Old School Essentials RPG Review ⚔
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Buy OSE digitally - www.drivethrur...
Buy Player's Tome In Print - necroticgnome....
Buy Referee's Tome In Print - necroticgnome....
In this review, we take a look at the Old School Essentials RPG and see if it's a game for you. This is a game for fans of the old-school dungeon crawlers. We take a look at the game's rules, the setting, and the characters to see if it's worth your time.
If you're a fan of classic RPG's and want to try something new, then be sure to check out the Old School Essentials RPG! This game is perfect for fans of old-school RPGs who want to experience easy to follow rules and a well-crafted setting, this game is a great choice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
📧Marketing/business/sponsorship inquiries, email swampdoggames@gmail.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
💖 Support the Channel 💖
🥇 Stream Elements Tips: streamelements...
🥈 Swamp Gog Games Merch: store.streamel...
🥉 Humble Bundle Affiliate link: www.humblebund...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🌐 Social Media 🌐
📊Locals: thekendigrepor...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🎆 Locals Supporters 🎇
greatdepression2
scifiguy
Not to mention that you can use this OSE ADV ruleset to run any of the classic D&D and AD&D modules with no problem at all.
I have now bought a bunch of this game. I love it i cannot recommend it enough. It gels with DCC/MCC and Swords and wizardry. The books are just plain works of awesomeness. Updates Old to the Newer ascending AC, and just puts it all in a easy to read digest sized book. This is Lotfp without the adult themes.
OSE Classic Fantasy is exactly the same material as B/X Essentials, just repackaged in prettier format. It's Moldvay/Cook with a few options. Virtually no rules are changed, though a couple were clarified. The Advanced books add some AD&D content, but B/Xify it, so it's a sleeker version of the game than you'd get in AD&D. Some of the classes in particular are pared way down. We prefer race as class for example, in our OSE games.
Still, this is probably my favorite game to run as a DM and I love the digest-sized books and modules. Very easy to haul around. We don't play this exclusively, but when we just want a low-prep one-shot, this is what we reach for. Since I first learned the game through Moldvay/Cook, the rules are intimately familiar. I can teach it to new players in one session, more or less.
I agree this is by far my favorite OSR game to play
I can see why there is so much nostalgic love of Moldvay/Cook
From my research I assumed it was B/X but I have not had a chance to read B/X so I did not want to make a declaration I could not experience. I don't know what it is, but the digest size is pretty cool. I also bought the Dark Eye in Digest size and it just feels better for some reason. I am not sure yet if OSE has beat out Castles & Crusades as my favorite OSR product. If I am looking for that classic TSR feel, I do believe OSE is the best out there.
The Art is soo beautiful
The cover art is so beautiful
so glad you mention that
The covers are the most striking of any game system I've seen
The books use both THAC0 and Ascending AC. Once you use THAC0 a bit, it’s just as easy
Basic Fantasy also has a lot of similar info in their game. They work great together
THAC0 - (Attack Roll +/- Modifers) = AC
While I'm a "Basic Fantasy Role Playing Game" guy, I've heard nothing but good things about OSE.
I think Basic Fantasy is good to hand off to someone who has never played a d20 style game before, but I believe OSE is sightly better refined. I can see after playing this why there is so much nostalgic love of Moldvay/Cook.
While I am not necessarily a fan of Basic Fantasy as a ruleset, I do believe that the Basic Fantasy community is one of the best examples of the OSR movement out there. The truly amazing work Chris Gonnerman did in making a truly open source game is nothing short of brilliant.
@@frenchcreekentertainment4431 I still have those two books from when I was 12 back in the early 80s. It's the only version of D&D I've ever truly enjoyed and would still run it but the staples have rusted. 🤣 Sooner or later I'll probably get OSE. Meanwhile, BFRPG does the job pretty well. 😊
@@SwampDogGames The community is a huge reason I like BFRPG. There is so much quality player created material available! My go to system since I was a kid has been Moldvay/Cook D&D.....I've had those two books since 82 and they are getting a bit "frazzled." 🤣 OSE is on my list though....😊
@stevefugatt7075 BFRPG is absolutely the most accessible entry point into the OSR. I got a kick out of the video comparing $150 wotc D&D vs $80 OSE, and here's BFRPG existing completely free in PDF form and printed at cost at $5 for POD. Not that OSE isn't worth it, it's a fantastic product. I just think you get more for your money with BFRPG.
Edit: just noticed Swamp Dog has a review coming up for BFRPG, so I'm looking forward to that! :)
Thaco is really pretty simple if you just lower your Thaco by your Strength or Dexterity modifier. Then all you need to do is subtract the d20 roll from the adjusted Thaco and that's the AC you hit.
People need to stop being afraid of THAC0 😂
It's super fricken easy
Really good review! I love OSE because it's rules and mechanics condensed in a great way. No backgrounds and lore that gets in your way of understanding the rules. I have both Advances and Classic OSE and I like the Classic a little more because it's all in one book and the rules are simpler.
