A Master List of D&D Retro Clones and Emulators

Vile Traveller · December 30, 2012, 04:02:37 AM

Hey, cool flowchart! Is it just me, or is Labyrinth Lord missing? I can see the LL Advanced Edition Companion, but LL itself should be spinning off from B/X.

I'm gratified to see Blueholme on there, even if DTRPG are still checking it out before listing it ...

Libertad · December 30, 2012, 04:50:43 AM

Quote from: Joethelawyer;612680in case you haven't seen it yet, a flowchart of all editions and clones

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wilj4o0osxt53hw/D&D%20Family%20Tree.pdf

Marvellous. I'd like to imagine that whoever created this used my list for inspiration.

Warthur · December 30, 2012, 05:40:13 AM

Quote from: Vile;612811Hey, cool flowchart! Is it just me, or is Labyrinth Lord missing? I can see the LL Advanced Edition Companion, but LL itself should be spinning off from B/X.

It's there - it's up and to the left from B/X with a whole mess o'stuff branching off it.

Vile Traveller · December 30, 2012, 08:21:04 AM

Quote from: Warthur;612821It's there - it's up and to the left from B/X with a whole mess o'stuff branching off it.

Right, spotted it. I just have to say it again, this is a cool piece of work.

Warthur · December 30, 2012, 02:52:56 PM

Kind of indicates how mammothly screwed the whole "If we go super-modular we can make everyone happy!" dream for D&D Next was.

It'd be interesting to see a version of the chart which highlights games which utilise the OGL. I think I would entitle that version "unintended consequences".

Libertad · December 30, 2012, 02:54:27 PM

Quote from: Warthur;612937It'd be interesting to see a version of the chart which highlights games which utilise the OGL. I think I would entitle that version "unintended consequences".

That's not a flowchart. That's a frickin' encyclopedia.

Also, does anybody know anything about Long Live the Magic Users and Fighting Men retroclone? I can't seem to find it.

Added Wizards, Warriors, & Wyrms to the list! Also added "Holmes" to the B/X, BECMI, and Rules Cyclopedia retroclones. Holmes does not seem to be popular for cloning material, but he's one of the Basic guys. Perhaps I should rename the section to "Basic D&D Retroclones?"

David Johansen · December 30, 2012, 03:10:53 PM

That's an amazing flow chart, heck it even got Dark Passages in there.

On the other hand, the OD&D set probably isn't the best place to put it. The original version was somewhere between Holmes and AD&D with some influences from Castles and Crusades and Gamma World 1e. The current version got second edition style class creation, 3rd edition single progression, and stat bonuses derived from the 3rd edition table.

RPGPundit · December 31, 2012, 01:57:20 PM

Its amazing how much has been done; its unfortunate how much is just repetitive and mediocre (thought its also comprehensible), and what's really amazing is (potentially) how much more there is yet to do.

RPGPundit

Simon W · December 31, 2012, 03:17:04 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;613267Its amazing how much has been done; its unfortunate how much is just repetitive and mediocre (thought its also comprehensible), and what's really amazing is (potentially) how much more there is yet to do.

RPGPundit

I find this comment particularly bizarre. LoTFP (which you love) is little different to any of the others - just a tweak here and a tweak there. So to suggest the others are mediocre is disingenuous; each one has its own merits to people who prefer a particular element of old school style.

Fiasco · December 31, 2012, 07:25:09 PM

Quote from: Simon W;613295I find this comment particularly bizarre. LoTFP (which you love) is little different to any of the others - just a tweak here and a tweak there. So to suggest the others are mediocre is disingenuous; each one has its own merits to people who prefer a particular element of old school style.

I would argue that LotFP's changes are more significant than most would think but it only comes out in actual play. In any case I have time for a fair few retroclones.

RPGPundit · December 31, 2012, 09:29:04 PM

Quote from: Simon W;613295I find this comment particularly bizarre. LoTFP (which you love) is little different to any of the others - just a tweak here and a tweak there. So to suggest the others are mediocre is disingenuous; each one has its own merits to people who prefer a particular element of old school style.

I disagree. I think that its an example of what should be done. I'm not suggesting radical changes; in fact, radical stuff is equally likely to be brilliant as it is to be mediocre.

Its just a fact that when you get a "boom", which the OSR very much is going through right now, there's going to be stuff that will be astounding and excellent, and a lot of stuff that will be so-so.

RPGPundit

crkrueger · December 31, 2012, 10:17:26 PM

They missed Conan D20, and they have Hackmaster as an offshoot of AD&D2, but Kenzer had the license for AD&D1, IIRC.

RPGPundit · January 01, 2013, 04:44:07 PM

Quote from: CRKrueger;613392They missed Conan D20, and they have Hackmaster as an offshoot of AD&D2, but Kenzer had the license for AD&D1, IIRC.

What would Conan D20 be a retroclone of?

And you're right about hackmaster.

RPGPundit

crkrueger · January 02, 2013, 06:40:12 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;613563What would Conan D20 be a retroclone of?

And you're right about hackmaster.

RPGPundit

The flow chart is just "D&D Family".

Vile Traveller · January 10, 2013, 09:57:39 PM

Okay, it's done - you can now add the BLUEHOLME Prentice Rules to the list!

http://dreamscapedesign.net/2013/01/10/blueholme-prentice-rules-go-live/