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Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones | HearLore
Common questions
What is Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones?
Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones are games that emulate earlier editions of the original game no longer supported by the publisher. These games deliberately avoid using the brand names Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, or any other trademarks associated with the franchise while preserving the soul of the original experience.
When was the System Reference Document released for Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones?
The System Reference Document was released in 2006 by Wizards of the Coast under the terms of the Open Game License. This legal framework permitted the use of specific game mechanics and terminology without infringing on trademarks, enabling the creation of Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones.
Who created the first version of OSRIC Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones?
Matthew Finch was the initial author of OSRIC, which was released to the public in 2006 as a retro-clone of the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Stuart Marshall later took up the project and released it to the public in 2006.
What is the difference between Labyrinth Lord and the 1981 Basic Set of Dungeons & Dragons?
Labyrinth Lord extends the rules so characters can advance to 20th level, whereas the 1981 Basic Set only included levels up to 14. In addition, clerics receive spells at first level in Labyrinth Lord, a nod to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
When was the Core Rules 1st Edition of Basic Fantasy released?
The Core Rules 1st Edition of Basic Fantasy was released on the 17th of February 2007. The game was updated in 2008, 2014, and 2023, and has been positively received for its accessibility and faithfulness to the original vision.
Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones
In 2006, a single document released by Wizards of the Coast changed the trajectory of tabletop gaming history, allowing strangers to rebuild a game they could not legally sell under its original name. This document, known as the System Reference Document, was released under the terms of the Open Game License, a legal framework that permitted the use of specific game mechanics and terminology without infringing on trademarks. The result was a legal loophole that enabled the creation of Dungeons & Dragons retro-clones, games that emulated earlier editions no longer supported by the original publisher. These games deliberately avoided using the brand names Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, or any other trademarks associated with the franchise, yet they preserved the soul of the original experience. The release of these clones was not merely a technical exercise in copyright law but a cultural movement driven by fans who felt that newer editions of the game had lost the tone of the classics while failing to fix the perceived rules issues of the older versions. The community that formed around these games would eventually be collectively referred to as the Old School Renaissance, or OSR, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of forums, blogs, and independent publishers who sought to keep the spirit of early fantasy role-playing alive.
The Architects Of The New Old
Matthew Finch, a role-playing game publisher and editor, played a pivotal role in shaping the early landscape of retro-clones when he served as the editor of the Player's Handbook for Castles & Crusades. This game utilized the unified d20 mechanic from the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons but dropped what the developers perceived as complications, including feats, skills, and prestige classes. Finch was also 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, which ran from 1977 to 1989. The release of OSRIC 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. These creators did not merely copy rules; they curated the experience, making deliberate choices about what to keep and what to discard to better serve the players who craved the simplicity and tone of the early days. Their work laid the foundation for a movement that would see retro-clones increasingly find their way into brick and mortar game stores, moving from niche online forums to physical shelves.
Which edition of Dungeons & Dragons does Old-School Essentials emulate?
Old-School Essentials is a clone of the 1981 Dungeons & Dragons Basic and Expert sets, edited by Tom Moldvay and David Zeb Cook respectively. As of 2020, it comes in two versions: Classic Fantasy and Advanced Fantasy.
OSRIC, short for Old School Reference and Index Compilation, stands as one of the most successful retro-clones, with its first version released in 2006 and its latest version, OSRIC v. 2.2, released in 2013. Labyrinth Lord, written and edited by Daniel Proctor and published by Goblinoid Games in 2007, takes its inspiration from the 1981 Basic Set edited by Tom Moldvay and the accompanying Expert Set by David Zeb Cook. Any adventure written to be played with classic Dungeons & Dragons can be run using Labyrinth Lord with little or no adjustment, yet there are a few differences between the two games. It extends the rules so characters can advance to 20th level, whereas 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, a retro-clone written by Chris Gonnerman, emulates and is largely compatible with the 1981 Basic and Expert sets, but its differences from B/X Dungeons & Dragons include d20-style ascending armor class and separation of character race and class. It was first released in 2007, with Core Rules 1st Edition released on the 17th of February 2007, and updated in 2008, 2014, and 2023. The game has been positively received, with reviews highlighting its accessibility and faithfulness to the original vision.
Parody And The Rules Cyclopedia
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. 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 to 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. This game exemplifies the creative freedom that retro-clones offer, allowing designers to experiment with tone and content while maintaining mechanical compatibility with decades of existing material. The use of parody in the naming and character examples adds a layer of meta-commentary that distinguishes it from more straightforward clones, showing how the community could engage with the source material in both respectful and humorous ways.
The Free Games That Won Awards
Mazes & Perils RPG, developed by Wild Games Productions, emulates the 1977 version of the Basic Set edited by John Eric Holmes. It expands the game from its original level limit of level 3 up to level 12, and won the 2013 ENnie Award for Best Free Game. An expanded Deluxe Edition featuring new classes was released in 2015. For Gold & Glory is a retro-clone of the AD&D 2nd edition rules from 1989, first published in 2012, and written by Justen Brown and edited by Moses Wildermuth. It is available as a free download or as a print-on-demand book. Blueholme is a retro-clone of the 1977 version of the Basic Set edited by John Eric Holmes, with the Blueholme Prentice Rules, covering 1st to 3rd-level play, first published in January 2013 by Michael Thomas of Dreamscape Design. The Prentice Rules won the joint runner-up place in the 2014 Indie RPG Awards. There are two expanded versions in production: the Journeymanne Rules, which cover play from 1st through 20th level, and the Compleat Rules, which also incorporate additional sub-classes and creatures. These games demonstrate the diversity of the retro-clone movement, with some focusing on free distribution and others on print-on-demand models, all while earning recognition from industry awards. The success of these titles proves that the demand for old-school mechanics was not limited to hobbyists but extended to a broader audience willing to support independent creators.
The Faithful Restorations
Old-School Essentials, originally called B/X Essentials, is a clone of the 1981 Dungeons & Dragons Basic and Expert sets, edited by Tom Moldvay and David Zeb Cook respectively. The intended features of this retro-clone are 100% faithfulness and compatibility with the original rules it emulates, brevity, clarity, and meticulous organization and indexing. As of 2020, Old-School Essentials comes in two versions: Classic Fantasy and Advanced Fantasy, with Advanced Fantasy including B/X compatible material inspired by the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Old-School Essentials is unique in that both versions come in two different formats: All-in-one or two rules tomes or modular multi-book sets. This level of detail and organization reflects the dedication of the retro-clone community to preserving the original experience without sacrificing usability. The modular format allows players to choose between a single comprehensive book or a set of smaller volumes, catering to different preferences and play styles. The commitment to faithfulness and clarity sets these games apart, ensuring that players can engage with the material in a way that feels authentic to the original vision while benefiting from modern production standards.