Buy OSE digitally - www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/5606/Necrotic-Gnome/subcategory/26251_32434/OldSchool-Essentials?affiliate_id=231493
Buy Player's Tome In Print - necroticgnome.com/products/old-school-essentials-advanced-fantasy-players-tome
Buy Referee's Tome In Print - necroticgnome.com/products/old-school-essentials-advanced-fantasy-referees-tome
In this review, we take a look at the Old School Essentials RPG and see if it's a game for you. This is a game for fans of the old-school dungeon crawlers. We take a look at the game's rules, the setting, and the characters to see if it's worth your time.
If you're a fan of classic RPG's and want to try something new, then be sure to check out the Old School Essentials RPG! This game is perfect for fans of old-school RPGs who want to experience easy to follow rules and a well-crafted setting, this game is a great choice.
Buy Player's Tome - necroticgnome.com/products/old-school-essentials-advanced-fantasy-players-tome
Buy Referee's Tome - necroticgnome.com/products/old-school-essentials-advanced-fantasy-referees-tome
My social Media
Trip118.tv
thekendigreport.locals.com
This reminds me. I've been meaning to add some "cursed" items to D&D Beyond. Something along the lines of:
[cursed] Ring of Protection +3
This magical ring is not technically cursed, but it _was_ created long ago in a time when magic behaved much differently. When worn, your saving throws and armor class are _reduced_ by the ring's bonus, as per the AD&D 2nd Edition rules.
THAC0 is over-complex, and even though I'm familiar with it, I find it awkward. I don't really see how THAC0 could obfuscate AC. It seems like there's still a number you can reverse engineer after enough near-misses... I love how Swords & Wizardry (Complete Edition) offers both THAC0 and ascending in the same material.
Thac0 isn't complicated.
1. Roll the die
2. Add the AC of the target to the roll
3. Add or subtract bonuses and penalties to the adjusted roll
4. Compare to your thac0 stat.
It is system designed to make characters better at combat as the level up using a stat rather than with bonuses. It is a question of were you want to do the math. 5e handles this by adding larger and larger bonuses to the roll, and making the target number (AC) larger and larger for tougher creatures; how hard one is to hit for a character is calculated by adding up all his bonuses. Thac0, on the other hand, lowers the target number so we can immediately see that a first level fighter (or a first level anything) with a thac0 of 20 has no chance against an AC -2 dragon.
Thac0 is less intuitive than ascending AC, but what it does is to easily allow different classes to get better at combat at different rates and gives the DM and players a simple way to gauge the inherent combat ability of characters or monsters without having to figure out what bonuses might apply; if you encounter a monster with Thac0 of 5 (e.g. a mountain giant), you immediately know that it is more likely to hit than one with Thac0 19 (e.g. and orc) just by looking at one line in the stat block. It also makes bonuses or penalties from equipment to be consistent across the board. For example, in the 5e Monster Manual, both the Frost Giant and the Minotaur are armed with a great axe, but the to-hit bonus for the former is +9 compared to +6 for the latter. Furthermore, these bonuses are listed in the weapons part of the stat block. The skill difference of 3 between our frost giant and our minotaur are hidden within these bonuses. Thac0 takes that and makes it characteristic of the character or monster.
Conceptually, thac0 makes more sense because one's base fighting ability is not predicated upon the weapon one is using. This also makes it easier to have monsters and NPC improvise weapons. Let's say a PC is in a brawl in alleyway, and drops his +1 sword because he fumbled the roll like WotC rolling out an OGL. If the thug he is fighting picks it up, we know immediately how good he will be with it because we know that his Thac0 is X, the PC's AC is Y, and it is a +1 sword. If the PC has already added up his bonuses and knows that he adds his roll to, say, 10. How do we know what the thug's base to-hit number is if the listing in the MM has him equipped with a club giving him an attack bonus of +5? It isn't too difficult to figure it out, but with thac0, it is obvious at a glance. Again, it is simply a question of where you want to do the math.
Its easier than that: Thaco is really pretty simple if you just lower your Thaco by your Strength or Dexterity modifier. Then all you need to do is subtract the d20 roll from the adjusted Thaco and that's the AC you hit.
As mentioned in another reply, next to the THACO AC there is a bonus for using Ascending AC system next to it in [brackets]
Personally, I disagree that this shouldn't be someone's 1st exposure to roleplaying games.
Considering that the original B/X D&D WAS the first exposure for a considerable number of lifelong players, and this is pretty much 100% those rules but with much clearer layout and wording, I'd say it was a great first option.
The only difference is that it adds a few options from AD&D (separate classes and races, higher levels, etc) and some simplifying options, like Ascending AC.
"ages 10 and up" it says on my red box. OTH, something like Knave or Mausritter might be good for very 1st exposure.
3.5e, 5e, AD&D or, worse, PF, make poorest first exposures for "D&D" from my view.
Those products had many play examples and instructional passages. These books have none of that.
@@scottwarren3948 Yeah, having examples of play and guidance is very useful for learning a new system--perhaps one's first. Kevin Crawford's stuff, although "OSR" and d20 based, all have sections with examples for character creation, combat, skill checks, faction turns or whatever the mechanic is. Even his Wolves of God, in its interesting writing style, has that where relevant (I'm going through it now, so comes to mind).
