Chaoses Limb: How is it different from Holmes Basic?

Chaoses Limb

Chaoses Limb is an OSR retro-clone based on the Holmes Basic Dungeons and Dragons version (~0e).

Changes made to the original Holmes Edition:

Changes to make it ‘more’ OSR:

• Race as Class: One of the attributes of 0e is that demihumans have predefined races with the elf being the prime example, combining both fighter and magic user.  I have extended that concept to dwarfs and halflings making halflings multi-class fighter and thief and dwarf multi-class fighter and cleric. The choice for halfling makes sense given his Hobbit origins and Bilbo Baggins the Burglar.  For the dwarf, other than the fact there weren’t many unique combinations left, having some spell use for the dwarf felt like it hearkened back to the dwarfs of myths and fairy tales that predated Tolkien.

• Zero to Hero: OSR characters start as weak unremarkable characters and only become heroes after many challenges and obstacles have been overcome.  I modified the level progression tables to make that initial ramp up steeper and level out over higher levels rather than an arithmetic progression.

• Character agency more important than abilities: In OSR games what a player says their character does has greater impact on results than what is written on the character sheet.  I’ve removed some of the greater bonuses for intelligence and constitution above 15 and made everything +1 for 13 or greater and -1 for below 9.

• In line with agency more important than abilities I’ve borrowed and modified the ‘Die of Fate’
  from World of Dungeons. Anytime you want to introduce random chance roll a six sided die. Add one if the ability governing it is 13 or greater and -1 if it’s less than 9. A higher roll is better.

Changes to streamline it (make it ‘more’ Basic):

• Saving throws have been simplified to two basic types: lethal and non-lethal.

Changes to make it more fun:

• Rolling low for some things (breaking down doors) and high for others` is not only inconsistent (a “beautiful” inconsistency is one of 0e’s charms after all) but it also seems anticlimactic.  I try to reorient so more high rolls are good. With the exception of thief skills. 

For more details please have a look at relevant public posts at my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redram