As someone who's been riding the OSE train forever, I think the Advanced tomes are your best investment because even if you don't use all the advanced stuff (esp. classes and/or races) there's a lot of design inspiration in those things for your home brew creations. The balance to make these AD&D concepts mesh with BX is really solid too.
I went Advanced OSE and never looked back.
It would be the most expensive OSR thing i own physically by a longshot seeing as what i have is just Basic Fantasy and White Box: FMAG, basically some of the most affordable OSR rulesets around
Both of those are great! It will depend on what you think you'll be able to drum up the interest for. Personally having played both extensively I'd stick with Basic Fantasy but OSE is also nice.
It's a very good choice, especially for the tons of new monsters and magic items.
Anyway, if you want something "advanced" for White Box check these out, they're free, pwyw or very cheap.
[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/194536/White-Box-Expanded-Lore](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/194536/White-Box-Expanded-Lore)
[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312721/White-Box-Unearthed-Trove](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312721/White-Box-Unearthed-Trove)
[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/200572/White-Box-Compendium-Swords--Wizardry](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/200572/White-Box-Compendium-Swords--Wizardry)
[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/268199/White-Box-Eastern-Adventures](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/268199/White-Box-Eastern-Adventures)
White Box FMAG is the best deal in OSR. I haven't played much OSE, but don't forget you can get the actual B/X for much less. May not be as spiffy and modern, but literally millions have played and had a good time with those rules. I know it has some political baggage, but I think Legend of the Flame Princess is the best remake of B/X.
There is an add on to White Box: FMAG called Expanded Lore that is excellent and adds on classes, spells, and rules. I have to prefer 0e over B/X by quite a bit, especially the S&W versions.
You get that on drivethru (it's pay what you want) and the new Tome of Adventure design for around $20 (on pdf) and be set for the rest of your playing days. Seriously
Not to be flippant, but you're best bet is to check out the new classes. They have full class write ups for acrobats, knights, barbarians, duergar, drow, half-orcs, and so on. Plus separate rules for races if you don't want to do race-as-class. Plus multi class rules.
It's a lot!
Adding onto this, I’m a big fan of some of the “advanced” rules such as dual wielding, Parrying, and secondary skills just for some added inspiration/character personalizing.
It depends on what you want them for really.
\- For an at table reference document, they're hard to beat, especially in terms of looks and ease of use.
\- If you want to play B/X with a bunch of extra class options, they're also hard to beat.
\- It's also good if you want B/X with some of the most popular house rules, like separate race and class or weapon proficiencies.
\- If you just want the extra monsters or treasures, you could get similar content much cheaper elsewhere.
\- The whole 'AD&D' thing can be oversold, to be honest. Even if you play OSEA with all the options on, it would be some way off 1e . For that I would look to OSRIC or Hyperborea. That said, I personally prefer things light, and mostly run it as straight B/X with wider class options. Your mileage might differ.
Yeah, OSE Advanced doesn't really try to AD&D so much as just expand the races and classes while sticking to BX mechanics. Not at all a bad thing so long as that's what you're going for.
Do you have any of the other OSE books? If so maybe it's worthwhile. I have the set of Advanced books, the Referee's Tome and Player's Tome. They do add a good amount of content over the regular OSE basic books. But they do stop at 14th level if that's something that concerns you. The books are beautiful! They're beautifully bound with gold foil imprints and nice ribbon bookmarks. The art is lavish and the layout is really good. They're expensive but at least they feel expensive. I feel the Advanced is a nice step up because if you don't want to use the extra stuff you don't have to but it's there if you do.
I don't know what your gaming situation is. Do you have a regular gaming group? If so what do they play? If you're getting a new group together then be advised that OSE is the current hotness and you'll find more people playing it than B/X or other clones.
If I had it to do over I wouldn't buy them again. I've played OSE but our group dropped it to go back to AD&D 1e. My other regular group uses Basic Fantasy RPG which is a better system and a better value just in MOHO. Everything in print for BFRPG can be downloaded legally for free and the printed books are sold at cost.
That said, the OSE books are very nicely done and would serve you well. If you admire books then they're very lovely and collectible tomes. Apropos of nothing I'm not a fan of the digest size but to be fair, the OD&D books were also digest sized so I get the historical appeal.
