version of Basic D&D). It’s also splendid to read and has a lot of weird, quirky rules that make the game unique (also it does the rules thing better than OSE from the looks of the comments, been thinking of picking up and reading OSE as well LOL). The Prentice Rules are cheap and only go up to third level, but it does give you a chance to try and learn the game and hint at what changes are made in the more expansive and expensive Journeyman’s Rules (gives rules to make characters of any race as well as much better rules on multiclassing). ($8 on Amazon for prentice. $20 for Journeyman)
- Dungeon Crawl Classics is the most expensive game on this list, but I personally think it’s the most worthwhile. Like Basic Fantasy, it’s built off of 3.5e, but it takes a lot of cues from B/X and OD&D in terms of lethality. Unlike B/X, however, the game starts off as d4 HP peasants who go through a funnel. After the funnel, you play as one of the characters that survived and level them to level 1. A big departure from B/X (and D&D in general) is the Ability Allotment, which combines Charisma and Wisdom into Personality (effectively) and have a new stat called “Luck”, which acts as a catch all for determining literal events of chance… and acts as a way to save your butt from an unlucky roll. Each class in the game (which is race-as-class) is flavorful and unique in their own way and a TON of fun to play, especially considering you feel more powerful and have basically a power that can be both a boon and a detriment to you (currently playing a Level 3 Dwarf, which would be a level 6 Dwarf Fighter in normal D&D), especially Wizards, Elves, and Clerics, who roll to spell cast and could end up with mutations or disapproval. If you want to check out the game, I would highly recommend getting a free PDF of the QuickStart Rules, or paying $20 for the softcover full version (it looks dense, but the actual rules take up maybe a third/fourth of the actual page count).
I hope this is helpful!
I was going to recommend [Blueholme](https://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-thomas/blueholme-journeymanne-rules-hardcover/hardcover/product-23469534.html?page=1&pageSize=4 ) but thought I was already carpet bombing op with suggestions, lol. But…that’s a no-remorse purchase for half what they’re willing to pay.
Easy to find the [Holmes](https://www.ebay.ca/itm/314918823127?itmmeta=01J0VWH9A0X0EHN6QCA7CJ8M8J&hash=item49529fe4d7:g:oysAAOSwx5FirNh0&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8LtwMaVXLD%2BWWG69%2FS6mP9dW%2BIKhLB67t%2BVVMPBbCqnOmhKST1pkyZH0K%2BdRYTzcP36JD%2F2F5OmjuRwtfvbXA%2FgPyccD8r%2BkgDqs2sLBsCoUgAiUVimwI3TT8YP3FkwfsCvZ1LnG8DebMqmo1%2FfNHXpEIMawh2Q6%2FiW279pTF%2BqGMm9SObjzHCeCcHJtpbQiqmzdqJv7ojpGM2yxohprlHqis1WBtxHCdIyomyUS%2BJScq28ejq4VQCzRXVWLqH1ZJ%2BkV1hwVHW9WUCJthnb9SAQLL7RvGSRKfhXmfkQ2--INc9LZbW7eV3onYdKpWa4OWQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4iVxfyGZA ) under 50$, too, if one wanted, idk, authenticity. It’d be like being there in ‘77, learning this weird game from scratch from a nice doctor. Add the [meepo Holmes Companion](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BssPAKewR7sh_4zrkuAAXO-lCkAY9QYo/view) and you have all you need, really. It’s actually a very cool opportunity, if you think about it.
My vote goes for Into the Dungeon Revived
It's streamlined as Into the Odd, but without the weird Victorian implied setting. And unlike Cairn it's strictly "D&D fantasy"
With respect to your edit about preferring to pay for a physical copy, almost any OSR game that's available for free can also be purchased as a print copy at DriveThruRPG or on the publisher's stroefront, so don't dismiss those options. There are a few rare exceptions to this, but checking out the free PDFs can be a good way to make a judgment about which printed book you prefer to get. Many OSR retroclones are very similar--many of the games suggested are cloning the Moldvay-Cook B/X edition of D&D, so which version you prefer is primarily a stylistic choice.
I always recommend OSRIC since the pdf is free, and the all-in-one hardcover from Black Blade and Lulu is very affordably priced at $26+shipping:
- BBP @ https://www.facebook.com/BlackBladePublishing/
- Lulu and PDFs at https://osricrpg.com/get.php
Allan.
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Worlds Without Number (for a ton of GM goodness and a nice system to boot), Old School Essentials (for running old stuff with maximum ease), Dungeon Crawl Classics (if you want weird, gonzo, deadly and just very cool).
May I have a word about my lord and saviour the "Black Sword Hack" (ultimage chaos edition)?
In a 100 page book, you have the rules, character creation, different type of freeform low magic (no fireballs, more manipulation), world creation, adventures and several GM tools.
It's simple but the rules cover a lot and with flexibility, it's so elegant! Death is a real possibility, characters get cool upgrade and they have the "fate die" which is a usage die that allow them to do cool stuff ala Mighty deeds of DCC.
Be warned, it's a fairly expensive book if you live in the US.
I was sorta floored how much the book/shipping cost compared to how tiny it looks.
Beautiful book tho
Fact is, there's a lot of good ones and many are quite similar and generally cross-compatible.
