Hey Rob. Damien here. Thank you so much for the video. Having people enjoying the game and playing it means everything. If anyone has any questions I'm always happy to help.
Dude, it's great to see you back on TH-cam! And thank you for turning me onto Olde Swords. It's freaking amazing. It adds that little bit of customization that other OSR games have been missing. It's perfect. Have you thought about typing up your extra Races into a pdf for others? I'd be interested, for sure! And you are so right about the OSR as a movement. I've sorta disentangle myself from that scene online. Too many hot takes and blow hards trying to control everyone else's gameplay. So frustrating.
Great to see you back. You and DMJames are the guys I found years ago in the old school that feel like real people who just love games. I have looked into Old swords reign and it looked really cool. I too have added Wolfin to all my games, especially as my daughter loves wolves (I can't deny her). James also turned me onto WH fantasy recently. The way background work are similar to Shadow of the Demonlord (almost exactly) which is how I do 5e skills now. I use ICRPG more to add to my games as no one wanted to fully play it . I do like OSE /BX but I will give it a look . Good gamming to you, and from a guy on the internet - I'm glad you back and in good health.
It's the 3 F's man! Fun, fantasy and frugal lol. Great video. You got me going on basic fantasy some years ago and I just ordered my copy of Olde swords reign.
Nice video, and I'm glad you're doing OK. I've heard of Olde Swords Reign in passing awhile back, but I've never really looked into it before. I didn't know it was available for purchase on Amazon until I viewed your video just now. I also love inexpensive RPG books, so I think I'll be ordering this from Amazon soon. I've been looking for a fantasy RPG that is somewhere between the deadliness of Basic D&D and the superhero stylings of 5e D&D. Maybe Olde Swords Reign will scratch that itch.
I went to school for Therapeutic Recreation. One of the things that can make an activity recreational is a sense of risk. This is why basic gambling appeals to some. In our role-playing games the risk of losing a character is part of the experience. Unlike traditional gambling, we're not going to lose a paycheck, and we can just make another character! Thanks for the heads up about this system. It seems like a labor of love like Basic Fantasy.
Great video. What I agree with most is this is the best kept secret in osr type games. My favorite thing about olde swords is, more than any other out there, it seems to be compatible with BOTH 5e and osr style games. That is to say, I can grab a module or adventure from 5e, b/x, basic fantasy, etc and just jump in and play
I like Olde Swords Reign for two reasons. Price (free download, $7 for a book aka at cost only). The other is customizable characters with the talents. You don't need additional characters, as all of those features are already there. A Paladin is a fighter with certain talents. So is a Barbarian. They're in the game already.
Thank you!!! thank you so much!! My friends and i want to get into OSR, but every time i find a game, i go "wait.... why is this MORE complicated than 5e?? I thought this was supposed to be rules light. Where's the 'simpler and easier to learn than 5e' that I was promised by the OSR youtubers?", so i'm excited to hear of a minimalist d&d for people who only know 5e. I am subscribing to hear more about this.
Hey hey! Thanks so much for highlighting this game... it sounded great and so i ordered it and now have it in hand. I do have a question about monsters though. For example, the Soldier (pg 200). It says it has a proficiency bonus of +2, Attack +1 to hit... and then it lists it's attacks as Sword 4(1d8), Mace 3(1d6) and Spear 3(1d6). What do the 4, 3 and 3 mean? Do these replace the bonus of +1 to hit?
That's the "Average Damage". Useful if you want to make combat even faster by not rolling for damage. Personally I don't use that as I like to roll them dice. But ...some people like just taking the average.
@@AdventuresWithDice sweet, thanks man! I'm not use to the 5e trappings and ways I suppose. So... if you roll the indicated damage for monsters, do you roll just that, or do you add its strength/dex like PCs do? Thanks so much for your time and attention!
I don't add anything to it. Damien also said something about not adding to it as the monsters are deadly enough. ...that being said.... 😆 If you want to run a really rough game you can add STR/DEX. Sometimes players need it, for their own good. 😆😂 Also as a side note, remember that characters get to add DEX to ranged attack damage in this game. Good times!
