The rulebook is certainly shorter, or usually shorter (there's a few 500-page OSR rulesets, after all).  But does that mean the mechanics are actually easier?

I think it depends on the game. If we are talking about the retroclones, then Swords and Wizadry, Labrynth Lord, and Beyond the Wall are all way easier to run than 3.5 or even 5e.

However, DCC seems quite a challenge, but I could be wrong since I haven't had a chance to run it yet.

I used to play Rolemaster and that was very tough.

Rules light is easier than Rules medium or Rules heavy. It doesn't even have to be New vs. Old School.

AD&D 1e RAW and D&D 3e are rules medium, but Swords & Wizardry (or Castles & Crusades) is rules light. AKA, rules light games rarely require going back to the rulebook during gameplay. That is what makes them easier. The more you need to reference rules, the "harder" the game becomes because now the game has to stop so we can jerk off to some half assed paragraph on page 324.

Faster, more intuitive gameplay leads to more immersion because we aren't breaking the suspension of disbelief constantly by going to the books.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1036934The rulebook is certainly shorter, or usually shorter (there's a few 500-page OSR rulesets, after all).  But does that mean the mechanics are actually easier?

From the games I watch, it all depends on the Gamemaster's skill at running a game. Most players just want to sit like lumps and be told when to roll their shiny D20. They don't even know or care old from new school.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1036942Rules light is easier than Rules medium or Rules heavy. It doesn't even have to be New vs. Old School.

I agree whehter a game is easier or harder to run is more about whether it's rules light/med/heavy. Old school isnt necessarily easier, look at 2e or old shadowrun vs new 5e; 5e is simpler and easier to run (not as fun as the other 2 games, imo, but easier).

Quote from: RPGPundit;1036934The rulebook is certainly shorter, or usually shorter (there's a few 500-page OSR rulesets, after all).  But does that mean the mechanics are actually easier?

Not in my experience, but it's not harder.  It's just a different set of expectations.  'Old School' requires a lot more work from the DM, especially those who are new to the experience.  They have to do a lot more on the spot adjudication and making up of rules.  There's a lot more trial and error.  Not everyone is built for that.

Newer games try to solve every potential problem, not always successfully, but it tries to give a groundwork as to what a DM can do to fix whatever issue that arises.  Does it always work?  Hell, no.  But it tries to give a level of consistency.  Again, that might drive people away.

QuoteIs Old-School Really "Easier" than New School?

No, because oldskool relies more on "player skill".

You know, other way of saying for: rolling four new characters every session to find out the various ways this particular dickwad of a DM is trying to kill my characters.

Quote from: Moracai;1036960You know, other way of saying for: rolling four new characters every session to find out the various ways this particular dickwad of a DM is trying to kill my characters.

Is that what Old School GMs do? All of them? Everywhere? All the time?

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Quote from: Mike the Mage;1036965Is that what Old School GMs do? All of them? Everywhere? All the time?

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Well I try but sometimes players are crafty fuckers.

Depends on the players and GM and what they want or like, and how experienced with the rules they are..

Also depends on what game systems you're talking about.

Quote from: Moracai;1036960No, because oldskool relies more on "player skill".

You know, other way of saying for: rolling four new characters every session to find out the various ways this particular dickwad of a DM is trying to kill my characters.

LJL, sounds like someone's genderfluid dragonman PC with a 16 page backstory got killed.  Your post was stupidly off topic and distracting.  Take it to Tangency.

Getting back on topic, anything with the OD&D-B/X "engine" is gonna be easy to play, regardless of whether it's a bare bones light system like S&W or a huge pile of (mostly for the DM) rules like ACKS.  Why? Because the amount of information you need to memorize (and even internalize) to play a character is not hugely taxing.  DCC (mentioned above) might be stretching it a bit, but even then, most of the complication comes from the amount of tables, and not the amount of "out of the box" options a player has.  

Now, easy to run is more a function of the GM's background, attitude, and willingness to prep than it is the specific system at hand.  

There's a lot more to be said on this topic, and I'm sure the stalwart posters here at therpgsite will deliver.

You make a good point: easy to run and easy to play are two important distinctions.

Quote from: Moracai;1036960No, because oldskool relies more on "player skill".

You know, other way of saying for: rolling four new characters every session to find out the various ways this particular dickwad of a DM is trying to kill my characters.

Show us on the doll where old school play touched your character in a bad way.

So the rest of us can line up and do it again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1036934The rulebook is certainly shorter, or usually shorter (there's a few 500-page OSR rulesets, after all).  But does that mean the mechanics are actually easier?

Well in the case of OD&D, what mechanics actually exist are easier, simply because there are so few of them.

The ability to know your world well enough that you can make rulings, however, seems to be extremely difficult for a lot of people.  Free Kriegsspiel requires an umpire who knows the setting cold, and high trust between players and umpire.

Quote from: Arkansan;1036967Well I try but sometimes players are crafty fuckers.

Agreed! The foes in my settings are definitely striving for that TPK every time at every table.