tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post1730824519771789453..comments2024-03-09T19:23:22.482-03:00Comments on The RPGPundit: Classic Rant: A Working Definition of the OSRRPGPundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17267330191433119298noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-66960774942354781302017-03-31T12:36:11.000-04:002017-03-31T12:36:11.000-04:00I'd define OSR as a modern-day school in RPG d...I'd define OSR as a modern-day school in RPG design influenced by design principles and common play stiles from the 1970's and early 1980's. It exists as a reaction to the "crunch" systems (e.g. Rolemaster and Shadowrun) and "storytelling" systems (e.g. the World of Darkness) of the 1990's and the "New School" design of the 2000's (e.g. D20).<br /><br />OSR typically seeks simpler rules, greater emphasis on player skill rather than character skill, and sandbox play rather than structured story-based adventuring. It usually supports a DIY attitude and offers very liberal licenses, allowing infinite potential for cross-compatible products, both commercial and amateurish.<br /><br />However, unlike retro-clones in their narrowest definition, i.e. open-license replicas of old rulesets, the later waves of OSR offer many new design ideas and often borrow "new-school" concepts.Omer Golan-Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242085820257230639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-53345387713854398802017-03-30T08:53:57.913-04:002017-03-30T08:53:57.913-04:00That helps. Sometimes it feels like gamers have d...That helps. Sometimes it feels like gamers have divided the world into OSR and storygamer ignoring a significant amount of other games.Shea Kauffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14620651901860543375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-78414469542670450632017-03-29T20:54:45.357-04:002017-03-29T20:54:45.357-04:00I second your definition--in which case 5E has onl...I second your definition--in which case 5E has only the first two.Michael Bugghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12196330988164511595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-107401695719550242017-03-29T10:57:56.381-04:002017-03-29T10:57:56.381-04:00Because there is a group of folks that plays, prom...Because there is a group of folks that plays, promotes, and publish for classic edition of D&D and similar RPGs and the OSR is the label that got applied to this group. <br /><br />Doesn't mean that D&D is sole thing that this group of people is interested in but it is the "center". <br /><br />And your compliant has been around since shortly after the term OSR was used to refer to the people playing, promoting, and publishing for classic D&D.Robert Conleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863009007381185340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-71312677767661706012017-03-29T09:33:01.837-04:002017-03-29T09:33:01.837-04:00There were a good many early RPGs starting in the ...There were a good many early RPGs starting in the mid 1970s at the very beginning of the gaming boom, although D&D 1974 is pretty much the 1K gorilla of the pack. Arguably, role playing in the earliest D&D games (the brown box and first edition white box era) was actually an ancillary feature. But how about Tunnels and Trolls 1975, Boot Hill 1975, Empire of the Petal Throne 1975, Traveller 1977, Arduin Grimore 1977, Chivalry & Sorcery 1977, Space Patrol 1977, Space Quest 1977, Runequest 1978, and Bushido 1979? <br /><br />In one short half decade RPGs exploded onto the scene and by the early 1980s there were plenty of RPG and supps out there to fill nearly any niche of this new form of gamming. I owned and played (most) all of these games in the 70s. Back then, there were no Old Time Games, there were just games and gamers. The only differentiation between games and gamers was: miniatures, board games, and role playing games. <br />CoastConFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07250561260148656254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-5765025430859324672017-03-29T05:29:27.338-04:002017-03-29T05:29:27.338-04:00I generally think the OSR, in practice, derives fr...I generally think the OSR, in practice, derives from D&D. However, there could also be alternate "OSRs" of other old-school games. RPGPundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267330191433119298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-87162339049025505852017-03-29T03:39:25.558-04:002017-03-29T03:39:25.558-04:00Notice how the definition starts by "I would ...Notice how the definition starts by "I would classify". For instance, I find GURPS to be closer to those 90s systems (e.g. Shadowrun, Vampire, etc.), whereas Legend, Scarlet Heroes, and Freebooters on the Frontier seem to be closer in DNA to B/X D&D. But then again, there is no consensus over the definition.Ynas Midgardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972628887096890642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-80959558604044792832017-03-28T22:57:49.486-04:002017-03-28T22:57:49.486-04:00To me, OSR means (i) flexible system that handles ...To me, OSR means (i) flexible system that handles improv easily, (ii) fast combat and (iii) relatively deadly. Psikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02744089998921613315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-70548120090247642712017-03-28T17:57:34.387-04:002017-03-28T17:57:34.387-04:00So does Venger Satanis. So does Venger Satanis. Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-16984673067681745802017-03-28T14:58:47.255-04:002017-03-28T14:58:47.255-04:00To be clear.
Every RPG system or mechanic before 1...To be clear.<br />Every RPG system or mechanic before 1989 is OSR?<br />So GURPS is OSR, all editions?Shea Kauffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14620651901860543375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-49683177252396009982017-03-28T14:51:09.961-04:002017-03-28T14:51:09.961-04:00By that definition, Alpha Blue, Crimson Dragon Sla...By that definition, Alpha Blue, Crimson Dragon Slayer, and The Outer Presence qualify as OSR.<br />Venger Satanishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04447932700800930510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-3074995823897799452017-03-28T10:03:51.426-04:002017-03-28T10:03:51.426-04:00So why does nearly everyone treats OSR as if it me...So why does nearly everyone treats OSR as if it means "must clone D&D rules, even the poorly thought ones"?Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2600947515654238699.post-79314769724431818572017-03-28T10:03:02.527-04:002017-03-28T10:03:02.527-04:00Before 2nd edition AD&D encompasses almost any...Before 2nd edition AD&D encompasses almost anything. Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.com