Troll Lord Games has released an introductory starter set for Castles & Crusades, the fantasy tabletop roleplaying game credited with launching the Old School Revival (OSR) movement. The new digital box set is available as a download from DriveThruRPG.
Castles & Crusades, first published in 2004 by designers Davis Chenault and Mac Golden, was created to emulate the feel of early editions of Dungeons & Dragons. The game uses a simplified version of the d20 system, removing the complex skill and feat systems of the game’s 3rd edition in favour of a streamlined attribute check system called the Siege Engine. This focus on rules-light, rulings-over-rules gameplay proved influential, paving the way for the OSR scene.
The game’s connection to the origins of roleplaying is deep. Its name is a reference to the Castle & Crusade Society, a gaming club founded by D&D co-creator Gary Gygax in 1970. Following its release, Gygax himself supported the system, using it to resurrect his legendary Castle Greyhawk campaign.
The new starter set is designed to onboard players and Castle Keepers (the game’s term for a gamemaster) with no prior knowledge of the game. It includes three PDF booklets.
- Book 1: Character Creation guides players through making a character, with an example of play and rules to advance from levels 1 to 6.
- Booklet 2: Directing the Game provides the essentials for the Castle Keeper, explaining how to run a session, build a world, and handle various in-game situations.
- Book 3: Into the Dark is an introductory adventure for a group of three to eight 1st-level characters, pitting them against a giant and his goblin minions.
The digital package also includes PDF character sheets. This starter set contains everything needed to begin playing and serves as a gateway to the full core rules of Castles & Crusades.
The Castles & Crusades Starter Set can be downloaded from DriveThruRPG.