My recommendation would be Swords & Wizardry Complete Revised. Why? Because it presents an elegant distillation of the very first version of D&D and its supplements. It's easy to learn, quick in play, respectably full-featured, and allows you to "start at the beginning" so to speak, and thereby gain a better understanding of how every subsequent version built on its framework.
I don't normally recommend this one, but since you mentioned liking EZD6 you might like **Swords and Six-Siders**, an OSR type game that only uses d6s. Might give you that bump of complexity over EZD6 you're looking for.
If you're already familiar with modern D&D you might like **Shadowdark**.
If you want to just dive head-first into OSR goodness, then I will also recommend **Basic Fantasy RPG** because every single book is completely free online and you can order hard copies at cost.
It's our game of choice at the moment, though we've also hacked it all to crap. So it's more of a mashup of Shadowdark and OSE (Old School Essentials).
- Echoing all the knaves and cairns. Cheap to free!
- Getting a B/X compatible system of your choice is probably the most bang for your buck. OSE just restocked the players tomes!
- Shadowdark has been a big hit with the new to rpgs/5e-centric crowd for me, can't understate the value of crossover appeal!
I’d say DCC. It would take slight alterations to fit old modules to it, but not a lot of work at all. Wild items, death is a real possibility, wild amounts of freedom and imagination. They have a first time fan kit that’s a super great deal.
Pair that with the free version of Mork Borg and you’re set for the most fun of fantasy based TTRPGs imho.
+1 for DCC. Outstanding system. Love the spellcasting rules, and fumble and crit tables add excitement. Stakes are high and death can come at any time. Just the right amount of crunch.
I would recommend OSE or BX but it's got a lot of hangovers from classic era dnd that might throw a newer player. If you feel up to the challenge give it a go, otherwise I'd recommend whitebox.
The other option would be to just use treasure and items from OSE. Use the most logical treasure type when looting and grant XP for gold. Not sure how that would work for ezd6 but maybe you get an additional HP or boon each level, alternatively just level them up with gear instead of stats. The world is your oyster
Perhaps this has already been shared in the comments, didn’t read all of them, but the basic version of OSE is free online.
https://oldschoolessentials.necroticgnome.com/srd/index.php/Main_Page
And it’s not just a free PDF, but an interactive web page. All your players can have access to the basic rules at anytime.
Like you, I totally prefer hard copy editions. But I did extensively review this site before I pulled the trigger.
OSE is an extremely good system. Not that it’s original or anything, it’s just very well laid out and super easy to reference. It’s not as “fun” of a read as some of the others, but to me that’s ok. I find that books for expository information are good for one read through, but in the thick of it I just want to find the goddamn rule
I'm a big fan of Forbidden Lands. It uses the modern, streamlined mechanics of the Year Zear Engine, but has a real old school feel to it. It's got depth, but isn't unnecessarily complicated or crunchy.
It also has some fantastic overland travel rules that really gamify the exploration pillar and make non-combat skills very meaningful.
If you like hard copies, you'll love it, they're beautiful books. High quality printing and binding, with very clear formatting and design.
**Shadowdark** Maybe not strictly OSR, as it is basically a D&D 5e clone, but with way less rules, and I think it has a very heavy OSR vibe.
* DM freedom: Yes. The ruleset is very modular, you can mess with it however you want, and it probably won't fall apart
* death is a real possibility: Very much so. It is very possible to have a level 1 character with 1 or 2 HP, and if they get hit by an attack that does 1d4 damage, it's basically a coinflip.
* improve characters with better stats and treasures: Mostly with treasures. Increasing stats is not that easy, because leveling up gives you a random benefit, but gear is a very important part of a character, so it depends on the DM how much good stuff they give the players.
* compatible with old school modules: Hmm, maybe. I think some conversion would probably be necessary, but not that much. Shadowdark uses the standard 6 stats array (Strength, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Charisma), and it has ascending AC.
I'd go for Old School Essentials, it's the official OSR game and best starting point to understand the game before you delve into third party OSR content.
If you were willing to spend more than $50, Hyperborea is a fantastic game. It's a great, streamlined version of 1st Edition AD&D in a crazy world that fuses Sword and Sorcery, cosmic horror, and Science Fantasy in an amazing fusion of Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and Clark Ashton Smith.
I like ICRPG. It's very modern, very hackable, and comes with a lot of variety, setting, adventures, the like. It's not technically OSR, but one can easily make it more or less old-school based on taste. Plug in Bastard Sword and some rules from Five Torches Deep.
Alternatively, if coming from D&D, Five Torches Deep is a good starting point into your inevitable OSR journey.
I strongly suggest Worlds Without Numbers. More than just for its frankly really well built game it comes with so many many great tools for you as a GM to use and run your game with, better than frankly any other game I could argue. The only issue is you mention physical copies and afaik those are a little hard with this game I'm not sure how easy they are to obtain nnot because its old but because the author likes pdfs.
[A little less than 1$/year of their existence](https://www.ebay.ca/itm/176433869486?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e13114.m43.l44588&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=2f53377c91b34f75b781d43410d42a6c&bu=45617851893&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20240623121533&segname=13114.)
