By its very nature
Old-School Essentials is easily combined with anything that supports B/X style play. So it naturally
Plays Well With Others.
Mechanics are largely easy, what about tone and style? Well, that is what I am going to chat about today.
OSE & B/X
This is the obvious mix. So obvious in fact that there is not a lot to say that isn't painfully obvious. So instead I am going to admire how nice those two black covers look together. A nice addition to what I tend to call Black Book or Black Box Basic (also because like a Black Box, I throw things in and get things out and don't really care how or why it works as long as it does).
Obviously, any adventure designed for B/X or even BECMI will work with OSE. At least up to level 14.
OSE & Maximum Mayhem Adventures
Mark Taormino's collection of crazy gonzo adventures run from levels 1 to 14. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Well, today is the flip-side of a
PWWO on Maximum Mayhem Adventures I did a while back. If you want to know more about those adventures, hit that link.
While the adventures are overtly and specifically designed for OSRIC/AD&D1, I have had a great time running these under B/X style rules. I also find that none of the deadliness is lost here. If anything the fun factor is increased.
OSE & Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea
Another popular choice of
mine for PWWO. For this, I would use the Advanced Fantasy options of OSE. AS&SH can be trimmed down to "Basic" style play easily enough. So the two games can meet in the middle, system-wise. Style-wise there is more to overcome. AS&SH is a "Black Sabbath" album. Deep, rich with darker tones and cold nights. OSE is a "Yes" album. Ætheric, it is journey of expected highs but also surprising depths. The demi-humans of OSE-AF bolster the newer classes of AS&SH. IT might not be a mix that all people like, but it does appeal to me.
OSE & the B/X OSR
There are so many products out there that support B/X style play these days and there is no way I could cover even all the ones in my own collection.
But here are few.
Does B/X or OSE *need* psionics? Likely no. Is it better with it? I think so! Richard LeBlanc's
Basic Psionics Handbook is a great book and a fun psionic system. One he could redo for OSE if he wanted. But like all things psionics, it's a choice. As it is now it is a perfect fit.
The same is true for any number of Monster books. I mentioned that OSE would easily support Monsters 2 and Monsters 3 books with no issue. Hell. With all the OGC sources a Monsters 2 and 3 could be made that mimic the monsters in Fiend Folio and Monster Manual 2.
OSE is not the only Basic-game in town.
Blueholme cleaves closer to Holmes Basic, but it's 1-20 levels provide a little more play (though those last 6 levels are not as fun as the first 6) and Labyrinth Lord provides the same. LL has their Advanced versions too if you are planning an "Advanced Fantasy" style game. This takes it in a slightly different direction, but ultimately (for me anyway) it makes it possible to play a "cleaner" version of the D&D/AD&D hybrid we used to play in the early 80s. Purity is for water, not games.
OSE & BX Companion
Eventually, someone will ask for an OSE Companion book. Taking OSE to level 36 or Immortals. Well, you can wait for one or use the one we are all using now.
A while back I posted
How I commit heresy with Adventurer Conqueror King. I can do the same thing with OSE.
Johnathan Becker's magnum opus is as much of a love letter to BX as OSE is. While
B/X Companion doesn't work as well with say Labyrinth Lord of Basic Fantasy (the main Basic clones at the time) it does work great with OSE.
Basic-Era Witches
I'd be remiss if I didn't point this out. In fact, while working on this post and taking these pictures I am once again hit with the idea of how well this would all work out for my War of the Witch Queens campaign.
So OSE has been giving me no end of pleasure and I don't see that stopping anytime soon.
