JeffB
Legend
The best values for OSR rules sets in print are:
Whitebox:FMAG
Basic Fantasy RPG
Iron Falcon
These are all available for free in PDF, and you can have your local print shop print them if it's cheaper.
For actual rule books:
POD of the Rules Cyclopedia
AD&D and Second Edition AD&D corebooks are readily available and pretty inexpensive- in addition, WOTC reprinted the books a few years back.
Moldvay Basic/Cook-Marsh Expert is probably the best presentation of the game ever. Clear, concise*
* For me it is THE best presentation of the game ever.
If you are looking for "old school style/sensibility", but with a unified/modern system that is on the fly conversion compatible with all TSR versions of the game as well as 3.0 , is a houserulers god-send, or works great if compatibility and houseruling are not your thing- Castles & Crusades is excellent. Unfortunately you just missed all the massive holiday sales where you could get everything for nearly half price. That said- you only need the PHB and Monsters & Treasures (and re if you have a 3.x monster book- you can use those with on the fly conversion and don't need M&T)
C&C free quick start (and Amazing Adventures, too)
Whitebox:FMAG
Basic Fantasy RPG
Iron Falcon
These are all available for free in PDF, and you can have your local print shop print them if it's cheaper.
For actual rule books:
POD of the Rules Cyclopedia
AD&D and Second Edition AD&D corebooks are readily available and pretty inexpensive- in addition, WOTC reprinted the books a few years back.
Moldvay Basic/Cook-Marsh Expert is probably the best presentation of the game ever. Clear, concise*
* For me it is THE best presentation of the game ever.
If you are looking for "old school style/sensibility", but with a unified/modern system that is on the fly conversion compatible with all TSR versions of the game as well as 3.0 , is a houserulers god-send, or works great if compatibility and houseruling are not your thing- Castles & Crusades is excellent. Unfortunately you just missed all the massive holiday sales where you could get everything for nearly half price. That said- you only need the PHB and Monsters & Treasures (and re if you have a 3.x monster book- you can use those with on the fly conversion and don't need M&T)
C&C free quick start (and Amazing Adventures, too)