The red box had that, since was the first truly broad-audience product for TSR's system. Probably in the negative column for OSE as an intro product if missing as you say.
Grumble grumble, boxed sets when, where...
Thanks for this vid.
Midderlands and City of Brass predate OSE and were designed for Swords & Wizardry (an OD&D clone). But the system differences are so slight running them with OSE would be a breeze.
I grew up with thaco and I’m glad games are moving away from it. I never played with race as class, but I love the idea of demihumans being strong archetypes rather than just humans with modifiers.
I love the race as a class from BXCMI...it really made the characters have a strong flavor and culture. I'm so glad these efforts are not undermining the archetype backbone of those classes.
But then I also like Jorune's ad tag lines: "No Elves."
Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea replaced my table 🤘
God forbid you get around to it, I would love to hear more people talking about it.
It deserves the love
When I first started fencing, the scoring was done against you. If you had a score of 5 you lost--i.e. points against (hits/wounds you seee). While I was still fencing, they changed to points for making good hits, so it's like squash.
THAC0 reminds me of this "first to 5 loses" type of scoring. Yes, it can make sense, and yes it violates PoLS and makes it harder to grok quickly.
8:42 Zangief in the bottom right corner!
I have these books and they're very nice but I'm DMing for middle school kids who all have the 5E books and I don't see being able to get them away from it and really, there's no reason to.
OSRIC IN PERIL? I'm not trying to re-open an editions war, BUT there is so much, pre-5e, excellent 3rd party content that is still in peril, unless OGL 1.0a is made 'irrevocable' not just 'preserved.' It strikes me that this is the sting in the tail of this WotC announcement. My point, is that 5e is now CC, but 3.5e is still under the OGL and only the OGL... "OSRIC, we're here for you, buddy!"
The sad this is they are hard to get in Canada due to shipping fees/ I have not managed to find a Canadian Distributor. Last time i bought a book from the states it cost almost as much as the book it self. I have wanted to try it but the cost is keeping it out of my library. CAD to US + Shipping is brutal. With that said I am really enjoying your reviews keep them coming please.
Thanks. Sorry to hear CAN distribution is so brutal. I have 2 finished reviews and scheduled on YT and 4 more in various stages of completion.
Awesome review. Definitely a solid 18/19
I strongly dislike the sentiment of short combat rules equaling good combat rules. It's generally better (unless you want a simulationist game) to have simpler over complex rules, but that does not mean they are good.
This was a helpful review. I was pretty disappointed about THAC0. I grew up with THAC0, and was pleased when it was ditched. Anyways, way better review.
what was your disappointment?
How do I know if I like old school style games without trying them first? Maybe I don't because I like rules and systems better than hand wavy house rulings. Torchbearer and The Burning Wheel are cool because they don't encourage tweaking or house ruling and are instead meticulously crafted clockworks.
Old school/style games aren't necessarily rules-lite - AD&D 1e, OSRIC(a clone of 1e) and Adventures Dark and Deep(game based off 1e), present you with a lot of rules, with the intent that you use as many or as little of the rules as you wish. If you run one of these completely rules as written, you have rules for pretty much any situation.
As for your question: If you want systems to be rules-heavy, and aren't interested in on-the-fly rulings, then you already have a good idea of what type of game you want to play, so play something like that. Nothing wrong with preferring one type of game, or not being interested in another type.
Is there any rules for higher levels? BECMI reached all the way to level 36.
Not in the core set. I have not finished reading the supplements I bought yet. However I doubt it with the theme they went with.
So you do not need OSE Classic to use the OSE Advanced to play?
If you buy these tomes you do not need OSE Classic. You can use the link in the description to make sure you get the right ones.
Thank you for the insight brought in this video 🙏. I do not support what WotC has been upto, and hardly play DnD. However, I feel I must say that each 5e book is only $25-30 each Amazon Or otherwise.
MSRP is still $50ish and that was the price I was paying in order to support my local game store but after this OGL 1.1 mess I am sad to say I will no longer be buying the D&D books which will also hurt my local game store as that's practically 75% of the RPG's they carry.
The durability of the OSE books and their stitched bindings is much higher than WotC’s. These are crafted for a lifetime. Keep in mind core D&D rules span three books. The complete OSE Classic Fantasy game is only one book. The Advanced Fantasy version of the game is two books.
My horrible experience is that gold as XP encourages players to play the worst type of characters. Never again. Real world sucks enough as it is without power fantasy RP leading to extortion rackets, crony capitalism, or a player two xp from a level turning murder hobo.
This seems like a player problem, not a system problem
Sounds like you need new players lol
@@jdbachelder3594 oh, no, not a system thing, just one of those mechanics I don't care for. However I'm more of a story focused GM than a dungeon crawl and gold gathering focused GM.
@@BlackDragonRPGReviews I do, or at least I only have the good one of that old group left and a completely new group otherwise. Our focus, for now, is a bit different the kill and loot style of play OSR specializes in.