Quote from: Luca;1044061A) The question in the OP is "which retroclone is the closest to BECMI", so I answered it

He also asked if he should just use the Cyclopedia, which makes a lot more sense (to me).

RE: Immortals, the original gold set was...okay. It's not that great of a game, honestly. The Wrath of the Immortals set is a lot better, mostly due to the explanations, and provides the best framework you could ask for if you want to run a game in Mystara. All the clerical powers differentiate each cleric enough to make them mechanically dissimilar and unique.

Honestly, Mystara is probably the best, most complete, and sane campaign setting ever produced for D&D. They really tried to have everything make sense, yet be magical and fun. The fact they were able to shoehorn in every single sort of fantasy trope you could think of into one setting, and still have it be consistent, is a testimony to the writers. The Cyclopedia is written in a way to immediately take advantage of all the underlying Mystara assumptions, so if you have any desire to use that as your game world, the Cyclopedia is certainly the way to roll.

There are Immortal rules in RC, it may not be THE immortal rules, but I find them clearer and easier to use than the Wrath version.

The RC is much prettier than Dark Dungeons. Seriously, if I was 12 the woodcut clip art of DD just wouldn't grab me at all, whereas the RC has "real D&D art" and beautiful color maps. It's an inspiring artifact.

When I run old school D&D, I use the RC and the Labyrinth Lord Advanced Edition companion so I can have races, classes AND racial classes. However, using the RC on it's own is a great way to go. Certainly Dark Dungeons may be better organized, but the RC isn't exactly a big book. Though, get Dark Dungeons too because it's free. Get all the free stuff. Use what you like.

First off, yes, the obvious choice would be just use the Rules Cyclopedia, which is now available to purchase again.

Quote from: estar;1043952Do you care about the level 14th to 30th level stuff?

If not then Labyrinth Lord by Goblinoid Games or Basic Fantasy is your ticket. Otherwise use the Rules Cyclopedia. Also it is even back in print. As for presentation, both the above games are better but the Rule Cyclopedia is perfectly servicable. So I would just download the LL or Basic Fantasy, if you like them go with them, otherwise stick with the RC.

Did LL not make some kind of expansion for higher levels? Or did I dream that?

Quote from: RPGPundit;1044630Did LL not make some kind of expansion for higher levels? Or did I dream that?

I think you dreamed it. But LL goes to 20 not 14.

There is a "BX Companion" OSR publication for BX levels above 14, might be what you're thinking of.

I think if I had it to do over I'd run Mystara using Swords & Wizardry, just for the ascending AC (I ran BECM but with ascending AC) and for the single saving throw. Not sure why the old saving throw tables became such a hassle to use running BECM for a few years recently (ended in 2016 at ca 18th level), but it really slowed the game down for me and was a real pain; maybe because I don't use a DM's screen - I could never find the right piece of paper.

I guess that is what I was thinking of.

Quote from: S'mon;1044634I think if I had it to do over I'd run Mystara using Swords & Wizardry, just for the ascending AC (I ran BECM but with ascending AC) and for the single saving throw.

I would say that sounds very much whatI would be inlcined to do if I was using a published Campaign and a gane system based on OSR D&D,

I just wouldn't call it Mystara! The Known World was generic but better, and I don't know why exactly.

I also think that the GAZ series were always straining under the BECMI yoke.

Hence the plethora of classes with demi-humans.

An alternative to the above that I have contemplated  is Fantastic Heroes and Witchery (also single saving throw) with the GAZ series.