At‑a‑glance: OSR/NSR lineage • d20 tests & saves • 3–5 + GM • Low prep • Rules‑lite • 2–3h sessions
Gritty, fairy‑tale‑tinged fantasy in the old‑school vein. Adventures focus on perilous delves, treasure, and hard choices over build math.
Simple d20 checks and saving throws power fast turns. Classless advancement keeps characters light and flexible. Magic is flavorful and risky, with an infamous random spell table that shapes play.
Ultra‑concise procedures encourage rulings over rules while still giving clear guidance. The Pearlescent Edition expands bestiary, gear, and options without losing speed.
Great for groups who want OSR feel with near‑zero prep. Expect quick adjudication, meaningful risk, and lethal stakes—perfect for one‑shots or drop‑in campaigns.
Consensus: Bastards. is a fast, punchy OSR-style game—easy to learn, quick to run. Praise centers on its classless feel, dangerous dungeons, and evocative spell table; common caveats note gaps left to rulings and high lethality.
Compare Bastards. (Pearlescent Edition) with other great ttrpg games.
Shares classless OSR feel and quick, lethal expeditions; Bastards. sits even leaner with riskier magic.
Both focus on lightweight, classless play; Bastards. pushes grittier dungeons and swingier spell chaos.
Cairn’s Into‑the‑Odd roots emphasize exploration; Bastards. runs sharper and deadlier with even less prep.
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