OSRIC Players Guide, yummy free download

They don't make them like this any more
... no wait ...
they make them exactly like this!

Very quick post.  I've got other longer posts lined up about all sorts of nonsense but I really feel compelled tonight to mention this lovely little gem.

This is partly because I've just seen this post by Mr.Brannan on the Other Side and partly because I try to pollute the Lost and the Damned forum with links to old school style retro RPG clones, and so whilst I had the links in the clipboard I thought I should drop them on here.

Quite a few months back I bought a shiny hardback copy OSRIC (2.2) on Lulu because I really like the idea of games in single volumes.  Legalese aside, for anyone liking the older games and hasn't heard of the "Old School Renaissance"  it's Advanced D&D 1st edition core rules all in a one place -and no psionics (*big grin*  I don't mind the concept now, but back then "psionics" was what magic was called in Traveller, and since D&D already had magic, and so on and so forth ... so it's one of the things which stands out to me, along with non-French standardised weapon names which is a good move for non-European Fantasy-neutral settings - if that makes sense)

I haven't looked at the more recently published version of OSRIC yet (is it by Brave Halfling?) but I still heartily recommend the  OSRIC 2.2 rules on Lulu

As a player or reader, this is as close as you can get to AD&D 1st edition without actually buying all the three main books on Ebay.  It's better organised too (not wishing to deflect modern players from the personality of the old PH and DMG).  Yes, there are a few very minor differences, for practical and perhaps legal reasons, between AD&D and OSRIC which mean that the different rulesets can conflict when used together, but it's new, it's shiny, it's like an ex-girlfriend with a nip-n-tick.

What?  You actually play, using the OSRIC rules?  (Not like me, who just drools on it - the hard back shiny cover is fairly wipe-down)  Perhaps you're a DM and you now have a copy of OSRIC in PDF or a hard bound copy, but you don't want your players to have full access to the monster stats at the gaming table?  Rather than a large compendium with all the rules, what is required is a Player-Character's rulebook, or "handbook", nay a "Player's Guide"?

Presenting ....

OSRIC Player's Guide -Free download on DriveThru

It's printer friendly (black and white throughout).  There's quite a few in-jokes in the illustrations for the discerning but goofy player and collector.  The combination of line art and tables makes me nostalgic for the old rules and yet thrilled that OSRIC exists in a new and confusing world.

But stop reading this!  You have the link, now follow it and download this prize!

Ace. :)


(Man, I need to learn to sleep at night)

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EDIT (15/10/2011)
In reference to the comments below this post, check out the following:

Click on image to go to the
Kindle copy on Amazon

<-- Kindle edition of "The New Death and others"

For other formats click here.