Errant
Errant is a rules-light, procedure-heavy OSR fantasy RPG by Ava Islam. Featuring a roll high under core mechanic, it provides extensive procedures for downtime activities, chases, commerce, and more. Freely compatible with Knave, Into the Odd, and The Black Hack, with conversion guides for 5e included.
Fantasy • Needs GM • 3/5 complexity • Low prep
Errant casts players as failures and outcasts —those with no home, no job, no prospects, but a particular set of skills that make respectable folks avoid them. Beyond civilization lies danger: monsters, magic, and ancient ruins pregnant with treasure.
Theme and Setting
Death is likely, but what did you have to live for anyway? This is classic fantasy adventure viewed through a lens of desperation and dark opportunity, where desperate people make dangerous choices in pursuit of something better.
How Play Feels
The core mechanic is elegantly simple: roll a d20 and try to get a result between your target numbers (roll high under or blackjack style). Character creation is quick, with minimal math required.
What Makes It Distinct
Where Errant distinguishes itself is its extensive procedures —structured frameworks for handling specific situations like chases, commerce, establishing businesses, even unusual legal situations. These are not vague guidelines but concrete mechanical structures that help navigate complex scenarios fairly.
Where It May Not Fit
You want the system to stay almost invisible at the table You want a much breezier tone than this game is built to support.
What this game is about
A strong fit for groups that want fantasy adventure with a clear play identity, with classless helping define the experience.
Structured data and an explicit decision profile JSON document are available for remote agents.