I’ve been coming up with a doc for my players to collect all the various parts from different OSR games that I enjoy, so I don’t ever have to print off multiple games again and then print a guide for what sections from what they have to follow for character creation or rules.
Mostly its just a collection of different mechanics copy-pasted from other games and blogs, some of it customized for me, a little bit changed and added, but most as-is. Here’s what I’m using for my own games and why.
Character Creation
Same typical 6 stats rolled 3d6 straight down with optional details from Knave, plus or minus a few details.
Classes
Kind of classless – mostly a rip off of Macchiato Monsters – at character creation and leveling up you can select a few features to specialize in – fighting, a once-per-day Specialist ability, or a spell slot.
Although I do not use the Whitehack magic system – more on that later.
Magic
I use a sort of mix-up between material found in VAM with spells found in Wonder & Wickedness. I mostly want level-less spells with powerful but risky effects.
Task Resolution
Roll-under your stat where applicable, adjust by 10 – opponents stat if contested. I don’t do contested rolls where two people roll at once, it screws up my perception of being able to quickly understand the probability of any roll in D&D.
Combat
Roll under your DEX to go before the opponents, otherwise you go after.
Otherwise fairly standard although I use a modified version of Cave Girl’s Harm Rules.
Resources
I use Black Hack‘s Usage Die quite a bit for resources. It allows for a level of uncertainty that is nice – sometimes your rations may get spoiled, maybe you find you have a bit less coin than when you started with – who took it?
That’s It
I think that’s the main points of my table’s version of D&D. Let me know what your game is like, and if you have any suggestions for stuff I should look at.