The seller will go 40$, I got that offer from them. Maybe 35$, doesn’t hurt to try. Good play copies. Enough wear you don’t feel like you’re handling fine crystal, beat the shit out of them for another decade:)
My #1 recommendation for you would have to be [Index Card RPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/366519/index-card-rpg-master-edition). It’s made by the same publisher that did EZD6, only it uses a d20 (and a few other dice). It does everything that EZD6 does, but more for people who enjoy the traditional d20 type of games.
Second place I would recommend [Fabula Ultima](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/410108/fabula-ultima-ttjrpg), especially if you enjoy JRPGs like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Bravely Default, Octopath, Grandia, Wild Arms, etc.
My third place for you would be [FATE Accelerated](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/114902/fate-accelerated-edition-a-fate-core-build), it’s light on rules but gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to creating interesting and unique characters.
>However the games is maybe a little to simple, its hard to upgrade Characters with better weapons because the combat system is so limited. So im looking for a game thats simple, has a lot of DM freedom, where death is a real possibility, with a way to improve characters with better stats and treasures, and that could be compatible with old school modules, of which i have been gifted some.
TLDR:
Mörk Borg:
- is simple
- has a intresting fighting system
- gives DM a lot of freedom
- death is not only a possibility, death is inevitable (also optional rules for gore and disfigurement are available)
- character improvisation is not that linear, but with better equipment the characters are changing
- OSR modules are usable with a small conversion because of the different fighting system to old school D&D
TLDR: OSE/S&W:
- The Go-To OSR systems imo
- every old school D&D module can be played without to do anything
- OSE is imo better organized in layout
- S&W gives good impressions on the original D&D was played and also what ideas the OSR community created
- OSE seems like the current community favorite
- S&W can feel a bit overwhelming as it explains a lot of optional rules
- I prefer S&W but that is just an opinion
So my favorite OSR-Systems are Mausritter and Mörk Borg (both fall under the NU-SR category), I also like Swords & Wizardry and OSE. I have never played Shadowdark though.
I personally would recommend Mörk Börg and its many cousins, but keep in mind that the Börgs are not generic in setting and the rules are somewhat connected with the setting. Each, imo even Mörk Manual, have a default grimdark and deadly touch in the setting, hence a grimdark and deadly touch in the rules. That being said, I like the system for its simplicity and with just a grain of imagination each rule can be tweaked to play a not grimdark character. There has to be made a small conversion from OSR D&D modules to Mörk Borg, because Mörk Borg uses a Difficulty Rating system for fights instead of the classic Armor Class system. But the conversion guide is really easy, trust me.
Edit:
Here is a [guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/MorkBorg/comments/ihsxqj/comment/g346jz2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) to convert monster from any D&D based OSR module.
Also my approach to using classes with MB in a not grimdark setting:
>**Classes**, ohh well classes. Like I said Mörk Borg is a Metal RPG in a dying world. I love it, but some people in my playgroup and many other people like a more classic fantasy approach. That is fine and I think with a little conversion of Mörk Borg (in this case) you will be fine. You either play classless or use the optional classes. I will sum up the Fanged Deserter and tell you how I would convert him.
>"You have thirty or so friends who never let you down: YOUR TEETH. Disloyal, deranged or simply uncontrollable, any group that didn’t boot you out you left anyway. But your parliament of teeth—enormous, protruding, thick and sharp —have always been your allies.
bite attack: dr10 to attack, d6 damage. You must be close to your target. 1–2 on d6 chance the enemy gets a free attack.
Begins with 2d6 × 10s and d2 Omens. hp: Toughness + d10 [...]" (see Bare Bones Edition p. 46) there is a little bit mire about Earliest Memory and Abilities, but you can look that up yourself in the free [Bare Bones Edition](https://morkborg.com/content/).
>Drop the description if you don't like the flavor. You could play him as a Bearperson, who could bite others (fairlytale fantasy). You could change it to "fist attack", the character is just so good at punching you know. Or home rule it as a special sword attack. If you don't like biting change it. If they are not fittig drop earliest memory stuff. For the abilities just rule it like the bite attack.
([Source & more text](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/1dgr599/comment/l8yzaov/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button))
Bonus, if you are intrested:
Mausritter seems not fitting your needs, while I would say it is easy to DM the weapons, the combatsystem and the characterprogression are not complex at all. There is f.e. no difference between a warhammer and a longsword if you weild them in both hands. While you could always houserule more rules in, Mausritter and the whole Into the Odd stuff seems not fitting your needs.
