About RetroRoleplaying

Dungeons and Dragons Rules Cyclopedia

RetroRoleplaying.com devoted to out-of-print, unsupported, and/or out-of-style tabletop roleplaying games. While we specialize in classic roleplaying games published before D20 games came on the scene, we also provide support for OGL D20 system-based retroclones of classic roleplaying games -- including a number of our own free Microlite20-based old school RPGs (e.g. Microlite74).

While it may surprise many people, the earlier editions of classic RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons sold many more copies than the newer D20 and 4e versions. These once very popular games are available in hardcopy on the RPG MarketPlace, Amazon, or eBay -- and are still being played today. Retroclones are much less expensive, however (often free in PDF form).

Many people prefer older tabletable roleplaying games because of their less complex, easier to modify rules and their "feel." While many 3.x and 4e games feel more like playing a computer game around a table with much emphasis on optimal character building and detailed tactical combat, pre-D20 games feel more being in a movie or novel -- the emphasis is what the characters do in the campaign world as opposed to what skills and feats are on their character sheet.

Our Games

We publish a number of free games, most based on Microlite20, a trimmed down, sub-miniature version of the 3.x Primary Fantasy SRD rules which designed to be quick and easy to play. Most of these games are designed for "old school" play.

  • Microlite74 recreates the style and feel of that very first ("0e") fantasy roleplaying game published back in 1974 using somewhat more modern rules. It's not quite a clone of 0e, but most people find it close to a clone. There are two supplements to Microlite74: Ancient Auguries and Wary's Grimoire. The current version is 2.0.
  • Microlite75 is a heavily expanded and house-ruled version of Microlite74. It plays much like the 0e/1e based rules I was using in the late 1970s. Unlike Microlite74, it includes most of the additional classes and spells from the 0e supplements with a few modern twists. It is currently being written -- and playtested in my Sunday campaign. Playtest versions are available for download. Estimated Completion: Late Summer 2010.
  • Microlite20 OSS (Old School Style) is an attempt to do "old school style" with rules that can use all the standard SRD monsters, spells, and treasure just as you can with standard Microlite20. It is currently almost complete and is in the "proofreading" phase. Copies are available for download. Estimated Completion: Late Summer 2010.
  • Advanced Microlite20 OSS is an expansion of our basic Microlite20 OSS rules with supplemental material from Microlite20, other Microlite20-based games, and some of the authors house rules and other modifications It is currently being written. Playtest copies should be available for download soon. Estimated Completion: Late Summer 2010.
  • The Microlite20 RPG Collection is a 600 plus page PDF compilation of Microlite20 rules and variants as well as a large number of Microlite20 based games. The current, Spring 2010, edition is available for download.

RetroRoleplaying Site Features

Game System Introductions: There are a lot of different out-of-print RPGs available. The Game Systems section of this site will introduce you to classic roleplaying games like Basic Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Runequest, and others. It will help you find low cost sets of rules and adventures to play with those rules. There will be reviews so you can decide what to buy, advice on finding affordable playable copies on eBay, links to free rules and adventures on the web, and more to help you get started playing these classic roleplaying games.

Reviews: Finding reviews of Old School products (both old and new) by Old School reviewers can be a chore. There are a lot of reviews out on the Web, but finding them can be a pain. The Reviews section of this site will be a growing collection of reviews. A few reviews may be published here, but most will be published elsewhere on the Web, and linked to here. The plan is for this section of the site to slowly become an index to Old School product reviews.

Retro-Clone Introductions: Thanks to the Open Game License (OGL) and a number of System Reference Documents (SRD) released under that license by publishers, fans of out-of-print game systems have been able to produce a number games that "clone" the rules and systems of popular out of print games in "new" games. These retro-clone or simulacrum games were originally designed so that individuals and companies who want to produce new adventures and supplements for the original game can do so, referring to the retro-clone to avoid legal problems with trademarks. However, many of these games have proved popular with gamers as they are free to download which means every player in a game can have a copy without having to track down an affordable used copy.

Forum: This site also features a message board where players of out-of-print and unsupported RPGs can support each other with their collective expertise and help new players learn the joys of older RPGs. While game companies may wish they could kill off older games and prior editions of their current games, the fact of the matter is that lack of official support is no reason to quit playing a favorite old game. A game is not truly dead if it can still be played -- and a lot of people are still playing these older games (or retro-clones of them). With luck, our message board will bring a lot of players together to share their ideas and expertise.

Blog: The webmaster maintains a blog, creatively named Retro-Roleplaying: The Blog, whith information on this site and commentary on RPGs from the point of view of someone who started playing D&D in 1975 with a third printing brown box set and the first supplement.

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