Swords and Wizardry is the system I’ve used to run some of my favorite campaigns. I really enjoy not having a pile of rules to double-check before every session. Converting material from other D20 products, like spells, adventures, and magic items, is also pretty easy.
Just found out about this game….I’ve been playing D&D since the 80’s. I’m a huge fan of 1st and 5th edition versions…..but this game is fantastic! Love that it is all contained in one book and is a nod toward old school gaming.
S&W is my favorite system. I've looking for the best system for years. Elements of the game that are great (and so simple) : one number for saves (instead of the 6 traditional ones : poison, wands, spell, breath weapon..), the HD of the monster is the attack bonus (up to 15), and you get 9 levels of spells for wizards, and the paladin, druid, ranger, assassin & monk classes in the core book. Adapting stuff from other versions of D&D is so easy, I made some hombrew PC races lie gnome, half-orc, dragonborn, tiefling, dromite and made a ton of monster stats for miniatures I have (3E D&D, 4E D&D, PF and 5E) and of course spells (including 0 Level cantrips). I also use Professor DM's (Dungeoncraft) homebrew rules (fear save, insanity points, ethos points and 2d20s for casting a spell)
Its so cool seeing you in the wild like this. I love your channel! I've used a lot of your videos to convince people into trying OSR gaming and now many of them won't go back to modern gaming
I'm pretty sure S&W is based on ODnD, and more cleaned up, but I ask: why use what I assume is basically worse B/X? What's the real difference between the two?
It's a cleaned up OD&D with the content from various supplements depending on the version. Swords & Wizardry Complete is more like a sleek proto-AD&D than B/X. It doesn't have race-as-class, has a streamlined Saving Throw Mechanic, etc. I'm running a B/X campaign, and I'm really enjoying it. However, the various incarnations of S&W allow just the right shading of detail for any OSR campaign you'd like short of an AD&D level of detail. If I had to pick only one, I'd pick S&W. That being said, they're similar in the same way all TSR D&D games are similar. Conversion between the two is very easy.
Life is not a game, my friend...Apollyon: The Prince of Darkness, never play no games. He sends His Demons of delusion, to possess mind and soul, and control your every move...You"ll contort and twist from dakened dreams...My young white brother: I pray Christ will save you from this fate....Ask him....He's there... He loves you.
A big plus is that you can use almost any OSR supplement with it.
Also, games like S&W are incredibly modular, they are basically the Legos of gaming.
Don't have this system but I'll check it out.
Swords and Wizardry is the system I’ve used to run some of my favorite campaigns. I really enjoy not having a pile of rules to double-check before every session. Converting material from other D20 products, like spells, adventures, and magic items, is also pretty easy.
Its the best take on old school rules. and really it takes just eye balling to convert old DnD or 5th to Swords and Wizardry.
Not a 5e video, so refreshing. Good job Ben here's a Scooby Snack!
And it includes rules for strongholds, sieges, and mass combat which are in my opinion important for role playing at higher levels.
Just found out about this game….I’ve been playing D&D since the 80’s. I’m a huge fan of 1st and 5th edition versions…..but this game is fantastic! Love that it is all contained in one book and is a nod toward old school gaming.
Was lucky enough to playtest this game with Matt Finch, the author and it is super fun!!!
I was just thinking about running S&W again after a long (and other RPG-filled hiatus). Everything he says, I can confirm. Thanks for the boost! :D
It'll never be not funny to me that on the druid page it says humans can only be druids but the art depicts an elven druid. Would play tho
Thanks for the video! I really enjoyed it!
S&W is my favorite system. I've looking for the best system for years. Elements of the game that are great (and so simple) : one number for saves (instead of the 6 traditional ones : poison, wands, spell, breath weapon..), the HD of the monster is the attack bonus (up to 15), and you get 9 levels of spells for wizards, and the paladin, druid, ranger, assassin & monk classes in the core book. Adapting stuff from other versions of D&D is so easy, I made some hombrew PC races lie gnome, half-orc, dragonborn, tiefling, dromite and made a ton of monster stats for miniatures I have (3E D&D, 4E D&D, PF and 5E) and of course spells (including 0 Level cantrips). I also use Professor DM's (Dungeoncraft) homebrew rules (fear save, insanity points, ethos points and 2d20s for casting a spell)
Excellent video, Ben!
Very interesting video, thank you.
Its so cool seeing you in the wild like this.
I love your channel!
I've used a lot of your videos to convince people into trying OSR gaming and now many of them won't go back to modern gaming
Great Video!
What happened to the hardback book, the link no longer works. Where can I find the Orcus artwork that is behind you, is it in one of the S&W books?
I have your Core-Rules as POD, sadly Complete is not available as POD and it is sold out on your site.
Reason #6 - I wrote a lot of one-page adventures for it ;)
Nice! Link to some of those?
is this a new edition / system ? if so how long has it been out?
I'm pretty sure S&W is based on ODnD, and more cleaned up, but I ask: why use what I assume is basically worse B/X? What's the real difference between the two?
It's a cleaned up OD&D with the content from various supplements depending on the version. Swords & Wizardry Complete is more like a sleek proto-AD&D than B/X. It doesn't have race-as-class, has a streamlined Saving Throw Mechanic, etc. I'm running a B/X campaign, and I'm really enjoying it. However, the various incarnations of S&W allow just the right shading of detail for any OSR campaign you'd like short of an AD&D level of detail. If I had to pick only one, I'd pick S&W. That being said, they're similar in the same way all TSR D&D games are similar. Conversion between the two is very easy.
Reason #6: not woke like that pos 5e.
Life is not a game, my friend...Apollyon: The Prince of Darkness, never play no games. He sends His Demons of delusion, to possess mind and soul, and control your every move...You"ll
contort and twist from dakened dreams...My young white brother: I pray Christ will save you from this fate....Ask him....He's there... He
loves you.
Umm.... what? You sound confused and possessed by a demon!
Oh no, not again satanic panic... we had this in the 80s. Know what? We even played D&D in the early 90s in our churchs rooms...