Whitehack (Fourth Edition)
Whitehack is a rules‑lite, classless OSR fantasy game that marries old‑school tempo with modern clarity. Built to run decades of modules, it emphasizes fast rulings, resource‑aware exploration, and creative problem‑solving over build math—ideal for one‑shots or lean sandboxes that value speed and consequence.
Fantasy • Needs GM • 3/5 complexity • One-shot friendly • Low prep
Tone leans peril‑forward and practical: treasure, risk, and logistics shape routes and stakes. Resolution stays lean: roll a d20 against relevant attributes, with advantage/disadvantage style tweaks to keep arithmetic light.
Theme and Setting
Characters are classless. Identity emerges from attributes, equipment, and—distinctively—freeform groups (affiliations, backgrounds, vocations) you invoke to justify expertise, leverage allies, or frame fictional positioning.
How Play Feels
Inventory and encumbrance matter; combat is quick and dangerous by design. Magic is flavorful and concise rather than list‑heavy, encouraging table rulings and creative use over exhaustive subsystems.
What Makes It Distinct
You want the system to stay almost invisible at the table You want a much breezier tone than this game is built to support. You want the system to stay almost invisible at the table You want a much breezier tone than this game is built to support.
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.