@@AdventuresWithDice Awesome, thanks! One further question... on page 59, it states that spells cannot be cast while wearing armor unless you take the Armored Caster feat, which on page 35 is noted as being restricted to the Magic User class. Can I assume pg 59 is an oversight and should only be speaking of Magic Users, seeing as how the Cleric is proficient with shields and certain armor and cannot take Armored Caster?
That is correct. The restriction on casting in armor is about Arcane casting...(Wizard) I tend to think of Clerics as not so much casting spells as praying for their god to send some kind of blessing. but yes... Clerics have no need to take Armored Caster, only Wizards do. Hope that helps.
Vaults & Vows is my current ice cream flavor. Ironsworn with a Dungeons & Dragons makeover. With a little work you can run AD&D, BX, BECMI, Dungeonworld, and just about any OSR Module with it.
Thanks for the video. I got the pdf for Olde Swords and read through it this morning. Looks really good for the most part. Still wish there was an OSR system that made humans as interesting as dwarves and Elves to play but this isn’t it 😝
Looking through the rules, I'm thinking that Humans might need a little something extra. Maybe I'll houserule it that Humans get the Blessed by the Gods feat for free. I like fantasy campaigns where the age of man is ascending, and the age of other races is dwindling, so this nicely fits that theme.
This is fantastic. OSR definitely brings a different sort of gaming to the masses. Similar philosophy as BFRPG, but designed with modern sensibilities in mind. I've been ripping through tons of pathfinder 1e and 3.5 monsters, etc. I'm trying to make a xanithar's style guide for OSR.
Backgrounds sound pretty much exactly how 13th Age (D20 OGL) has been doing since 2013, and it's a great idea! Whereas 13th Age is aimed at creating epic characters, this sounds like it is aiming at the other end of the spectrum, and I would have considered grabbing it until I realised that it uses the old Saving Rolls from TSR D&D, I disliked them back in the day, and even moreso now, so they're definately not my thing. Everything else seems pretty good however. Thanks for posting!
Back in 2015 when Critical Role got going, I was poor and had no books… I watched the game they were playing and cooked up some simple rules that could play the game they were playing, kidnapped some friends for a few hours, and made them try what I came up with. We played until 2021, picking up a couple more stragglers. Shadowdark is a better version of what I came up with. But this looks similarly useful. I'll play anything that seems fun given time to do it … but right now Shadowdark is what I'd run. But I love to be able to cherry-pick whatever I want and that's why I've basically got ALL THE OSR THINGS. Hoarder? Don't be ridiculous, I can quit collecting any time I want. I just don't want to stop. 😉
I've started to notice some of the bickery side of the OSR myself. I looked into the OSR to find an alternative to the hyper-political landscape of WotC fandom, only to find the equal, but opposite side of that same atmosphere in the OSR. Some of the more notable individuals decry not only 5e, but any game that isn't part of the OSR as being a lesser product made for theater kids and not "real" gamers. To me, that mindset is equally toxic. I respect the OSR community for the preservation of these types of games, but in no way is it the only style of game I would ever want to play. Gaming is all about experimentation. I can't just stick to one system forever. To me, Olde Swords Reign embodies what makes both old-school D&D and 5th Edition special. It's a tasteful compromise between the old and new, and that's beautiful. :)
Hey Rob. Damien here. Thank you so much for the video. Having people enjoying the game and playing it means everything. If anyone has any questions I'm always happy to help.
Not a problem at all. Really enjoy OSR! More videos to come!
Dude, it's great to see you back on TH-cam!
And thank you for turning me onto Olde Swords. It's freaking amazing. It adds that little bit of customization that other OSR games have been missing. It's perfect.
Have you thought about typing up your extra Races into a pdf for others? I'd be interested, for sure!
And you are so right about the OSR as a movement. I've sorta disentangle myself from that scene online. Too many hot takes and blow hards trying to control everyone else's gameplay. So frustrating.
I plan to do a video on my race conversions. After that I will likely make a PDF.
Glad your back and that your video came back in my youtube feed. :) I was very happy to see you're back!