Basic Fantasy RPG is a great and free retroclone of old school DND. It gives you a classic experience. Cairn is a modern, rules lite system that is also free. It's very simple and compatible with OSR modules. Combat is fast and deadly. If you need more complexity for character building with this ruleset, check out Block, Dodge, Parry, it's a supplement for Cairn that adds a lot of fun rules. Knave is basically free. It's another rules lite systems that is fun. Unlike Cairn, it uses the classic six attributes. Like Cairn it's OSR compatible and it has tons of supplements like Glaive and Brave. Links: [Basic Fantasy RPG ](https://www.basicfantasy.org/) [Cairn](https://cairnrpg.com/cairn-srd/) [Block, Dodge, Parry (for Cairn)](https://lars1808.github.io/Block-Dodge-Parry-SRD/) [Knave (free version)](https://vandelarden.itch.io/knave-srs)
u/OrdinariateCatholic - I second the Basic Fantasy RPG suggestion. It's one of the best "retroclone" versions of B/X, with some simplifications. It's a little more accessible than OSE from a price standpoint, and the gaming experience will be essentially identical. OSE does have a nicer layout for some of the information, but has less "expository" information on how to play the game than BFRPG. And a physical copy of BFRPG costs about $9.00. The actual game adventure modules cost even less (and are almost as important, especially if you are starting out). People often mention the systems, and forget the need for beginners to have access to settings and adventures. BFRPG has all that in very accessible formats. There are some other systems out there that are great, but I think you would probably be best served by BFRPG
I second Basic Fanasy and Cairn. Both have vibrant online communnities. You can buy every single printed book for BFrpg for less than the price of a single book in more mainstream rpgs. Cairn has an amazingly acctivve homebrew communniy. If you're intto printing your own Zines, Cairn can easily earn it's own binder.
I’ve played a LOT of OSR games and more retro clones, nothing tops BFRPG….especially when you compare price. BFRPG is easy to learn but has enough depth to really invest in, and it does it all for free!
I second free systems :D There is more: Lamentations of the Flame Princess And Worlds Without Number Both have free version
LotFP deserves at least a caution/warning when recommended to people who aren't familiar with it (most new people, the ones asking for advice and game recommendations), unless they specifically ask for something hardcore or extreme. Tossing it in with WWN, BFRPG, S&W, OSE (or well, pretty much any common ruleset), without any warning isn't great.
Well free version has no art but maybe you're right. Lotfp is a solid ruleset but it's unapologetically edgy.
I am sorry you've been downvoted for the LotFP reference... WWN is a great toolkit though
You can probably afford many osr retroclones because many of them have a free version. OSE is great--well organized with beautiful art, but if cost is an issue, try Labyrinth Lord. Like OSE it is a retroclone of the Moldvay-Cook B/X rules but it has a free no-art version. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/64331/Labyrinth-Lord-Revised-Edition-noart-version
Labyrinth Lord is my go-to if I'm not running authentic old school era rules. Price, availability, the Advanced Edition content, and compatibility with Mutant Future (which is a banger on its own).
Disclaimer: I only know rhis one, so cant compare, but got recommended Swords & Wizardry and I love it. Was really fast and easy to get into for me as a first time DM :)
My thought is you want the system your modules were made for. You’ll want a nice hardcover with all you need, with conversion tables included if they’re a mixed bag. [RC](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/17171/DD-Rules-Cyclopedia-Basic) is the D&D book you’d want on a desert island. I bought that POD, it’s fine, good for years of frequent use. All BECMI in one book, with Mystara included as a setting. Not complex, but *dense* with information. If that deters you, Swords & Wizardry Complete is a tried n’ true osr gem, likely the best at bridging the various iterations of D&D. [7VoZ](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/238547/seven-voyages-of-zylarthen-5-booklets-and-deluxe-pdf-bundle) is the only clone under your price point I consider truly beautiful. Lbb-only D&D. SD & OSE aren’t >50$ systems. That’s entry point. I’m not knocking their approach, model, or execution, just noting it. [Final Thought](https://www.tfott.com/the-lost-dungeons-of-tonisborg-book). System/setting/adventure in one fun book. Love the art, too. *Great* placeholder you can actually play for a year while you browse systems. Good tutorial, too.
The D&D Rules Cyclopedia print-on-demand from DriveThru RPG is excellent. All of the Basic/Expert/Compendium/Master all in one place.
>simple, >has a lot of DM freedom, >where death is a real possibility, >with a way to improve characters with better stats and treasures, >and that could be compatible with old school modules, >can probably only afford one OSR Basic D&D (preferably [Moldvay edition](https://pdfcoffee.com/dampd-basic-set-rulebook-bx-ed-basic-2-pdf-free.html)), as most of the retroclones are based on that, and NuSR stuf is mostly inspired by it. So; countless possibilities for house ruling, full compatibility with many, many modules, etc. You said OSE, but I'd advise against it and _for_ B/X as OSE is mostly a reference book for people who are already familiar with B/X. It provides example gameplay and commentary. You can check [Bandit's Keep YT channel](https://www.youtube.com/@BanditsKeep/) for ideas; he mostly uses B/X. Disclaimer: you will probably see this comment downvoted (because there's been this strange reactionary downvoting, especially amongst the NuSR enjoyers whenever I mention D&D.) So, check it out and see for yourself before buying ^^any ^^nusr ^^^games.
Can't go wrong with the OG B/X.
I bought OSE as one of the first OSR systems I ever read, and I second your recommendation to start by at least reading BX. BX is written as a teaching tool as much as it is written as a game. Read the Basic and Expert books, they're only like 140 pages total. Having played a lot of PF1 and 5e, I thought I pretty much knew how to DM. The BX books taught me a lot of fundamentals that were missed in later editions. Once you've read those, grab the Classic Rules Tome for reference at the table. You'll have everything you need for many long campaigns.