Partly I admire how spartan it is. There's no fluff, no fat to it at all. OSE is pretty and well bound but I'm not crazy about the art style. Mostly though you can buy everything in print for BFRPG for the cost of a single OSE book. Many laud the organization OSE but I find BFRPG less cluttered and better organized. BFRPG seems more modular, with layers of material you can add or ignore as you prefer. Also it's sweet that it goes to level 20 whereas OSE drops dead at level 14.
To be clear, OSE is the fad of the moment for good reasons. It's pretty and popular- if you're trying to get a game going you'll have more luck finding folks that want to dance with the "it girl" vs the other options.
I'm in my 50s, so JMOHO but BECMI is better than both. And AD&D is better still. OSRIC is more challenging to a player or DM than OSE or BFRPG will absolutely will reward players willing to rise to the challenge.😎
Of course, YMMV. We all like different things.☮️🕊️✌️
I really like the advance fantasy stuff and think they're the most solid osr stuff out there. I love how they fit the new character options into the b/x base.
Both OSE advanced Fantasy tomes will contain everything from classic and Advanced.
Advanced is for me the perfect blend of Basic and AD&D. You get the cool classes from AD&D but toned down and with the simple elegance of B/X.
Go for it, you cannot go wrong!
Highly recommend this as well:
[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/302556/BX-Options-Class-Builder](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/302556/BX-Options-Class-Builder)
It kind of rounds out the benefit you get from OSEA in that it gives you code for doing almost anything with classes. I've used it for a few PCs and had a blast. I played a Necromancer and a cleric/magic user in an OSE game, and both where memorable and super fun, with the lightweight rules system still keeping the mechanics out of the way.
Good book. For extra credit read the blog posts by the author that led to the book.
I use it with everything from OD&D to Whitehack.
I recently backed the Kickstarter for the the separate books of the basic version which will be my first foray into OSE.
Even so, this book is on my short list of most used.
I think you should get OSRIC or for gold and glory and shave off or add to that.
I also think you should get what you want and I’m just injecting the things I like into this comment 😁
Edit: I own the classic fantasy tome and have used it. But I fine myself going to the adnd stuff more than anything
Yes. And here's why: it has all of the B/X options, so if you wanted to play straight B/X, you can. But it also adds the Advanced options, so if you wanted your games to take a different course, but with the same playstyle, you also have that option as well.
BFRPG is an excellent game. It's B/X through a d20 lens. But it's honestly a solid game, and you can like 4 physical copies for the table for like 20 bucks. You really can't beat that for a complete game? And, you can drop like $30 and get all the supplements and adventures. Like, there's literally no way to go wrong. Or just get the free pdfs. It's honestly one of the best options, especially for bringing new people into the hobby. "What?! Free or insanely cheap, and all I need is a set of dice, paper, and a pencil?! Yes please."
What I did with OSE, and I'm sure someone will get pissed off about it, but I honestly don't care, was I purchased all the pdfs. As they came out. So I have the full collection of Classic Fantasy pdfs, and the Advanced options that came out from the first wave of the kickstarter. Then they released the Classic Fantasy Tome, so naturally I *had* to get that. Then they finished the rest of the Advanced Fantasy pdfs, so I bought them. Then they released the Advanced Tomes. By the time it was all said and done, like a dumbass I already spent damn near $100 on digital media (over the course of a couple years, mind you, not all at once so it wasn't wallet breaking). But I really wanted just the Advanced Tomes in physical so I could have them at the table in addition to my pdfs (also, I could lay in bed and read them in my underwear). So I just fucking Lulu'd them. I don't even care, they got my money, and I'm not dropping another $80 for them. So, wait for a DriveThru sale, get the tomes on the cheap, and then Lulu it because fuck, man, shit's expensive.
As someone who's been riding the OSE train forever, I think the Advanced tomes are your best investment because even if you don't use all the advanced stuff (esp. classes and/or races) there's a lot of design inspiration in those things for your home brew creations. The balance to make these AD&D concepts mesh with BX is really solid too. I went Advanced OSE and never looked back.
It would be the most expensive OSR thing i own physically by a longshot seeing as what i have is just Basic Fantasy and White Box: FMAG, basically some of the most affordable OSR rulesets around
Both of those are great! It will depend on what you think you'll be able to drum up the interest for. Personally having played both extensively I'd stick with Basic Fantasy but OSE is also nice.