Thank you!
Great to see you back. You and DMJames are the guys I found years ago in the old school that feel like real people who just love games.
I have looked into Old swords reign and it looked really cool. I too have added Wolfin to all my games, especially as my daughter loves wolves (I can't deny her).
James also turned me onto WH fantasy recently. The way background work are similar to Shadow of the Demonlord (almost exactly) which is how I do 5e skills now.
I use ICRPG more to add to my games as no one wanted to fully play it . I do like OSE /BX but I will give it a look .
Good gamming to you, and from a guy on the internet - I'm glad you back and in good health.
Sounds really cool! Will check it out at some point. Thanks for going through this!
Welcome!
Appreciate the tip. Olde Swords Reign is in my basket waiting on pay day.
Thanks for coverage of this. I was aware of the previous version from the other author, but I'll check this out.
Thank you for introducing me to Olde Swords Reign. This is exactly what I've been searching for. :)
It's the 3 F's man! Fun, fantasy and frugal lol.
Great video. You got me going on basic fantasy some years ago and I just ordered my copy of Olde swords reign.
CHECK OUT THE OSR WALKTHROUGH VIDEO!
th-cam.com/video/I7BLOp5FuaE/w-d-xo.html
Nice video, and I'm glad you're doing OK. I've heard of Olde Swords Reign in passing awhile back, but I've never really looked into it before. I didn't know it was available for purchase on Amazon until I viewed your video just now. I also love inexpensive RPG books, so I think I'll be ordering this from Amazon soon. I've been looking for a fantasy RPG that is somewhere between the deadliness of Basic D&D and the superhero stylings of 5e D&D. Maybe Olde Swords Reign will scratch that itch.
I went to school for Therapeutic Recreation. One of the things that can make an activity recreational is a sense of risk. This is why basic gambling appeals to some. In our role-playing games the risk of losing a character is part of the experience. Unlike traditional gambling, we're not going to lose a paycheck, and we can just make another character! Thanks for the heads up about this system. It seems like a labor of love like Basic Fantasy.
I feel you on the the griping and politics within the so called "OSR Community." It's the biggest reason I only watch very few channels.
Good to see you uploading again. I ordered these books based on your recommendation. Maybe it will be a hit for my table as well.
Hope you enjoy it!
Let me know what you think.
Great video. What I agree with most is this is the best kept secret in osr type games. My favorite thing about olde swords is, more than any other out there, it seems to be compatible with BOTH 5e and osr style games. That is to say, I can grab a module or adventure from 5e, b/x, basic fantasy, etc and just jump in and play
Hey! Welcome Back Brother!!!
Hey, thanks!
Just picked this up. Glad to see you did a video about it Rob.
I like Olde Swords Reign for two reasons. Price (free download, $7 for a book aka at cost only). The other is customizable characters with the talents. You don't need additional characters, as all of those features are already there. A Paladin is a fighter with certain talents. So is a Barbarian. They're in the game already.
Thank you!!! thank you so much!! My friends and i want to get into OSR, but every time i find a game, i go "wait.... why is this MORE complicated than 5e?? I thought this was supposed to be rules light. Where's the 'simpler and easier to learn than 5e' that I was promised by the OSR youtubers?", so i'm excited to hear of a minimalist d&d for people who only know 5e. I am subscribing to hear more about this.
Welcome! New videos are coming for Olde Swords Reign! If you played 5E you should enjoy it.
Hey hey! Thanks so much for highlighting this game... it sounded great and so i ordered it and now have it in hand. I do have a question about monsters though. For example, the Soldier (pg 200). It says it has a proficiency bonus of +2, Attack +1 to hit... and then it lists it's attacks as Sword 4(1d8), Mace 3(1d6) and Spear 3(1d6). What do the 4, 3 and 3 mean? Do these replace the bonus of +1 to hit?
That's the "Average Damage". Useful if you want to make combat even faster by not rolling for damage.
Personally I don't use that as I like to roll them dice.
But ...some people like just taking the average.
