Quote from: rgalex;1072709I think most of us would go back and play AD&D again except all but of one of us don't have the books anymore (and his are in a different state).  I think that's why they were looking at some of the new clones/OSR/offshoots.  If we're, potentially, going to be getting new books anyway why not something actually new.

As EOTB mentioned, if you're looking for a straight-up AD&D 1e clone, OSRIC is free @ http://knights-n-knaves.com/osric/ and you can order the Black Blade hardcover for $26 + shipping via PM at our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/BlackBladePublishing/  You can also check out Advanced Labyrinth Lord, which is the other main OSR AD&D 1e rule set:  //www.goblinoidgames.com (but it looks like their web site is borked---as is our BBP one, which is why we use FB for the nonce).  

Quote from: rgalex;1072709While I hate using pre-made modules, I'm not against stealing ideas from them.  Some were mentioned above but if anyone else has any to recommend I'm all ears.

My top OSR/AD&D 1e module recommendations (stuff your other players will never have read or played if they're not plugged into the old-school forums scene in general):

- OSRC's 10th Anniversary module, The Hyqueous Vaults @ https://hyqueousvaults.blogspot.com/ (PDF is free, Lulu print version is at-cost)
- Rob Kuntz's Bottle City, Cairn of the Skeleton King, and Tower of Blood, from Black Blade at our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/BlackBladePublishing/photos/?tab=albums
- Chaotic Henchmen's F1 and F3 adventures, and Rob Kuntz's Dark Druids @ http://www.chaotichenchmen.com/
- Anthony Huso's Fabled City of Brass (2 books) and Night Wolf Inn (I've not read the Mortuary Temple of Esma yet, since it may show up in our campaign):  http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/anthonyhuso
- Jeff Talanian's ASSH modules---all are great, and map pretty cleanly back to AD&D:  http://www.hyperborea.tv/products.html

If you're looking for old-school AD&D 1e module recommendations, my top picks are discussed in last year's 18 day module challenge:  https://grodog.blogspot.com/2018/10/module-challenge-epitaph.html

Allan.

I'd use Basic Fantasy Role Playing Game. Electronic versions are free. At cost $5 paperback from Amazon. Crazy high production standards. d20 SRD v3.5 retroed to be more OSR.
 
https://www.basicfantasy.org/

Quote from: kythri;1072694Maybe ACKS?

Strong recommendation, considering the group's interests and desires (as described, above). Though I'm wondering why switch from what you're currently running, if they like a bit of crunch. That doesn't strike me as much of a change?

Quote from: Tod13;1072722I'd use Basic Fantasy Role Playing Game. Electronic versions are free. At cost $5 paperback from Amazon. Crazy high production standards. d20 SRD v3.5 retroed to be more OSR.
 
https://www.basicfantasy.org/

Also excellent recc.

Quote from: cranebump;1072723Strong recommendation, considering the group's interests and desires (as described, above). Though I'm wondering why switch from what you're currently running, if they like a bit of crunch. That doesn't strike me as much of a change?

We play 2x a week.  We have an ongoing campaign session and a "let's try this" session.  The ongoing campaign is something that we'll likely play for a year.  The other one is something we'll play for 1-3 months depending on how we like it, just to try something different.  Sometimes it's vastly different from what we typically play, sometimes it's just a different system to see what it's like or what changes/gimmicks it has from the usual.

The M:YZ game is what we're currently giving a shot.  We've been playing for almost 3 months now and people just wanted to give something else a go.

I've heard of ACKS, read a bit about it here after the TBP kerfuffle.  I might give this a look too now that you reminded me of it.

DCC definitely. It has unpredictable, mysterious magic, which frankly is how magic should be And Mighty Deeds. I mean come on. SW and LotFP pale in comparison.

Regarding OSRIC:

I don't own a hardcopy, but I did download the free PDF; and i also own the AD&D core 3.  My understanding; is that OSRIC is essentially the PHB, most of the MM, and the roll tables from the DMG, in a single volume.

I'd use OSRIC, especially since you "would just play AD&D, but don't have the books." If limited to the original three options listed, I'd probably pick S&W Complete.

