RPGsecrets

Old-School Essentials

Old-School Essentials is classic B/X Dungeons & Dragons, rebuilt for the table: the same beloved 1981 rules, laid out so cleanly you can actually *find the thing you need* mid-game. It's the OSR community's go-to for elegant, no-friction old-school play — every procedure on its own tidy page.

Two lines share one core: OSE Classic Fantasy (pure B/X) and OSE Advanced Fantasy (which adds AD&D-style classes, races, and spells).

Where to get it

The rules are open; the presentation is the product:

The SRD is free and open. OSE publishes its rules as an open SRD you can reference and build tools on — like this one. The beautifully typeset books are the paid product; the rules themselves are open.

Classic or Advanced?

Both run on the same engine, so you can start Classic and grow into Advanced.

Roll some tables

OSE runs on its tables — encounters, treasure, dungeon dressing. Roll on OSE's tables (and hundreds more) for free, no account needed, at the RPGsecrets tables app.

🎲 Roll a Old-School Essentials table

Explore all 62 Old-School Essentials tables in the tables app →

Build a character

We support OSE Classic and Advanced — roll abilities, pick a class (or a race and a class), buy gear, and keep a sheet that handles the bookkeeping, ready for play.

Build a character →

Licensing

Old-School Essentials is published under the Open Game License v1.0a. The Open Game Content surfaced here (the tables above) is provided under that license; the full Section 15 copyright notice is reproduced below.

Open Game License (OGL 1.0a) — copyright notice
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a — Section 15: COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The following copyright notice is reproduced in full as required by the Open Game License v1.0a, Section 15, for the Open Game Content used in the Old-School Essentials random tables and generators offered on RPG Secrets. Source: Old-School Essentials Advanced Fantasy: Player's Tome © 2020 Gavin Norman (Necrotic Gnome).

Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

System Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan, Stan!, Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Wiker.

Castles & Crusades: Players Handbook, Copyright 2004, Troll Lord Games; Authors Davis Chenault and Mac Golden.

Cave Cricket from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Crab, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Fly, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Golem, Wood from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors Scott Greene and Patrick Lawinger.

Kamadan from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Nick Louth.

Rot Grub from the Tome of Horrors, Copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Author Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Labyrinth Lord™ Copyright 2007-2009, Daniel Proctor. Author Daniel Proctor.

Darwin's World Copyright 2002, RPGObjects; Authors Dominic Covey and Chris Davis.

Mutant Future™ Copyright 2008, Daniel Proctor and Ryan Denison. Authors Daniel Proctor and Ryan Denison.

Aerial Servant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Axe Beak from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Beetle, Giant Boring from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Beetle, Giant Rhinoceros from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Brownie from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Crayfish, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Demon, Juiblex "The Faceless Lord" (Demon Lord) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Demon: Orcus (Demon Prince of Undead) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Devil: Amon (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Devil: Bael (Duke of Hell) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Devil: Geryon (Arch-Devil) from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Ear Seeker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Erica Balsley, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Eel, Electric from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene.

Eye of the Deep from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Floating Eye from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Frog, Monstrous from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Frog, Monstrous Killer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Gas Spore from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Gorbel from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Andrew Key.

Groaning Spirit from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Hippocampus from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Erica Balsley, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Jackalwere from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Leprechaun from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Lurker Above from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Piercer from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Slithering Tracker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Slug, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Strangle Weed from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Tick, Giant from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Trapper from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Turtle, Giant Snapping from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Green, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Wind Walker from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax,

Yeti from the Tome of Horrors, copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.

Advanced Edition Companion, Copyright 2009-2010, Daniel Proctor. Author Daniel Proctor.

B/X Essentials: Core Rules © 2017 Gavin Norman. Author Gavin Norman.

B/X Essentials: Classes and Equipment © 2017 Gavin Norman. Author Gavin Norman.

B/X Essentials: Cleric and Magic-User Spells © 2017 Gavin Norman. Author Gavin Norman.

B/X Essentials: Monsters © 2017 Gavin Norman. Author Gavin Norman.

B/X Essentials: Adventures and Treasures © 2018 Gavin Norman. Author Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy: Genre Rules © 2018 Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy: Cleric and Magic-User Spells © 2018 Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy: Monsters © 2018 Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy: Treasures © 2018 Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy: Rules Tome © 2018 Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Advanced Fantasy: Druid and Illusionist Spells © 2018 Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Advanced Fantasy: Genre Rules © 2018 Gavin Norman.

Old-School Essentials Advanced Fantasy: Player's Tome © 2020 Gavin Norman.

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