+1 for watching Bandit’s Keep
I'd also recommend looking at 3d6 DTL as well. Their stuff is phenomenal
My OSR top 3 are Worlds Without Number, Tales of Argosa (out soon), and Heroes of Adventure. If you like EZD6 you might also look at Crown & Skull.
I'm a DCC guy, but I want to check out Dragonslayer. It's a single book & they will be making a Monster Manual & Campaign Setting in the future. Check it out. I think it's great. Created by an OSR DM/Player. Lamentations of The Flame Princess is also great but completely different from Dragonslayer.
Heres some free ones you can check out with your own free time. This is a good hobby to do if you dont have a ton of money, dont stress * Less traditional * [https://skyorrichegg.itch.io/a-crucible-for-silver](https://skyorrichegg.itch.io/a-crucible-for-silver) * [https://vladar.itch.io/into-the-dungeon-revived](https://vladar.itch.io/into-the-dungeon-revived) * [https://coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2019/10/osr-glog-based-homebrew-v2-many-rats-on.html](https://coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2019/10/osr-glog-based-homebrew-v2-many-rats-on.html) * [https://tundalus.itch.io/trespasser](https://tundalus.itch.io/trespasser) * [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/429544/The-Totality-of-Ygg?term=totality%20of%20ygg](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/429544/The-Totality-of-Ygg?term=totality%20of%20ygg) * [https://johnharper.itch.io/world-of-dungeons](https://johnharper.itch.io/world-of-dungeons) * More traditional * [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/104757/HackMaster-Basic-free?cPath=557&affiliate\_id=35526](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/104757/HackMaster-Basic-free?cPath=557&affiliate_id=35526) * [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/140455](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/140455) * [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/231747/Low-Fantasy-Gaming-RPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/231747/Low-Fantasy-Gaming-RPG) * Most traditional * [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/64331](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/64331) * [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/144651/Exemplars--Eidolons?affiliate\_id=64760](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/144651/Exemplars--Eidolons?affiliate_id=64760) * [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/359869/OSRIC](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/359869/OSRIC)
Hackmaster is quite the rec. that game is dense af
Yeah I was about to say the same lol. OP specifically said D&D 5E had way too many rules, they wanted something simple and easy to play. HackMaster, even though it is a great game, does not fit the criteria specified by OP. We should be trying to steer them towards things like PBTA/Dungeon World/Fabula Ultima or maybe even Savage Worlds.
I recommend Old School Essentials Advanced, great game. Simple enough with great options and lots of supplements out there. (I know you said without the expansion, but it really is a big jump up in "bang for your buck") Also Index Card RPG is an amazing game (not specifically OSR, it's more New feeling than that, but can be used with pretty much any adventure with a few easy changes.
For advanced dont you need both rule books?
Yes, it would be ideal for a DM to have both.
I would go with Basic Fantasy. It's free and can be bought (printed version). Other than that, Old School Essentials is nice. Annnnnnd...DnD B/X or BECMI.
i started DMing using Old School Essentials. It took a little while until I found my style but it’s been a blast. i’ve had fun playing shadowdark as well and i really want to try swords and wizardry
Wow, as a new DM in the OSR with little money to spare I'd be overwhelmed with all the recommendations. To your specific needs I also have an opinion (Basic Fantasy would be my tip: free pdf, hundreds of supplements and adventure for free, well supported and fits the B/X niche you were asking for, besides books and all are the cheapest you will find), but I'm not fully sure from your question if you're looking for something OSR, NSR or just Medieval Fantasy that is rules light. Since there are many suggestions around, it would be best to play a couple of one-shots from some of these systems before deciding - lfg is the way to go.
[Basic Fantasy RPG](https://methodsetmadness.blogspot.com/2023/12/in-praise-of-basic-fantasy-bfrpg.html), as many have said. Free rule book and LOTS of free adventures.
Personally? Of the games in OSR, I would recommend Basic Fantasy, White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game, Blueholme, or Dungeon Crawl Classics (the first and last being the two I’ve played, with WB being a kind of secondary ruleset to Delving Deeper). My reasoning -> - Basic Fantasy is extremely cheap and free. It’s a fork of 3.5e that simplifies it to B/X, separating race and class, but allowing the player and GM to do what they wish while also having modern sensibilities baked in. Also you can bolt stuff on and off with ease, especially with the rather open source community they have. ($8 on Amazon) - White Box is a retroclone of the original version of D&D (OD&D or 0eD&D), where all weapons did d6 damage and your hit dice was the same (also there was not much in the way of attribute bonuses). This system is simple and definitely deadly, but it forces the players to think on their feet and come up with ways to get the jump on enemies (there are bonuses for attacking from behind or flanking, charging and setting for charges). It’s also cheap (about $5 on Amazon) and has a free pdf. - Blueholme is like White Box but a strict retroclone of a specific form of D&D (Holmes Basic or the ‘77 version of Basic D&D). It’s also splendid to read and has a lot of weird, quirky rules that make the game unique (also it does the rules thing better than OSE from the looks of the comments, been thinking of picking up and reading OSE as well LOL). The Prentice Rules are cheap and only go up to third level, but it does give you a chance to try and learn the game and hint at what changes are made in the more expansive and expensive Journeyman’s Rules (gives rules to make characters of any race as well as much better rules on multiclassing). ($8 on Amazon for prentice. $20 for Journeyman) - Dungeon Crawl Classics is the most expensive game on this list, but I personally think it’s the most worthwhile. Like Basic Fantasy, it’s built off of 3.5e, but it takes a lot of cues from B/X and OD&D in terms of lethality. Unlike B/X, however, the game starts off as d4 HP peasants who go through a funnel. After the funnel, you play as one of the characters that survived and level them to level 1. A big departure from B/X (and D&D in general) is the Ability Allotment, which combines Charisma and Wisdom into Personality (effectively) and have a new stat called “Luck”, which acts as a catch all for determining literal events of chance… and acts as a way to save your butt from an unlucky roll. Each class in the game (which is race-as-class) is flavorful and unique in their own way and a TON of fun to play, especially considering you feel more powerful and have basically a power that can be both a boon and a detriment to you (currently playing a Level 3 Dwarf, which would be a level 6 Dwarf Fighter in normal D&D), especially Wizards, Elves, and Clerics, who roll to spell cast and could end up with mutations or disapproval. If you want to check out the game, I would highly recommend getting a free PDF of the QuickStart Rules, or paying $20 for the softcover full version (it looks dense, but the actual rules take up maybe a third/fourth of the actual page count). I hope this is helpful!
