The Other Side blog: Fantasy Fridays: True20

Friday, March 13, 2026

Fantasy Fridays: True20

One of my objectives with Fantasy Fridays is to introduce people to the wide variety of Fantasy RPGs that are available to them. While each is perfectly fine on its own, I do want to talk about them on how well they provide a "Dungeons & Dragons experience" to players. Not that this is the only yardstick to use, but it is an important one. Also, what can players use from these games in their own games?

Today I am going back to an old favorite, Green Ronin's True20. This system is a derivative of the d20 system from Wizards of the Coast, used in Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition and now used in many games. The system, which is mult-genre or universal, began life as the system used in the first edition of Blue Rose. The True20 version of Blue Rose is out of print now, but some of its DNA lives on in their new AGE system. But today is about True20.

True20

What is True20? It is a stripped-down version of the d20 system. Typically, there are only three classes: Adept, Expert, and Warrior. There are no hit points, but there is a damage tracker that works very well and very quickly. I think these are the key elements to its mult-genre use. I have played fantasy and modern horror with it, and neither felt like I was trying to cram a square peg into a round hole.

You have the same six abilities as d20, but instead of ability scores, you just have your bonuses. Something that D&D itself would not embrace until the current 5th edition.

All resolutions are done with a single d20. That's all you need. Attacks, skill checks, using powers, all of it is a d20 + mods and compared to a DC score. It is really that simple.

Because it is simple, you can build just about anything you want. There was (well is, you can still buy things) support for True20. So if you like horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or anything else, you could find it. Particular to today's conversation is their Fantasy Paths supplement that helps you build all sorts of fantasy classes like Assassins, Barbarians, Clerics, and so on. There are also NPC stat blocks for all these classes for levels 1 to 20. No witch, but with this system, you can reskin any adept into a witch with no issues. I did ues the Adept's Handbook a lot for this.

Speaking of fantasy, back when BlueRose was under the True20 system, I ran a game called Black Rose that combined Blue Rose and Ravenloft. You can read that here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. Needless to say, it worked rather well.

I also played a modern horror game called "Vacation in Vancouver" that worked amazingly well. They both showcased the system's power and flexibility and were really fun. It is a shame Green Ronin no longer supports it like they did. But I suppose that AGE, its successor, can do a lot of what True20 and some more. I'll have to revisit AGE for this series. Though I will say one thing.

It now dawns on me that a lot went into my "Ordinary World" Night World for NIGHT SHIFT was detailed in these True20 game sessions.

While this system is not actively supported, all the PDFs are still on DriveThruRPG, and you can get some of the books as hardcover Print-on-Demand. The books were originally only softcover so this is nice. Also, since the line is done, getting all the books you need to play is fairly inexpensive on DriveThru. Since it is d20-derived, you can use other d20 products with it to expand your options. It would take some work, but it can be done. What works best are adventures. They convert easier than, say, new classes, but even that is not very hard using the Fantasy Paths examples.

Can it Do D&D?

Well, the simple answer is yes. It can play a D&D-style game easily and has a lot in common with D&D 3rd edition. I also contend it can do a solid OSR-style game too, though there are two features that run counter to the OSR feel. First, there is no Vancian magics; Adepts/Wizards/Clerics can keep firing off their spells as long as they make their rolls. Also, there are no hit points, only a damage tracker. These aspects keep it from feeling like, say, AD&D 1st ed, and likely won't appeal to many old-school players. For new gamers, Players would have to build out their powers ala Fantasy Paths to cover whatever new class they want to play. Mechanically, there really is no difference between a Divine Soul Sorcerer and, say, a Cleric or Celestial Pact Warlock. The powers might all be the same, just role-played differently.

True20 has now slipped into the realm of "kitbashing RPGs" that is take what you want and build the game you want. I think this the one thing it does better than AGE right now. But I'll take on AGE at a later date.

Would I still play True20? Of course. I loved it then and look back on it now with extreme fondness. I also still love BlueRose, but I think I am content with the AGE version of that now.

Larina for True20

This one is easy since I already have a few True20 versions of her. There was my BlueRose version, my Modern True20 version, and a Fantasy True20 version. All ranging in levels and build types. This version sort of combines all of those versions.

In truth, her stats as they appear on paper are really not much different than a wizard or some other spellcaster. The key with True20 is the role-playing aspect. I mean, that is true everywhere, but this is even more important here, really.

Larina Nix

20th-level Human Witch (Adept)

Strength: +0
Dexterity: +1
Constitution: +1
Intelligence: +4
Wisdom: +4
Charisma: +4

Initiative: +1
BAB: +10, Melee Attack: +11, Ranged Attack: +11
Defence, Dodge: 21
Defence, Parry: 20

Size: Medium
Speed: 30ft

Toughness: +2
Fortitude: +9
Reflex: +7
Will: +18

Vice: Cynical
Virtue: Thoughtful

Larina art by Jerome Hrs

Skills
Bluff +15 (11), Climb +1 (1), Concentration +17 (13), Craft (Potions) +16 (12), Diplomacy +16 (12), Disable Device +5 (1), Disguise +4 (0), Escape Artist +1 (0), Gather Info. +14 (10), Handle Animal +14 (10), Intimidate +10 (6), Jump +1 (1), Knowledge (History) +10 (6), Knowledge (Arcane) +21 (17), Knowledge (Religion) +7 (3), Knowledge (Occult) +19 (15), Languages +14 (14), Medicine +10 (6), Notice +12 (8), Search +10 (6), Sense Motive +11 (7), Sleight of Hand +9 (8), Stealth +4 (3), Survival +11 (7), Swim +2 (2)

Feats and Talents
The Talent, Iron Will, Leadership, Attractive, Familiar (Cotton Ball), Contacts (x2), Great Fortitude

Powers (Save DC 24)
Blink, Cure, Fire Shaping, Ghost Touch, Mana Blast, Mana Shield, Mind Probe, Mind Reading, Mind Shaping, Mind Touch, Move Object, Object Reading, Psychic Blast, Purifying Light, Second Sight, Sense Minds, Sleep, Teleport, True Seeing

Again, I am pretty happy with this build. There is still some life in this system if you ask me.

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