@@AdventuresWithDice sweet, thanks man! I'm not use to the 5e trappings and ways I suppose. So... if you roll the indicated damage for monsters, do you roll just that, or do you add its strength/dex like PCs do? Thanks so much for your time and attention!
I don't add anything to it. Damien also said something about not adding to it as the monsters are deadly enough.
...that being said.... 😆 If you want to run a really rough game you can add STR/DEX.
Sometimes players need it, for their own good. 😆😂
Also as a side note, remember that characters get to add DEX to ranged attack damage in this game. Good times!
@@AdventuresWithDice Awesome, thanks! One further question... on page 59, it states that spells cannot be cast while wearing armor unless you take the Armored Caster feat, which on page 35 is noted as being restricted to the Magic User class. Can I assume pg 59 is an oversight and should only be speaking of Magic Users, seeing as how the Cleric is proficient with shields and certain armor and cannot take Armored Caster?
That is correct. The restriction on casting in armor is about Arcane casting...(Wizard)
I tend to think of Clerics as not so much casting spells as praying for their god to send some kind of blessing.
but yes... Clerics have no need to take Armored Caster, only Wizards do.
Hope that helps.
Vaults & Vows is my current ice cream flavor. Ironsworn with a Dungeons & Dragons makeover. With a little work you can run AD&D, BX, BECMI, Dungeonworld, and just about any OSR Module with it.
Thanks for the video. I got the pdf for Olde Swords and read through it this morning. Looks really good for the most part. Still wish there was an OSR system that made humans as interesting as dwarves and Elves to play but this isn’t it 😝
Looking through the rules, I'm thinking that Humans might need a little something extra. Maybe I'll houserule it that Humans get the Blessed by the Gods feat for free. I like fantasy campaigns where the age of man is ascending, and the age of other races is dwindling, so this nicely fits that theme.
That would work just fine. The FEATS work well for stuff like that.
This is fantastic. OSR definitely brings a different sort of gaming to the masses. Similar philosophy as BFRPG, but designed with modern sensibilities in mind. I've been ripping through tons of pathfinder 1e and 3.5 monsters, etc. I'm trying to make a xanithar's style guide for OSR.
Sounds fantastic!
Backgrounds sound pretty much exactly how 13th Age (D20 OGL) has been doing since 2013, and it's a great idea!
Whereas 13th Age is aimed at creating epic characters, this sounds like it is aiming at the other end of the spectrum, and I would have considered grabbing it until I realised that it uses the old Saving Rolls from TSR D&D, I disliked them back in the day, and even moreso now, so they're definately not my thing. Everything else seems pretty good however. Thanks for posting!
Should be able to get it off Amazon. That's where I got mine.
How dare you have a personal life. 😁 Glad you're do OK.
Oh, thank God! I was worried something had happened to you!
I also like how ShadowDark combines modern and old school play, but this definitely cheaper to buy.
Back in 2015 when Critical Role got going, I was poor and had no books… I watched the game they were playing and cooked up some simple rules that could play the game they were playing, kidnapped some friends for a few hours, and made them try what I came up with. We played until 2021, picking up a couple more stragglers. Shadowdark is a better version of what I came up with. But this looks similarly useful.
I'll play anything that seems fun given time to do it … but right now Shadowdark is what I'd run. But I love to be able to cherry-pick whatever I want and that's why I've basically got ALL THE OSR THINGS. Hoarder? Don't be ridiculous, I can quit collecting any time I want. I just don't want to stop. 😉
I've started to notice some of the bickery side of the OSR myself. I looked into the OSR to find an alternative to the hyper-political landscape of WotC fandom, only to find the equal, but opposite side of that same atmosphere in the OSR.
Some of the more notable individuals decry not only 5e, but any game that isn't part of the OSR as being a lesser product made for theater kids and not "real" gamers. To me, that mindset is equally toxic.
I respect the OSR community for the preservation of these types of games, but in no way is it the only style of game I would ever want to play. Gaming is all about experimentation. I can't just stick to one system forever.
To me, Olde Swords Reign embodies what makes both old-school D&D and 5th Edition special. It's a tasteful compromise between the old and new, and that's beautiful. :)
Hi buddy