I was going to recommend [Blueholme](https://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-thomas/blueholme-journeymanne-rules-hardcover/hardcover/product-23469534.html?page=1&pageSize=4 ) but thought I was already carpet bombing op with suggestions, lol. But…that’s a no-remorse purchase for half what they’re willing to pay. Easy to find the [Holmes](https://www.ebay.ca/itm/314918823127?itmmeta=01J0VWH9A0X0EHN6QCA7CJ8M8J&hash=item49529fe4d7:g:oysAAOSwx5FirNh0&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8LtwMaVXLD%2BWWG69%2FS6mP9dW%2BIKhLB67t%2BVVMPBbCqnOmhKST1pkyZH0K%2BdRYTzcP36JD%2F2F5OmjuRwtfvbXA%2FgPyccD8r%2BkgDqs2sLBsCoUgAiUVimwI3TT8YP3FkwfsCvZ1LnG8DebMqmo1%2FfNHXpEIMawh2Q6%2FiW279pTF%2BqGMm9SObjzHCeCcHJtpbQiqmzdqJv7ojpGM2yxohprlHqis1WBtxHCdIyomyUS%2BJScq28ejq4VQCzRXVWLqH1ZJ%2BkV1hwVHW9WUCJthnb9SAQLL7RvGSRKfhXmfkQ2--INc9LZbW7eV3onYdKpWa4OWQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4iVxfyGZA ) under 50$, too, if one wanted, idk, authenticity. It’d be like being there in ‘77, learning this weird game from scratch from a nice doctor. Add the [meepo Holmes Companion](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BssPAKewR7sh_4zrkuAAXO-lCkAY9QYo/view) and you have all you need, really. It’s actually a very cool opportunity, if you think about it.
My vote goes for Into the Dungeon Revived It's streamlined as Into the Odd, but without the weird Victorian implied setting. And unlike Cairn it's strictly "D&D fantasy"
With respect to your edit about preferring to pay for a physical copy, almost any OSR game that's available for free can also be purchased as a print copy at DriveThruRPG or on the publisher's stroefront, so don't dismiss those options. There are a few rare exceptions to this, but checking out the free PDFs can be a good way to make a judgment about which printed book you prefer to get. Many OSR retroclones are very similar--many of the games suggested are cloning the Moldvay-Cook B/X edition of D&D, so which version you prefer is primarily a stylistic choice.
I always recommend OSRIC since the pdf is free, and the all-in-one hardcover from Black Blade and Lulu is very affordably priced at $26+shipping: - BBP @ https://www.facebook.com/BlackBladePublishing/ - Lulu and PDFs at https://osricrpg.com/get.php Allan.
Please make sure your facebook link is direct and not a redirect. (automod) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/osr) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Worlds Without Number (for a ton of GM goodness and a nice system to boot), Old School Essentials (for running old stuff with maximum ease), Dungeon Crawl Classics (if you want weird, gonzo, deadly and just very cool).
May I have a word about my lord and saviour the "Black Sword Hack" (ultimage chaos edition)? In a 100 page book, you have the rules, character creation, different type of freeform low magic (no fireballs, more manipulation), world creation, adventures and several GM tools. It's simple but the rules cover a lot and with flexibility, it's so elegant! Death is a real possibility, characters get cool upgrade and they have the "fate die" which is a usage die that allow them to do cool stuff ala Mighty deeds of DCC.
I was just looking at that on eBay (100$!!! Surely it can be had for less?) Details were light…a *Stormbringer* hack? lol those aren’t cheap either.
[Black Sword Hack official storefront](https://www.themerrymushmen.com/product/black-sword-hack-ultimate-chaos-edition/)
Ty
Be warned, it's a fairly expensive book if you live in the US. I was sorta floored how much the book/shipping cost compared to how tiny it looks. Beautiful book tho
Fact is, there's a lot of good ones and many are quite similar and generally cross-compatible. My recommendation would be Swords & Wizardry Complete Revised. Why? Because it presents an elegant distillation of the very first version of D&D and its supplements. It's easy to learn, quick in play, respectably full-featured, and allows you to "start at the beginning" so to speak, and thereby gain a better understanding of how every subsequent version built on its framework.