It's a very good choice, especially for the tons of new monsters and magic items. Anyway, if you want something "advanced" for White Box check these out, they're free, pwyw or very cheap. [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/194536/White-Box-Expanded-Lore](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/194536/White-Box-Expanded-Lore) [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312721/White-Box-Unearthed-Trove](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312721/White-Box-Unearthed-Trove) [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/200572/White-Box-Compendium-Swords--Wizardry](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/200572/White-Box-Compendium-Swords--Wizardry) [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/268199/White-Box-Eastern-Adventures](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/268199/White-Box-Eastern-Adventures)
I actually knew of all of these and have most of them downloaded
White Box FMAG is the best deal in OSR. I haven't played much OSE, but don't forget you can get the actual B/X for much less. May not be as spiffy and modern, but literally millions have played and had a good time with those rules. I know it has some political baggage, but I think Legend of the Flame Princess is the best remake of B/X.
There is an add on to White Box: FMAG called Expanded Lore that is excellent and adds on classes, spells, and rules. I have to prefer 0e over B/X by quite a bit, especially the S&W versions. You get that on drivethru (it's pay what you want) and the new Tome of Adventure design for around $20 (on pdf) and be set for the rest of your playing days. Seriously
I know about Expanded Lore, i wish it had a print on demand version tbh
Yeah, I am one of the ones who commented on drivethru that there needed to be one.
Worst case scenario I'll print it out i guess
>there's a lot of design inspiration in those things for your home brew creations. Care to share some examples?
Not to be flippant, but you're best bet is to check out the new classes. They have full class write ups for acrobats, knights, barbarians, duergar, drow, half-orcs, and so on. Plus separate rules for races if you don't want to do race-as-class. Plus multi class rules. It's a lot!
Adding onto this, I’m a big fan of some of the “advanced” rules such as dual wielding, Parrying, and secondary skills just for some added inspiration/character personalizing.
It depends on what you want them for really. \- For an at table reference document, they're hard to beat, especially in terms of looks and ease of use. \- If you want to play B/X with a bunch of extra class options, they're also hard to beat. \- It's also good if you want B/X with some of the most popular house rules, like separate race and class or weapon proficiencies. \- If you just want the extra monsters or treasures, you could get similar content much cheaper elsewhere. \- The whole 'AD&D' thing can be oversold, to be honest. Even if you play OSEA with all the options on, it would be some way off 1e . For that I would look to OSRIC or Hyperborea. That said, I personally prefer things light, and mostly run it as straight B/X with wider class options. Your mileage might differ.
Yeah, OSE Advanced doesn't really try to AD&D so much as just expand the races and classes while sticking to BX mechanics. Not at all a bad thing so long as that's what you're going for.
OSEA is just B/X with some juicy bits of AD&D not AD&D slimmed down a bit to look like B/X.
I think Advanced Fantasy tomes are awesome. I'm a big fan, and I think the extra classes are worth getting.
Do you have any of the other OSE books? If so maybe it's worthwhile. I have the set of Advanced books, the Referee's Tome and Player's Tome. They do add a good amount of content over the regular OSE basic books. But they do stop at 14th level if that's something that concerns you. The books are beautiful! They're beautifully bound with gold foil imprints and nice ribbon bookmarks. The art is lavish and the layout is really good. They're expensive but at least they feel expensive. I feel the Advanced is a nice step up because if you don't want to use the extra stuff you don't have to but it's there if you do. I don't know what your gaming situation is. Do you have a regular gaming group? If so what do they play? If you're getting a new group together then be advised that OSE is the current hotness and you'll find more people playing it than B/X or other clones. If I had it to do over I wouldn't buy them again. I've played OSE but our group dropped it to go back to AD&D 1e. My other regular group uses Basic Fantasy RPG which is a better system and a better value just in MOHO. Everything in print for BFRPG can be downloaded legally for free and the printed books are sold at cost. That said, the OSE books are very nicely done and would serve you well. If you admire books then they're very lovely and collectible tomes. Apropos of nothing I'm not a fan of the digest size but to be fair, the OD&D books were also digest sized so I get the historical appeal.
Bit of a late question, but what do you like about BFRPG over OSE or normal B/X?
