Castles & Crusades

Castles & Crusades is a game of such high quality that it stands out even among its peers. I am confident in recommending it as a replacement for D&D 3.0, 3.5, and Pathfinder 1e. While it does evoke a sense of nostalgia, it can perfectly replicate the feeling of an AD&D-style experience and is 100% compatible with old-school modules. It manages to feel both modern and old-school at the same time, providing a comfortable transition for players.

One of the key aspects that sets Castles & Crusades apart is its modern mechanics. Unlike traditional games, ability scores drive all skill rolls, ability checks, saving throws, and other die rolls in the game, with the exception of AC and combat. These modern, clean, and streamlined mechanics not only make for a unique gameplay experience, but also an engaging one that will keep you coming back for more.

I have this game stored since it tends to kill every other game it competes with, especially 5E and Pathfinder 1e. I also like to keep old-school games (DCC, OSE, Shadowdark, and the Without Number) apart from it since it will take attention from those, too, if you put them in the same genre. GURPS is so different it doesn't compete with anything.

So, I like to put this in the "modern dungeon" genre and see it as a 5E and Pathfinder (1e and 2E) replacement rather than an old-school game. Yes, this plays like an old-school game. Still, the characters feel more pulp and heroic than old-school characters due to the universal resolution mechanics (and how to level gets tied into them, making higher-level characters vastly more heroic).

If you want to replace your "modern dungeon" game, C&C has my highest recommendation. Old-school games like this blog covers tend to enjoy their "Appendix N quirkiness" and celebrate the genre's strange, mysterious, infinite, and spooky parts.

Shadowdark is like a horror game, where all the monsters can see in the dark, and the darkness itself is like this evil force that needs to be driven back from civilization.

DCC celebrates the "strange and weird tales" part of the genre with overly epic heroes, dangerous magic, and random instant death.

OSE is a tribute to the original game, perfectly emulating the experience of scrounging the last copper piece in your parent's basement in 1980.

The Without Number games are the best sandbox games ever created, kings of the Hex Crawl.

One thing "old school gonzo games" have in common is fetishizing and celebrating a narrow part of the hobby and experience, which all these games do. If you are a fan of magic corrupting the caster, then DCC will be your thing, and you will have the best experience there. If you love the hex crawl, the Without Number games should be your home. If the race against time and battle against the darkness thrills you, Shadowdark will be where you will have the most fun. If the classic survival style of play and race-as-class game fills you with nostalgia, OSE is your thing.

Castles & Crusades offers the best "game as novel" experience. The pulp elements mixed with the classic rules give it the feel of the old Forgotten Realms novels and make me feel that AD&D 2e and D&D 3.5 period perfectly. However, unlike the games on this blog, it doesn't drill down on the strange, horror, nostalgia, or exploration parts.

So, C&C does not belong here, but it is still one of the best games ever.

((UPDATE: Yes it does. I changed my mind. All old-school games stand together. We are adding this to the blog. Why? We need to stand together against greed, negativity, hate, and division.