Tag Archives: Microlite81

A Microlite7x/81 Games Patreon Account?

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A couple of my friends have suggested (very strongly suggested in one case) that I set up a Patreon account for my ongoing Microlite7x/81/etc. game design work instead of ongoing donation drives. After looking into Patreon, I am willing to consider giving this a try. I would release 3-5 updates to the games I’m designing each month (that’s 3-5 updates total each month, not 3-5 updates of each game I’m working on) and Patreons would be charged every release I make. Patreons can set a maximum donation limit each month, of course. (These releases would also be available to people … Continue reading →

Initiative, Healing, and Fairness in Old School D&D

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I received a complaint about group initiative in my games and in old school style games in general, I suppose. The complaint when like this: when you roll initiative every round it’s possible the monsters will get two rounds of attacks in a row before the PCs can take a turn. This is unfair because it means the PCs cannot heal before the monsters get to attack again. I blinked several times as I read this comment as it was the first time I can ever remember hearing something like this. In combat healing in old school games has always … Continue reading →

Microlite75 2.0 Extended Draft 1 Available for Donor Download

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The first draft of Microlite75 2.0 Extended is now available for download in the Donor area of Microlite20 Download Library. Microlite75 2.0 Extended Draft 1 is not quite as far along as I would like thanks to a lot of real life stuff in the last week (a major fire at a neighbor’s house on Christmas day, tornadoes in the area affecting some of my wife’s animal rescue friends, one unscheduled doctor visit for my wife just to get a prescription renewed but it still took a morning, etc.). However, it’s is far enough along for donors to see where … Continue reading →

Microlite81 Rules Now Available in a Free Tablet-Friendly PDF

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The Microlite81 Tablet-Digest Edition has been released for free download. This should have happened about a week ago, but I forgot to upload it in all the preparations for Christmas. For those who do not know, Microlite81 emulates the B/X version of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game. The Microlite81 rules are based on the two boxed sets (Basic and Expert) published in 1981, often referred to as B/X. The rules are not intended to be a clone of the B/X rules, but rather a conversion of them to a rules-lite D20-based system that encourages old-school play without strictly … Continue reading →

Microlite75 2.0 Standard Draft 1 (and Basic Draft 2) Available for Donor Download

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The first draft of Microlite75 2.0 Standard is now available for download in the Donor area of Microlite20 Download Library. As is the second draft of Microlite75 2.0 Basic. Microlite75 2.0 Standard is a version of Microlite74 Standard with a more standard 0e advancement and experience system. Standard adds the thief, illusionist, druid, assassin, ranger, and paladin classes. There are a few other changes such as spellcasters must memorize their spells, new dungeon and wilderness guidelines, stronghold construction rules, etc. This is a draft, but it is fairly complete — just not proofread. The second draft of Microlite75 Basic. It … Continue reading →

Microlite75 2.0 Basic Draft 1 Available for Donor Download

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The first draft of Microlite75 2.0 Basic is now available for download in the Donor area of Microlite20 Download Library. While this is a first draft, the game is really ready to go (except for proofreading, layout, and a final decision on how I am going to handle saving throws). The Microlite20-based level advancement and experience systems of Microlite74 have been replaced with systems much more similar to those of 0e (similar to how Microlite81 handled things). Charisma has been added as a fourth stat — it is really too important to old school gaming to leave out. Morale Ratings … Continue reading →

Why Don’t You List Monster Challenge Ratings in your Microlite7X/81 Games?

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I was recently asked why I don’t include “Challenge Ratings” (CRs) for monsters in my old school Microlite games as that would allow people who want to design set piece encounters for their games to do so much more easily. The answer is actually fairly simple. I neither have the time nor the interest to do so. Coming up with actually useful CRs for organically designed monsters requires lots of time-consuming testing — a lot of combats played out and carefully recorded to see just how difficult a challenge each monster actually presents and how much this varies with how … Continue reading →

Plans For (Free) Microlite75 2.0 Games

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You are probably asking what is Microlite75 2.0? The first version of Microlite75 was published during the same period as Microlite74 2.0 and was Microlite74 plus my house rules from the 0e era (late 1970s). The “75” in the name came from 1975 — the year I first played D&D. When it came time to do a third edition of Microlite74, my 0e era house rules were incorporated in the Expanded version of Microlite74 3.0 and Microlite75 became a all-but-forgotten artifact of the Microlite74 2.0 era. Next you are probably wondering why I am bringing Microlite75 back? Last summer, I … Continue reading →

Microlite81 Advanced is Now Available for Free Download (Free Old School RPG)

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I’m happy to announce that final “silver” version of Microlite81 Advanced 1.0 is finished at last and is now available for free download. I’m sorry to say that I could not limit the page count to my goal of 192 pages (64 x 3) — at least not and have any reasonable amount of art. However, at 206 pages, it’s still not a huge game. This file size is only 14.2 megs. This is several megs less than the 128 page Microlite81 Complete, but there is not nearly as much art as in Microlite81 Complete. In case you haven’t read … Continue reading →

Microlite81 Advanced Now in Layout. Aiming for a Thanksgiving Release

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The text of Microlite81 Advanced is complete and the project is being laid out. If all goes well, I will be releasing the final “silver” version of Microlite81 Advanced next week, in time for (US) Thanksgiving. The only thing that might delay it would be more medical issues with my wife. Her MS-related balance issues caused a bad fall about a week ago. She looks like she lost a boxing match and was lucky she did not fracture her skull or break an arm. I added a lot of new material to Microlite81 Advanced since the last draft was released … Continue reading →