Retro-Clone
Basic Fantasy is one of the main games mentioned when someone brings up the OSR (Old School Renaissance). In tabletop gaming, OSR refers mostly to fantasy role-playing games that have eschewed most contemporary developments in fantasy games, such as Dungeons & Dragons, in favor of slightly modified play styles and rule sets from older editions of the game. Designed by Chris Gonnerman in the early 2000s, Basic Fantasy is one of the headliners of the OSR. Everything needed to run the game is in a single, 200-page book or PDF. The rules themselves are written in a straightforward manner and are understandable to young or new players.
Shines Like the Real Thing
Ease of accessibility is one of Basic Fantasy’s best features. The rules are all simplified, and pertinent information for something like a character class is explained in just a few paragraphs. The various charts and graphs are all cleanly laid out and easy to read. There is nothing confusing about the presentation, and for anyone who is just going to be a player, nearly all relevant information will be found in the first 40 pages. Character creation takes little time and can be written on one sheet of paper. The different abilities of each character class are clearly explained, so players know from the jump what differentiates a fighter from a thief from a cleric.
The other major accessibility feature of Basic Fantasy Role-Playing is its price. The game is free on their website. Physical copies can be purchased at cost, but the creator wants to put this game in people’s hands. Gonnerman also believes TTRPGs are a creative endeavor, so the game is open in Creative Commons for anyone to use with proper attribution. Players and Game Masters are expected to modify and homebrew rules in order to create their own best game possible since the goal is for the group to have a dangerous but fun adventure. Because the PDF is modifiable the core rules can be changed to best fit whatever the GM and players think is the best expression of the rules. Additionally, the website also has dozens of guides, expansions, and adventure modules also for free. There is almost no barrier to entry as far as money is concerned.
Get Basic Fantasy for free by clicking here.
Where's the Crunch?
Simplified does not mean streamlined. Most contemporary TTRPGs, and even a lot of retro-clones, go out of their way to use a central dice mechanic, such as using a d20 as the principle arbiter of randomness. Basic Fantasy does not concede this point at all, and it lacks a lot of the quality of life features that have been implemented by games for decades. There are no skills. Different character classes require different amounts of experience to level up. Character class balance is not well optimized. Early levels as a magic-user or cleric are not likely to be enjoyable or easy to survive. Different dice will be required for different checks. Saving throws are the same mess they were in early editions of D&D. About the only allowance Basic Fantasy makes to developments in fantasy table-top gaming since that start of the 21st century is that is has, thankfully, abandoned the old armor class and THAC0 combat rules in favor of ascending armor class.
For some players, this system will not present enough inherent variety or crunchy granularity. For instance, there isn’t much to differentiate one thief from another. They can be role-played differently, but that can be done in any system. The more a player wants to individualize their character, the more the core rules will have to be altered. While making changes to the rules is encouraged, it’s not hard to imagine a Ship of Theseus paradox occurring before too long, or the players wondering if there isn’t another game that might cater to their particular role-playing desires.
Renaissance Man
Whatever its relatively minor shortcoming, Basic Fantasy RPG is an excellent entry point for anyone interested in TTRPGs. The clarity and openness of the core rules make it easy to get into the game. Also, it cannot be stressed enough how the price point of zero makes this game an incredible value, especially in an industry where a lot of the more famous games can also be incredibly expensive. Free access to the rules and much of the attendant material are reasons enough to give the game a go.
© 2023 Seth Tomko