What is Microlite74?

Microlite74, like its parent game, Microlite20, is a trimmed-down, sub-miniature version of the Primary Fantasy SRD rules that has been designed to be quick and easy to play. The goal of Microlite74, however, is to recreate the style and feel of that very first ("0e") fantasy roleplaying game published back in 1974. If you are at all familiar with any game based on the 3.5 edition of the Primary Fantasy SRD, you will find Microlite74 easy to play and easy to run as a GM, but with an extra helping of "old school" flavor.

While Microlite74 is designed as an introduction to "old school" play for players more familiar with modern rules systems based on the Primary Fantasy SRD, it is a rules-lite OGL based game system that old school grognards – especially those who cut their gamer teeth on "0e" – should find equally enjoyable. It is also easy to modify with your own house rules or rules drawn from your favorite edition of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game.

What is New in Microlite74 Version 2.0?

The revised and expanded Microlite74 Version 2.0 features many changes and improvements made since the publication of version 1.1 of Microlite74 in 2008, including:

• The spell and monster lists have been rewritten to make Microlite74 much more compatible with 0e and 0e retro-clones.
• Many more monsters and a few additional spells are included.
• Stat, combat, and some other bonuses have been reduced from Microlite20 levels to levels more appropriate for 0e and Microlite74.
• Optional rules that remove demi-human class and level limits have been added.
• Spells lists are now alphabetical within each level.
• Many minor tweaks in wording or rules have been made to correct typos, to improve clarity, or to make GM rules modifications and future expansions easier.

Ancient Auguries, A Microlite74 Version 2.0 Supplement

Ancient Auguries has four pages of completely optional rules that can be used with Microlite74. The intent of this supplement is both to provide some interesting optional rule sections and to show how flexible and easy to modify the Microlite74 rules really are. Each section of rules is independent can can be used or ignored at the GM's option. Optional rules in Ancient Auguries include:

• The Specialist class
• Special abilities for fighters, magic-users, and clerics
• A Skills system
• Ritual Magic and Metamagic
• Vancian magic in two forms, memorized spells and a full fire-and-forget magic system
• Combat variants: Simple and complex combat stunts, no initiative rolls, overwhelming opponents
• Hit points and body points -- a replacement damage and healing system

Wary's Grimoire, A Microlite74 Version 2.0 Supplement

Wary's Grimoire adds the following classes to Microlite74: Paladin, Ranger, Monk, Illusionist, Druid, Thief and Bard. It also adds the 0e 7th-9th level Magic-User spells, the 0e 6th and 7th level Clerical spells, and the entire set (1st-7th level) of the 0e Druid and Illusionist spells. This supplement also includes variable weapon damage, monster reactions, and a rewritten monster list including monster morale and variable damage.

Microlite74 Edition Information

The current edition of Microlite74 is Version 2.0 was released on March 4, 2009 in honor of the first anniversary of the passing of Gary Gygax.

Microlite Version 2.0 Standard
(10 pages, no covers or interior art, standard M20 small print, 170K PDF)

Microlite Version 2.0 Booklet
(20 pages including covers, interior art, larger type, 2.2 meg PDF)

The previous edition of Microlite74 is Version 1.1 which was released in two different formats on October 6, 2008.

Microlite74 Release 1.1 Standard is a six page PDF. It includes variant rules based on Microlite20, a complete spell list and monster list, and a short designer's note section touching on the differences in style between "old school" and the usual style of play encountered today. Release 1.1 contains minor error corrections, information on other OGL retrogames based on early editions of the world's most popular fantasy roleplaying game, and new rules for morale, hirelings, and equipment. Microlite74's rules were written to support the "old school" style, while retaining many of the more modern rules features of OGL games based on the 3.5 SRD. Microlite20 trimmed the fat from the 3.5 SRD, paring the game down to a fast-moving and easy to learn two-page system. Microlite74 takes the M20 system and modifies it for a 1974 style, but leaves most of the basic Microlite20 rules in place.

Microlite74 Release 1.1 Digest is a special version of Microlite74 formatted to print as a digest-sized booklet something like those of 0e using the booklet printing feature of Adobe Acrobat. The type size is larger and there is B&W fantasy artwork, courtesy of Håkan Ackegård. This file is much larger than the standard file (2.25M compared to 112K) so the art will print with high quality. Because of the file size, the file is stored at Rapidshare.

Microlite74 Discussions

If you would like to discuss Microlite74, join our message board and post in the Microlite74 board.

Microlite74 Downloads

• Download M74 v2.0 (Standard PDF - 170K)
• Download M74 v2.0 (Booklet PDF - 2.20M)*
• Download Ancient Aurguries (PDF - 105K)
• Download Wary's Grimoire v0.9 (Standard PDF - 165K)
• Download M74 Character Sheet (PDF - 45K) (Designed by Chgowiz)
• Download M74 v1.1 (Standard PDF - 112K)*
• Download M74 v1.1 (Digest PDF - 2.25M)*

* Also available for free download at RetroRoleplaying: The Store on Lulu. Note that the standard edition on Lulu comes with a spiffy cover to bulk up the file by 2 pages and the download by 100K or so.