Wow, OSE is Good

Old School Essentials is one of the most underestimated games in the hobby. Like many, I sat here thinking, "But 5E gives me the character power I need in heroes!" When it is absolutely not true.

Just check the fireball damage in this edition versus any other, and put that against the hit points of an ogre. OSE gives you more character power than 5E, especially at higher levels. Compare fighter damage with monster hit points at high levels, given the to-hit chance and single strike damage versus maximum hit points. When you look at damage output and monster hit points, OSE comes out ahead.

And this is a game that encourages you to avoid fights.

The characters may be more straightforward, but that gives you room to mod and tweak the system to your liking. I have all of the character options (and more) in terms of race and class that I do in 5E. There are no subclass distractions and multiclass cheats here, but I will take OSE's higher level of character power as I level over the 5E MMO model of getting weaker as I level.

I can even create custom classes, and the excellent B/X Options: Class Builder book provides you with the tools to do so. I can do this far more easily than 5E, and I don't need to pay people on Kickstarter for their help, either. If I want a custom class or a custom race-as-class, I can have it.

While other first-edition games are comparable, OSE still stands strong on its own. Some give me more power and options, such as Swords & Wizardry with its deeper classes, and Adventures Dark and Deep with its first-edition-plus mega-game. OSE offers me all the great options I had in D&D 4E and 5E, but with one-tenth the complexity, fewer overwritten books, and less shelf space than either of those games. Character power is preserved. I get fun race-as-class options for every modern option. The classic stronghold and henchman systems are in place and very strong. The rules stay out of the way.

OSE has the simplicity of Shadowdark, more campaign depth than 5E, and a higher level of power than most fantasy games today.