Basic Fantasy RPG
Encyclopedia
Basic Fantasy Role Playing Game (BFRPG) is "(a)n old-school roleplaying game in the style of Moldvay and Cook", written by Chris Gonnerman and many other contributors. It is freely available in PDF and OpenDocument
formats, along with numerous supplements, from the game's website. BFRPG is stylistically similar to, and largely compatible with, the 1981 Dungeons & Dragons
Basic
and Expert
sets ("B/X D&D") edited by Tom Moldvay
and Zeb Cook respectively. Its differences from B/X D&D include d20
-style ascending armor class
and separation of character race and class
. Gonnerman first announced BFRPG on the Dragonsfoot.org website on January 20, 2006, when the rules were at Release 9. BFRPG Release 62, released on February 17, 2007, was marked as the First Edition and made available on the print-on-demand site Lulu. BFRPG Release 75, released on July 15, 2008, was marked as the Second Edition and is currently available from Lulu.
Gonnerman drew on his previously designed RPG, Project 74, as well as some descriptive text from the D&D 3.5 SRD
and Castles & Crusades
, for material to create Basic Fantasy. The game has been positively received. Criticism of BFRPG has focused on its deviations from B/X D&D, particularly in comparison to Labyrinth Lord
, another "retro-clone" RPG.
OpenDocument
The Open Document Format for Office Applications is an XML-based file format for representing electronic documents such as spreadsheets, charts, presentations and word processing documents....
formats, along with numerous supplements, from the game's website. BFRPG is stylistically similar to, and largely compatible with, the 1981 Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
Basic
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
and Expert
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...
sets ("B/X D&D") edited by Tom Moldvay
Tom Moldvay
Tom Moldvay was a game designer and author most notable for his work on early materials for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons .-Career:...
and Zeb Cook respectively. Its differences from B/X D&D include d20
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
-style ascending armor class
Armor class
In some role-playing games, armor class is a derived statistic that indicates how difficult it is to land a successful blow on a character with an attack...
and separation of character race and class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
. Gonnerman first announced BFRPG on the Dragonsfoot.org website on January 20, 2006, when the rules were at Release 9. BFRPG Release 62, released on February 17, 2007, was marked as the First Edition and made available on the print-on-demand site Lulu. BFRPG Release 75, released on July 15, 2008, was marked as the Second Edition and is currently available from Lulu.
Gonnerman drew on his previously designed RPG, Project 74, as well as some descriptive text from the D&D 3.5 SRD
System Reference Document
The System Reference Document, or SRD, is a set of reference role playing game mechanics licensed under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast and based upon their Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. The SRD forms the basis of WotC's various d20 System role-playing games, including the...
and Castles & Crusades
Castles & Crusades
Castles & Crusades is a role-playing game published by Troll Lord Games in 2004. It was conceived as a reimagining of classic Dungeons & Dragons using streamlined mechanics from third edition Dungeons & Dragons. The game uses many of the d20 System mechanics, but eliminates skills and feats and...
, for material to create Basic Fantasy. The game has been positively received. Criticism of BFRPG has focused on its deviations from B/X D&D, particularly in comparison to Labyrinth Lord
Labyrinth Lord
Labyrinth Lord is a fantasy role-playing game written and edited by Daniel Proctor and published by Goblinoid Games. It emulates the rules and feel of classic era Dungeons & Dragons using the Open Game License from Wizards of the Coast...
, another "retro-clone" RPG.