Errant

At-a-glance: Rules-light OSR • Procedure-heavy • Roll high under mechanic • Extensive downtime procedures • Compatible with Knave/Into the Odd/The Black Hack

Theme and Setting

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. 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.

Core Mechanics and Rules

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. 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. Armour requires active choice to use, making defense a decision rather than a passive statistic.

What Makes It Unique

Errant's genius lies in its procedural density within a rules-light framework. While many OSR games pride themselves on minimalism, Errant asks: what if we kept the rules simple but made the procedures comprehensive? The result is a game that handles the question of what to do between adventures with mechanical rigor—running businesses, navigating inflation in different settlement sizes, pursuing legal action. It is old-school sensibility filtered through modern design precision, with every rule tested through five years of live play.

Target Audience and Player Experience

Perfect for GMs who want mechanical support without rules bloat. The procedures provide guardrails for improvisation without constraining creativity. Players who enjoy emergent storytelling through system interaction will find rich territory—your character's economic activities, social connections, and long-term projects all have mechanical weight. The free no-art version makes it accessible to try, while the full version's beautiful production and comprehensive content rewards investment. Ideal for groups transitioning from 5e to OSR, as conversion guidance is provided.