Old-School Essentials

Return to the Roots of Fantasy Adventure!

We wanted this system in the library before we had time to write it properly, so consider this entry a placeholder. If you've got hours logged with it, we'd love your help turning this into something worth reading - reach out.

Overview

Old-School Essentials is a Dungeons & Dragons B/X retroclone designed by Gavin Norman and published by his own studio, Necrotic Gnome, first released in 2019. It doesn't reinvent the 1981 Basic/Expert D&D rules so much as reorganize them: rather than hunting across four different chapters just to build an elf character, every rule on a given topic now lives on a single two-page spread, with modern layout and clarity layered over mechanics that are otherwise untouched. Since launch it's become something close to the flagship rulebook of the
Old School Renaissance https://groupfinder.gg/library/old-school-renaissance-osr-2000
- clean enough to hand a brand-new player, and 100% compatible with four decades of B/X-era modules and third-party adventures.

Active games and players

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DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
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Tallinn
Online
Nehop
Hey there, Have been playing a lot of DnD 5E but have gradually shifted to other systems. My local group is currently playing Mork Borg with me DMing.  Generally I would love to dive deeper into Shadowdark, other Borgs, OSE and into the Odd but open to try all systems.
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DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
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Manchester
Online
Rachel Jackson
Hello! My name is Rach (they/them), 36, and I've been playing DnD 5e for about 6 years, but I do enjoy dabbling in other TTRPGs such as Masks, Alien, LOTR. I'm looking for a game either online (I'm GMT/ BST/ UTC depending on daylight savings), or in person in Manchester, UK. I like a mix of RP and combat, but lean closer to more RP driven games. I normally play the group healer, but do love a barbarian. I will happily fill a gap in an existing party with whatever is required, I'm not precious about what character I play  I'm available Monday to Thursday evenings until 9:30/10pm (please don't ask me to stay up later, I am old and tired!), or Saturday and Sunday until 5:30pm Not interested in a pay to play game, but I am happy to cover the cost of playing in a game shop if required  Feel free to hit me up if you want to ask any questions at all
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OSE
Old School Essentials
OSR
OSR
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Myrtle Beach
Mike
50 year old gammer, been playing for about 40 Of them. Played just about every at one point or another. Was gm/dm for over 30 years at my Miami table.. looking for something now that I've moved.
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AD&D2E
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (2E)
OSRIC
OSRIC
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Online
Gabbs
Hello, I've been playing TTRPGs on and off for about 10 years now. Played with different systems and on different platforms over the years (mostly Pathfinder 2e recently). Don't have a favorite system but hoping to play and learn AD&D, willing to learn and try new games (have a preference for fantasy settings). Timezone is CET and should be free on almost everyday of the week in the evening. Thanks.
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AD&D1E
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1E)
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Marysville
Online
Chris
I prefer a relaxed roleplaying style that focuses on enjoyment of the game experience over power gaming the system.
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DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
PATH2E
Pathfinder 2E
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Online
Zac
A 28-year-old male who has been the (mostly) Forever Dungeon Master for a long time, who's now looking to experience the game from the other side of the DM Screen! I've run many campaigns with homebrew settings, items, mechanics, monsters, and even full systems, and it's all been based on a firm foundation of either DND 5E or PF2e, so I'm fairly comfortable with both. I loved both combat and roleplay as a DM, and I don't suspect I will shy away from either as a player, but what excites me most about them respectively are the possibility of consequences (up to and including player character death) and the process of gathering unique friends, allies, enemies, and nemeses that the party goes through. Needless to say, I love me some verisimilitude for both characters and setting, so if that's your jam, I am there for it!  As for my personal tastes surrounding pop culture, I've been a fan of Warcraft ever since I could comprehend how to move a mouse across the screen. Warcraft is my bread and butter, but that doesn't mean I'm not a fan of things like the following (in order of familiarity): Halo, Starcraft, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Warhammer (40K and Fantasy/The Old World), and both Mass Effect & Dragon Age! Ultimately, I just want to create a character, get immersed, and make some friends (both in-game and out) along the way!
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