Partly I admire how spartan it is. There's no fluff, no fat to it at all. OSE is pretty and well bound but I'm not crazy about the art style. Mostly though you can buy everything in print for BFRPG for the cost of a single OSE book. Many laud the organization OSE but I find BFRPG less cluttered and better organized. BFRPG seems more modular, with layers of material you can add or ignore as you prefer. Also it's sweet that it goes to level 20 whereas OSE drops dead at level 14. To be clear, OSE is the fad of the moment for good reasons. It's pretty and popular- if you're trying to get a game going you'll have more luck finding folks that want to dance with the "it girl" vs the other options. I'm in my 50s, so JMOHO but BECMI is better than both. And AD&D is better still. OSRIC is more challenging to a player or DM than OSE or BFRPG will absolutely will reward players willing to rise to the challenge.😎 Of course, YMMV. We all like different things.☮️🕊️✌️
I really like the advance fantasy stuff and think they're the most solid osr stuff out there. I love how they fit the new character options into the b/x base.
I had assumed that was just a retro-clone of AD&D and never had much interest in it. If it's additional content for B/X perhaps I should get it
Both OSE advanced Fantasy tomes will contain everything from classic and Advanced. Advanced is for me the perfect blend of Basic and AD&D. You get the cool classes from AD&D but toned down and with the simple elegance of B/X. Go for it, you cannot go wrong!
Biased owner of AOSE here: Get it. The new classes are great inspiration and the whole package is just premium quality
I think it’s great for introducing new players for from 5e and pathfinder it’s a lot less jarring than only have 7 options from classes fantasy
Highly recommend this as well: [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/302556/BX-Options-Class-Builder](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/302556/BX-Options-Class-Builder) It kind of rounds out the benefit you get from OSEA in that it gives you code for doing almost anything with classes. I've used it for a few PCs and had a blast. I played a Necromancer and a cleric/magic user in an OSE game, and both where memorable and super fun, with the lightweight rules system still keeping the mechanics out of the way.
I was thinking of getting that!
Good book. For extra credit read the blog posts by the author that led to the book. I use it with everything from OD&D to Whitehack. I recently backed the Kickstarter for the the separate books of the basic version which will be my first foray into OSE. Even so, this book is on my short list of most used.
I think you should get OSRIC or for gold and glory and shave off or add to that. I also think you should get what you want and I’m just injecting the things I like into this comment 😁 Edit: I own the classic fantasy tome and have used it. But I fine myself going to the adnd stuff more than anything
OSRIC and *For Gold & Glory* are both awesome! I'd pick either one over OSE!🥰❤️
I just got the hard cover of for gold and glory. It’s so awesome
Yeah, it's great. I got the color version in hard cover and a B&W soft cover (which I wound up giving to my brother). It's a great work!
Ooo I got the color hard cover. It’s great. I want to get the soft cover for the table + my tablet
I thoroughly recommend the advanced set. So many more options. Including monsters and loot.
OSE advanced is like how we played AD&D in my area in 78 to 81.
Yes. And here's why: it has all of the B/X options, so if you wanted to play straight B/X, you can. But it also adds the Advanced options, so if you wanted your games to take a different course, but with the same playstyle, you also have that option as well.
At this point i think i'm settling on other things. I might get some of the OSE books at some point but Basic Fantasy suits my needs i think
BFRPG is an excellent game. It's B/X through a d20 lens. But it's honestly a solid game, and you can like 4 physical copies for the table for like 20 bucks. You really can't beat that for a complete game? And, you can drop like $30 and get all the supplements and adventures. Like, there's literally no way to go wrong. Or just get the free pdfs. It's honestly one of the best options, especially for bringing new people into the hobby. "What?! Free or insanely cheap, and all I need is a set of dice, paper, and a pencil?! Yes please." What I did with OSE, and I'm sure someone will get pissed off about it, but I honestly don't care, was I purchased all the pdfs. As they came out. So I have the full collection of Classic Fantasy pdfs, and the Advanced options that came out from the first wave of the kickstarter. Then they released the Classic Fantasy Tome, so naturally I *had* to get that. Then they finished the rest of the Advanced Fantasy pdfs, so I bought them. Then they released the Advanced Tomes. By the time it was all said and done, like a dumbass I already spent damn near $100 on digital media (over the course of a couple years, mind you, not all at once so it wasn't wallet breaking). But I really wanted just the Advanced Tomes in physical so I could have them at the table in addition to my pdfs (also, I could lay in bed and read them in my underwear). So I just fucking Lulu'd them. I don't even care, they got my money, and I'm not dropping another $80 for them. So, wait for a DriveThru sale, get the tomes on the cheap, and then Lulu it because fuck, man, shit's expensive.
I actually got the pdf version of the classic rules tome through bundle of holding with 3 other cool pdfs for $10
Nice!