Quote from: Philotomy Jurament;1072750I'd use OSRIC, especially since you "would just play AD&D, but don't have the books." If limited to the original three options listed, I'd probably pick S&W Complete.

Yeah, if you like 1e with bits of UA best then OSRIC is very nice. It has the more powerful 1e versions of PC classes; S&W is balanced around an OD&D-Classic power level.

Based on my actual play, here's my thoughts:

MAZES & MINOTAURS - its free and its awesome, especially because its Greek Mythos via Hollywood via OD&D which is greatly flavorful. I find players love it because its totally familiar, but different enough so its not "just D&D"

SWORDS & WIZARDRY: WHITE BOX (and only White Box) - its free, awesome and takes you back to the 1974 edition of D&D where it all began. S&W:WB is badass because there are 3 classes for humans - Cleric, Fighting Man and Magic-User. It creates a very different paradigm for both how you create your campaign setting for how the players interact with it. The "limitations" of S&W:WB are actually its major strengths. I've run a crapton of White Box games and players get excited because its a throwback to a D&D they most likely never experienced.

PALLADIUM FANTASY 1e - the original AD&D clone! I can't nail down WHY, but I've had such incredibly memorable games with Palladium Fantasy in spite of the system wonkiness. There is some A grade gamer voodoo in that game. PF2e is good, but 1e is a concentrated heroin rush of kewlness.

OSRIC is rather good as an AD&D substitute, although the real thing is still the original books - OSRIC does not replicate Gary's masterwork, and doesn't try to.

S&W is a good option if you want a fast-flowing, low-maintenance game. I have played in a fair number of S&W games, from the vanilla to the heavily modded, and it has stood up well. It can feel a bit weightless for some players who prefer a bit more mechanical support for their PCs. Note that S&W comes in many different flavours. S&W Complete is comparable to a lightweight AD&D, while S&W White Box is a minimal framework. There are also versions and offshoots in between.

LotFP and DCC are both games with a specific flavour. I would pick them if you are looking for a departure from standard D&D.

I've found that, whenever I say I play OD&D, I think of S&W Whitebox. But what I'm actually playing, is a very streamlined OD&D with most of the stuff left out I don't use and AAC and some popular houserules added in for good measure.

That's my OSR ruleset. It mostly exists in my head and between the pages of the LBBs and S&W Whitebox.

Quote from: Brad;1072691W DCC is a version of AD&D mated with D&D 3.X.

Quote from: Razor 007;1072699DCC is a different take on AD&D.  It does not emulate AD&D rules, but tries to capture that feeling.  It requires different dice than other D&D variants.

I would say DCC is a a different take on classic, B/X, rules encyclopedia dnd, not adnd.

Quote from: rgalex;1072686My group wants to try an OSR game.  The systems that were suggested are Dungeon Crawl Classics, Swords & Wizardry and Lamentations of the Flame Princess. Since they want me to run the game, I get to pick which one we play but I have only a little knowledge of LotFP and no clue about DCC or S&W (which looks like it has 3 versions: light, core and complete?).  

Can anyone explain how the games differ from one another?  Are there some pros and cons that I should be considering or are they all fairly similar and I'll be good just randomly picking any of them?  For now I'm looking to run 3-4 sessions of about 5-6 hours each with 4 players if that makes any difference.

Since you mentioned you have played adnd. OSRIC as mentioned is basically an adnd clone and its free. Another adnd clone is adventures dark and deep, but its not free.

Lamentations of the Flame princess is based on classic dnd, basically also called B/X dnd and rules cyclopedia which are essentially very similar. B/X dnd is for level 1-14 though fan media expansion for higher levels exist and rules cyclopedia for levels 1-36.
I would recommend B/X dnd and specifically the BX essentials series for a solid old school experience.
Another excellent game based on classic dnd is ACK, its also amazing.

Swords&Wizardry is based on odnd, the oldest and most basic dnd. I have no experience with it, but I think its basically an expansion of an expansion's expansion of a medieval wargame.

DCC is also awesome but if you are looking for old school experience stick with the clones IMO. Leave DCC for later.

Overall I would suggest B/X essentials (for your group).

Quote from: kythri;1072694Maybe ACKS?

I like ACKS for folks that like completeness/crunch, especially with the Player's Companion.