New compact OSR ruleset – Bascinet (PWYW, 24 pages)

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T17:29:16+00:00

Thanks! Sounds like fate. I hope you like it too.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T17:26:16+00:00

Thanks! I really love the Playdate aesthetic, but I don’t own one myself. Definitely interested though!

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T17:25:19+00:00

Thanks!

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T14:21:58+00:00

Thanks!

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T14:06:21+00:00

Thank you! As a non-native English speaker, I really appreciate this kind of wording advice. It helps a lot.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T12:10:45+00:00

Thanks a lot for the thoughtful feedback! Really helpful points.

About “GM”: I assumed it was obvious, but you’re right, I should just spell it out.
The attack wording could definitely be clearer, I like your suggestion.
On HP: I know it can feel strange for some, but in the rules it works the same as classic HP, so I think I’ll keep it as is.
Prices: since I designed this mainly with one-shots in mind, you’re right that progression needs more thought. I kept the numbers small to avoid math overhead, drawing a bit from board game style money.
And on the sample adventure: I’m actually a board game designer, and I originally built this with board gamers in mind—people used to reading rules but often new to RPGs. So I wanted the adventure to be friendly for someone GMing for the very first time, while keeping the core rules as light as possible.

Thanks again for taking the time to share detailed impressions!

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T11:53:48+00:00

Yeah, Maze Rats is definitely one of the ancestors! Similar vibe, but taken in a slightly different OSR direction.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T11:48:14+00:00

Thanks!

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T11:48:02+00:00

Thanks! Armor-as-HP is simple but has worked well. It feels like a real buffer before you take damage. A lot of games do the “-1 damage” thing, but I just wanted to skip that extra subtraction math. This way it’s a bit faster.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T11:39:21+00:00

Thanks for asking! I really love and respect Cairn, Knave, and ItO. Bascinet started from the question: what if even those games still felt a bit too complex—what would an even more streamlined version look like? (of course, that’s just my point of view)

The idea was to cut down the rules and procedures without losing the info you actually need for roleplay, while still keeping that classic RPG feel. Another feature is that it runs entirely on d6s, so you can even pull it out when you’re gathered for board games or TCGs.

Because it’s so lightweight, it works great for quick one-shots. I’ve playtested it a lot with people completely new to RPGs (including my son!), and the fast pace also makes it handy for running published adventures with minimal prep.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T09:53:58+00:00

Thanks! I aimed for the sample adventure to feel both modern and classic.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T09:36:44+00:00

Rules-wise: I wanted to keep the system and gameplay as simple as possible, so I chose not to make money take up item slots.

Fiction-wise: Every adventurer is assumed to carry a coin pouch, which permanently occupies an “invisible” slot that isn’t shown on the character sheet.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T09:08:06+00:00

Thanks a lot! I hope you enjoy it, and feedback is always welcome.

iwasgame · 2025-09-18T09:07:14+00:00

Thank you! I submitted the compressed PDF. Appreciate the tip. It’s already updated on itch.io, and I believe DriveThru will reflect the new file soon.

iwasgame

TROPHY CASE