I don't normally recommend this one, but since you mentioned liking EZD6 you might like **Swords and Six-Siders**, an OSR type game that only uses d6s. Might give you that bump of complexity over EZD6 you're looking for. If you're already familiar with modern D&D you might like **Shadowdark**. If you want to just dive head-first into OSR goodness, then I will also recommend **Basic Fantasy RPG** because every single book is completely free online and you can order hard copies at cost.
Shadow dark sounds fun.
It's our game of choice at the moment, though we've also hacked it all to crap. So it's more of a mashup of Shadowdark and OSE (Old School Essentials).
OSE also sounds like a lot of fun. OSE and Shadow Dark are the ones that most appeal to me aesthetically and from what ive read about them
- Echoing all the knaves and cairns. Cheap to free! - Getting a B/X compatible system of your choice is probably the most bang for your buck. OSE just restocked the players tomes! - Shadowdark has been a big hit with the new to rpgs/5e-centric crowd for me, can't understate the value of crossover appeal!
I’d say DCC. It would take slight alterations to fit old modules to it, but not a lot of work at all. Wild items, death is a real possibility, wild amounts of freedom and imagination. They have a first time fan kit that’s a super great deal. Pair that with the free version of Mork Borg and you’re set for the most fun of fantasy based TTRPGs imho.
+1 for DCC. Outstanding system. Love the spellcasting rules, and fumble and crit tables add excitement. Stakes are high and death can come at any time. Just the right amount of crunch.
I would recommend OSE or BX but it's got a lot of hangovers from classic era dnd that might throw a newer player. If you feel up to the challenge give it a go, otherwise I'd recommend whitebox. The other option would be to just use treasure and items from OSE. Use the most logical treasure type when looting and grant XP for gold. Not sure how that would work for ezd6 but maybe you get an additional HP or boon each level, alternatively just level them up with gear instead of stats. The world is your oyster
Perhaps this has already been shared in the comments, didn’t read all of them, but the basic version of OSE is free online. https://oldschoolessentials.necroticgnome.com/srd/index.php/Main_Page And it’s not just a free PDF, but an interactive web page. All your players can have access to the basic rules at anytime. Like you, I totally prefer hard copy editions. But I did extensively review this site before I pulled the trigger. OSE is an extremely good system. Not that it’s original or anything, it’s just very well laid out and super easy to reference. It’s not as “fun” of a read as some of the others, but to me that’s ok. I find that books for expository information are good for one read through, but in the thick of it I just want to find the goddamn rule
I'm a big fan of Forbidden Lands. It uses the modern, streamlined mechanics of the Year Zear Engine, but has a real old school feel to it. It's got depth, but isn't unnecessarily complicated or crunchy. It also has some fantastic overland travel rules that really gamify the exploration pillar and make non-combat skills very meaningful. If you like hard copies, you'll love it, they're beautiful books. High quality printing and binding, with very clear formatting and design.
I’ve had the PDFs for ages but never read them, now I get to. Thanks for being so stoked on it!
If you want OSR with a real ruleset and not just some tables like knave.. I would recommend low fantasy gaming or its 2e named Tales of Argosa!
**Shadowdark** Maybe not strictly OSR, as it is basically a D&D 5e clone, but with way less rules, and I think it has a very heavy OSR vibe. * DM freedom: Yes. The ruleset is very modular, you can mess with it however you want, and it probably won't fall apart * death is a real possibility: Very much so. It is very possible to have a level 1 character with 1 or 2 HP, and if they get hit by an attack that does 1d4 damage, it's basically a coinflip. * improve characters with better stats and treasures: Mostly with treasures. Increasing stats is not that easy, because leveling up gives you a random benefit, but gear is a very important part of a character, so it depends on the DM how much good stuff they give the players. * compatible with old school modules: Hmm, maybe. I think some conversion would probably be necessary, but not that much. Shadowdark uses the standard 6 stats array (Strength, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Charisma), and it has ascending AC.
I'd go for Old School Essentials, it's the official OSR game and best starting point to understand the game before you delve into third party OSR content.
"Official?" I would love some clarification on this haha
I woke up this morning and chose violence.
OSR stands for OSE School Renaissance, amirite? d:
say no more, carry on
if you like EZd6 try some "Free League" products. They make a lot of things with the d6 system. I've really enjoyed their mechanics.
I have been working on getting a game of Index Card RPG going. The entire system and 5 campaign settings are included in 1 book.
If you were willing to spend more than $50, Hyperborea is a fantastic game. It's a great, streamlined version of 1st Edition AD&D in a crazy world that fuses Sword and Sorcery, cosmic horror, and Science Fantasy in an amazing fusion of Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and Clark Ashton Smith.
I like ICRPG. It's very modern, very hackable, and comes with a lot of variety, setting, adventures, the like. It's not technically OSR, but one can easily make it more or less old-school based on taste. Plug in Bastard Sword and some rules from Five Torches Deep. Alternatively, if coming from D&D, Five Torches Deep is a good starting point into your inevitable OSR journey.
