I recently started An Old-school Essentials game, a couple house rules we’re trying; First level characters Constitution score is starting Hit Points, after that Class die is rolled starting at Second Level. When casting a spell roll d20 on a 10+ get to keep spell & can cast it again. Once roll under 10 the spell is used up So far these rules seem to be working okay
I like that! I set the DC at 8 plus spell level, and the roll adds spell casting attribute bonus plus half the spell caster level (round up). A nat 1 automatically fails, nat 20 gains a bonus.
I use 1d20 to determine initiative, just because my son loves this die and we roll d6s a lot for damage. Magic missile exists as a level 1 spell (1d4 damage per missile). I use cover rules because I play with miniatures (kids love it). No alignment, no languages. I kept the long rests from 5e, not the short ones. Great video! Greetings from Brazil!
Thanks! Are you playing White Box or another clone? If its white Box there is a Arcana (Magical Options) PDF on Drivethrurpg for $1.99 that has some fantastic magic stuff to add to your games. (Including Magic Missile) I highly recommend it!
The Staff charges when you make a daily roll, you already know how many charges you can use. Better for suspense is to roll each time you use, so on a 1 in 6 nothing happens, if you roll above that, you cast the spell. If you want to go for a second spell the roll will rise for 2 in 6 and so on... when you roll bellow no more spells for the day! In this way it gets harder to cast spells and it's more exciting not to know if you make it.
As I’ve been using WB:FMAG as my ‘go-to’ for quite a while, I’ve also 100% abandoned Demi-human level caps, choosing instead to boost humans a lil. Of course this means the choosing of characters prior to creation (something many would argue is far less than old school). Humans have a slight XP bonus and also roll 4d6, use highest for three stats, 3d6 for the remainder. Setting matters as well, as the campaign is usually old D&D sensibility oriented so it’s just a lil weird to be out in the human-centric world in a number of places as a dwarf/elf/halfling already.
I like your spell book rule, do you expand the spell list? I noticed white box only has 8 spells for Magic-users. That magic item rule is a lot better also. House rules I like to use: Max HP to start, Arrange stats, Corebook race/classes ect Reroll off the table dice.
@@AdventuresWithDice Hey Rob, I actually converted race-as-class from BX into WB. I didn't like the level restrictions either but I wanted humans to still be an attractive choice.
I can see that. There is a Demi Human PDF on Drivethrurpg that adds a bunch of races and they are designed as Race as Class. Just FYI. I thought it was neat.
I'm curious about how you adjudicate chases, etc. Do you house rule in attacks of opportunity when you play white box? I am so used to them after years of playing other editions I tend to default to them in systems that don't have them (Mork Borg, etc). I've noticed that there aren't retreating rules in white box like there are in B/X.
I do prefer WB over BFRPG. They are both great games and I still use a good bit of my BFRPG stuff. I'm actually working on a video about the differences between the two...to help people decide what will be the best fit for their group.
I recently started An Old-school Essentials game, a couple house rules we’re trying;
First level characters Constitution score is starting Hit Points, after that Class die is rolled starting at Second Level.
When casting a spell roll d20 on a 10+ get to keep spell & can cast it again. Once roll under 10 the spell is used up
So far these rules seem to be working okay
Those sound pretty good! I like the spell thing!
The spell rule is very interesting.
I like that! I set the DC at 8 plus spell level, and the roll adds spell casting attribute bonus plus half the spell caster level (round up). A nat 1 automatically fails, nat 20 gains a bonus.
The spell roll is essentially what's used in Dungeon Crawl Classics.
I use 1d20 to determine initiative, just because my son loves this die and we roll d6s a lot for damage. Magic missile exists as a level 1 spell (1d4 damage per missile). I use cover rules because I play with miniatures (kids love it). No alignment, no languages. I kept the long rests from 5e, not the short ones. Great video! Greetings from Brazil!
Thanks! Are you playing White Box or another clone?
If its white Box there is a Arcana (Magical Options) PDF on Drivethrurpg for $1.99 that has some fantastic magic stuff to add to your games. (Including Magic Missile)
I highly recommend it!
RobsGameGroup I'm using White Box, didn't know about the Arcana supplement. I'll take a look on it. Thank you!
Its really good. The Companions 1 & 2 are both great as well if you want to add more classes.
RobsGameGroup Excellent! I prefer to use the four standard classes though. But I'll take a look too.
I really like your house rules on the Spell Books. That's great, I'm using that when I run White Box!
Awesomeness! Thanks! Let me know how your game goes!
The Staff charges when you make a daily roll, you already know how many charges you can use. Better for suspense is to roll each time you use, so on a 1 in 6 nothing happens, if you roll above that, you cast the spell. If you want to go for a second spell the roll will rise for 2 in 6 and so on... when you roll bellow no more spells for the day!
In this way it gets harder to cast spells and it's more exciting not to know if you make it.
Great video ! Like the house rules ! Looking forward to the next White Box video
Thanks!
Enjoying this series
Well thank you!
As I’ve been using WB:FMAG as my ‘go-to’ for quite a while, I’ve also 100% abandoned Demi-human level caps, choosing instead to boost humans a lil. Of course this means the choosing of characters prior to creation (something many would argue is far less than old school).
Humans have a slight XP bonus and also roll 4d6, use highest for three stats, 3d6 for the remainder.
Setting matters as well, as the campaign is usually old D&D sensibility oriented so it’s just a lil weird to be out in the human-centric world in a number of places as a dwarf/elf/halfling already.
Your house rule on staves was in my opinion genius. 1 D6 morning recharges is a good idea thanks when I start my solo game I'll use that definitely.
Thanks. It's probably the house rules my players use and love the most.
I like your spell book rule, do you expand the spell list? I noticed white box only has 8 spells for Magic-users. That magic item rule is a lot better also.
House rules I like to use: Max HP to start, Arrange stats, Corebook race/classes ect Reroll off the table dice.
Yep. Check out the WB Arcana on DriveThruRPG.
Its $1.99 and expands the magic spell list a great deal.
Cheetos Mac and cheese-House rule
Rob, this is bad ass bud. Thanks for all the great content man.
Glad you enjoyed!
@@AdventuresWithDice Hey Rob, I actually converted race-as-class from BX into WB. I didn't like the level restrictions either but I wanted humans to still be an attractive choice.
I can see that. There is a Demi Human PDF on Drivethrurpg that adds a bunch of races and they are designed as Race as Class.
Just FYI.
I thought it was neat.
@@AdventuresWithDice That is neat. Can you link it or tell me what it was called?
Hopefully this works...
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/146753/White-Box-Demihumans-Swords--Wizardry
I'm curious about how you adjudicate chases, etc. Do you house rule in attacks of opportunity when you play white box? I am so used to them after years of playing other editions I tend to default to them in systems that don't have them (Mork Borg, etc). I've noticed that there aren't retreating rules in white box like there are in B/X.
What do you for treasure generation? That and Morale are my only qualms with the game. Love your dying mechanic.
Been meaning to ask: do you still prefer Basic Fantasy over White Box or have you reconsidered White Box as your go to OSR game?
I do prefer WB over BFRPG. They are both great games and I still use a good bit of my BFRPG stuff.
I'm actually working on a video about the differences between the two...to help people decide what will be the best fit for their group.
@@AdventuresWithDice Looking forward to it