Maze Rats Fantasy; Old-School Renaissance (OSR); Classless; Exploration-Driven; Low Prep; Quick-Play; Rules Lite
At‑a‑glance: OSR lineage • 2d6 tests • 3–5 + Referee • Near‑zero prep • Rules‑lite • 1–2h sessions
Theme and Setting
Maze Rats targets classic fantasy adventures—ruins, dungeons, and perilous wilderness—without binding you to a canon world. Its tone is pulp‑leaning old‑school: fast starts, meaningful risks, and treasure‑driven expeditions where caution and ingenuity matter more than character build depth.
Core Mechanics and Rules
Resolution centers on simple 2d6 tests with quick outcomes that keep play moving. Characters are effectively classless, sketched in minutes, and level through lean improvements that shape focus (fighting, thievery, wizardry) without heavy subsystems. Magic is intentionally chaotic: nightly, randomly‑generated spells invite creative problem‑solving over rote lists. Combat is lethal and brief by design; logistics and positioning matter.
What Makes It Unique
The star is its generator toolkit: dense, evocative tables for spells, monsters, NPCs, dungeons, cities, and wilderness deliver instant prompts that double as prep. This procedural abundance lets you run compelling sessions with almost no advance work. The text is concise and referee‑friendly, channeling “rulings over rules” while still giving enough structure to stay consistent.
Target Audience and Player Experience
Perfect for groups that want old‑school danger and discovery without heavy crunch. New players onboard quickly; veterans get a compact chassis that rewards planning, clever play, and resource awareness. Expect fast turns, swingy stakes, and sessions that emphasize exploration, problem‑solving, and emergent story over optimization.