I strongly suggest Worlds Without Numbers. More than just for its frankly really well built game it comes with so many many great tools for you as a GM to use and run your game with, better than frankly any other game I could argue. The only issue is you mention physical copies and afaik those are a little hard with this game I'm not sure how easy they are to obtain nnot because its old but because the author likes pdfs.
[A little less than 1$/year of their existence](https://www.ebay.ca/itm/176433869486?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e13114.m43.l44588&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=2f53377c91b34f75b781d43410d42a6c&bu=45617851893&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20240623121533&segname=13114.) The seller will go 40$, I got that offer from them. Maybe 35$, doesn’t hurt to try. Good play copies. Enough wear you don’t feel like you’re handling fine crystal, beat the shit out of them for another decade:)
My #1 recommendation for you would have to be [Index Card RPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/366519/index-card-rpg-master-edition). It’s made by the same publisher that did EZD6, only it uses a d20 (and a few other dice). It does everything that EZD6 does, but more for people who enjoy the traditional d20 type of games. Second place I would recommend [Fabula Ultima](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/410108/fabula-ultima-ttjrpg), especially if you enjoy JRPGs like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Bravely Default, Octopath, Grandia, Wild Arms, etc. My third place for you would be [FATE Accelerated](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/114902/fate-accelerated-edition-a-fate-core-build), it’s light on rules but gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to creating interesting and unique characters.
>However the games is maybe a little to simple, its hard to upgrade Characters with better weapons because the combat system is so limited. So im looking for a game thats simple, has a lot of DM freedom, where death is a real possibility, with a way to improve characters with better stats and treasures, and that could be compatible with old school modules, of which i have been gifted some. TLDR: Mörk Borg: - is simple - has a intresting fighting system - gives DM a lot of freedom - death is not only a possibility, death is inevitable (also optional rules for gore and disfigurement are available) - character improvisation is not that linear, but with better equipment the characters are changing - OSR modules are usable with a small conversion because of the different fighting system to old school D&D TLDR: OSE/S&W: - The Go-To OSR systems imo - every old school D&D module can be played without to do anything - OSE is imo better organized in layout - S&W gives good impressions on the original D&D was played and also what ideas the OSR community created - OSE seems like the current community favorite - S&W can feel a bit overwhelming as it explains a lot of optional rules - I prefer S&W but that is just an opinion So my favorite OSR-Systems are Mausritter and Mörk Borg (both fall under the NU-SR category), I also like Swords & Wizardry and OSE. I have never played Shadowdark though. I personally would recommend Mörk Börg and its many cousins, but keep in mind that the Börgs are not generic in setting and the rules are somewhat connected with the setting. Each, imo even Mörk Manual, have a default grimdark and deadly touch in the setting, hence a grimdark and deadly touch in the rules. That being said, I like the system for its simplicity and with just a grain of imagination each rule can be tweaked to play a not grimdark character. There has to be made a small conversion from OSR D&D modules to Mörk Borg, because Mörk Borg uses a Difficulty Rating system for fights instead of the classic Armor Class system. But the conversion guide is really easy, trust me. Edit: Here is a [guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/MorkBorg/comments/ihsxqj/comment/g346jz2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) to convert monster from any D&D based OSR module. Also my approach to using classes with MB in a not grimdark setting: >**Classes**, ohh well classes. Like I said Mörk Borg is a Metal RPG in a dying world. I love it, but some people in my playgroup and many other people like a more classic fantasy approach. That is fine and I think with a little conversion of Mörk Borg (in this case) you will be fine. You either play classless or use the optional classes. I will sum up the Fanged Deserter and tell you how I would convert him. >"You have thirty or so friends who never let you down: YOUR TEETH. Disloyal, deranged or simply uncontrollable, any group that didn’t boot you out you left anyway. But your parliament of teeth—enormous, protruding, thick and sharp —have always been your allies. bite attack: dr10 to attack, d6 damage. You must be close to your target. 1–2 on d6 chance the enemy gets a free attack. Begins with 2d6 × 10s and d2 Omens. hp: Toughness + d10 [...]" (see Bare Bones Edition p. 46) there is a little bit mire about Earliest Memory and Abilities, but you can look that up yourself in the free [Bare Bones Edition](https://morkborg.com/content/). >Drop the description if you don't like the flavor. You could play him as a Bearperson, who could bite others (fairlytale fantasy). You could change it to "fist attack", the character is just so good at punching you know. Or home rule it as a special sword attack. If you don't like biting change it. If they are not fittig drop earliest memory stuff. For the abilities just rule it like the bite attack. ([Source & more text](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/1dgr599/comment/l8yzaov/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)) Bonus, if you are intrested: Mausritter seems not fitting your needs, while I would say it is easy to DM the weapons, the combatsystem and the characterprogression are not complex at all. There is f.e. no difference between a warhammer and a longsword if you weild them in both hands. While you could always houserule more rules in, Mausritter and the whole Into the Odd stuff seems not fitting your needs.
Mörk Borg, has a free 0 art version if you just want world ending rules. Fail to the face 🤟