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Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones

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Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones are fantasy role-playing games that emulate earlier
editions of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) no longer supported by Wizards of the Coast.
They are made possible by the release of later editions' rules in a System
Reference Document under the terms of the Open Game License, which allow the use of
much of the proprietary terminology of D&D that might otherwise collectively
constitute copyright infringement. These rules lack the name D&D or any of the
associated trademarks.
HistoryEdit
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Some D&D fans prefer earlier editions, and new games address the perceived
inability of newer editions to preserve the tone of classic D&D while fixing some
of the perceived rules issues of older versions. Castles & Crusades is one example,
using the unified d20 mechanic from 3rd edition while dropping what the developers
perceived as complications (Feats, Skills, Prestige Classes, etc.).[citation
needed]

Role-playing game publisher Matthew Finch was involved in the development of

Castles & Crusades, serving as editor of the Player's Handbook, and was the initial
author of OSRIC, which was afterward taken up by Stuart Marshall and released to
the public in 2006 as a retro-clone of the first edition of Advanced Dungeons &
Dragons (1977–1989). The release prompted another game designer, Daniel Proctor, to
write and release Labyrinth Lord in 2007, a more complete retro-clone of the 1981
version of the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set and its accompanying Expert Set. The
following year, Finch announced the release of Swords & Wizardry, a retro-clone of
the original Dungeons & Dragons game.

Many variants have appeared since the original release of OSRIC, as well as
restatements of other editions of D&D and other adventure role-playing games. The
games are fostered and supported online by various forums and blogs, sometimes
collectively referred to as the Old School Renaissance (OSR), but are also
increasingly finding their way into brick and mortar game stores.
Notable retro-clonesEdit
OSRICEdit
Main article: OSRIC

OSRIC, short for Old School Reference and Index Compilation, is a recreation of the
first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and one of the most successful retro-
clones.[1]: 366 

The first version of OSRIC was released in 2006. The latest version, OSRIC v. 2.2,
was released in 2013.[2]
Labyrinth LordEdit
Main article: Labyrinth Lord
Labyrinth Lord (LL) is a retro-clone written and edited by Daniel Proctor and
published by Goblinoid Games in 2007. LL takes its inspiration from the 1981 Basic
Set edited by Tom Moldvay and the accompanying Expert Set by David "Zeb" Cook.[3]

Any adventure written to be played with classic D&D can be run using LL with little
or no adjustment. However, there are a few differences between the two games. It
extends the rules so characters can advance to 20th level (the 1981 Expert Set only
included levels up to 14). In addition, in a nod to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons,
clerics receive spells at first level.
Basic Fantasy RPGEdit
Main article: Basic Fantasy RPG

Basic Fantasy is a retro-clone written by Chris Gonnerman that emulates, and is

largely compatible with, the 1981 Basic and Expert sets. Its differences from B/X
D&D include d20-style ascending armor class and separation of character race and
class. It was first released in 2007,[4] and updated in 2008,[5] and 2014.[6] The
game has been positively received.[7][8]
Swords & WizardryEdit
Swords & Wizardry
Designers
Matthew Finch
Publishers
Mythmere Games via Frog God Games
Publication
2008
Years active
2008–present
Genres
Fantasy
Playing time
Varies
Random chance
Dice rolling
Skills required
Role-playing, improvisation, tactics, arithmetic
Website
www.froggodgames.com/product-category/product-lines/swords-wizardry-2/

Swords & Wizardry (S&W), developed by Mythmere Games, emulates the original 1974
edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Swords & Wizardry won the Silver for the 2009 ENnie
Award for Best Free Product.[9]

There are three different versions of the game available.

White Box, a streamlined game emulating the rules and options of just the
original 1974 boxed set without expansions, creating a play style omitting many
elements that were later introduced to D&D.
Core, which uses some expanded rules to include most classic game elements.
Complete, including nearly all of the rules and options added to the original
game from supplements and articles.

Dark DungeonsEdit
Dark Dungeons
Designers
"Blacky the Blackball"
Publishers
Self-published
Publication
2010
Years active
2010–present
Genres
Fantasy
Playing time
Varies
Random chance
Dice rolling
Skills required
Role-playing, improvisation, tactics, arithmetic
Website
gurbintrollgames.wordpress.com/dark-dungeons/

Dark Dungeons has as its primary inspiration the 1991 Dungeons & Dragons Rules
Cyclopedia, with secondary inspiration (particularly for the cosmology of the
default game setting) coming from the 1989 Spelljammer campaign setting. The name
Dark Dungeons and the names of the sample characters (and their players) found in
examples throughout the text are used in parody of the Chick Tract of the same
name.[citation needed]

Because Dark Dungeons emulates the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia, which
itself contains collected and edited rules from the Basic, Expert, Companion, and
Master sets published from 1983–1985, it is compatible with most adventures and
supplements designed for those sets. However, while Dark Dungeons does include
rules for immortal level play, those rules are inspired by the 1993 Wrath of the
Immortals supplement to the Rules Cyclopedia and are not compatible with adventures
and supplements designed for the 1985 Immortals Set.
Mazes & PerilsEdit
Mazes & Perils
Designers
Vincent Florio
Publishers
Wild Games Productions
Publication
2011
2015 Deluxe Edition
Years active
2011–present
Genres
Fantasy
Playing time
Varies
Random chance
Dice rolling
Skills required
Role-playing, improvisation, tactics, arithmetic
Website
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/181899/Mazes--Perils-Deluxe-Edition

Mazes & Perils RPG (M&P) is a retro-clone developed by Wild Games Productions,
emulating the 1977 version of the Basic Set edited by John Eric Holmes. M&P expands
the game from its original level limit of level 3 up to level 12. It won the 2013
ENnie Award for Best Free Game[10] An expanded Deluxe Edition featuring new classes
was released in 2015.[11]
For Gold & GloryEdit
For Gold & Glory
Designers
Justen Brown & Moses Wildermuth
Publishers
 Self-published
Publication
2012
Years active
2012–present
Genres
Fantasy
Playing time
Varies
Random chance
Dice rolling
Skills required
Role-playing, improvisation, tactics, arithmetic

For Gold & Glory is a retro-clone of the AD&D 2nd edition rules from 1989. It was
first published in 2012, and was written by Justen Brown and edited by Moses
Wildermuth. It is available as a free download or as a print-on-demand book.[12]
BlueholmeEdit
Blueholme
Designers
Michael Thomas
Publishers
Dreamscape Design
Publication
2013
Years active
2013–present
Genres
Fantasy
Playing time
Varies
Random chance
Dice rolling
Skills required
Role-playing, improvisation, tactics, arithmetic

Blueholme is a retro-clone of the 1977 version of the Basic Set edited by John Eric
Holmes. The Blueholme Prentice Rules, covering 1st to 3rd-level play, were first
published in January 2013 by Michael Thomas of Dreamscape Design.[13] They are
available as a pay-what-you-want download[14] or as a print-on-demand book. The
Prentice Rules won the joint runner-up place in the 2014 Indie RPG Awards.[15]

There are two expanded versions in production: the Journeymanne Rules[16] which
cover play from 1st through 20th level, and the Compleat Rules[17] which also
incorporate additional sub-classes and creatures.
References
Last edited 2 months ago by 207.229.139.154
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