The world of Iorth is an evolving place, changing and developing over time like any other world. However, the most notable changes to the realm are due to epic adventures and grand schemes, which have shaken the foundations of the world to its core time and again.

In an obvious sense, these changes reflect the rule changes of the role-playing game system transitioning from edition to edition, or even from game system to game system. While each group may wish to use whichever game system and edition thereof per their preference, this blog generally focuses on using Dungeons & Dragons or one of its multiple iterations, variants, and the like. In any event, a basic rule of thumb is the game should fit the setting, and should not have the setting forced to fit the game.

While this seems obvious, it is important to clarify this concept. For example, a cleric of Pelor, paladin of Tyr, or devotee of Paladine each could easily be modified into simply being different sorts of faithful members of the Path of Light. However, it is much more difficult (and constraining) to insist or incorporate the churches of Pelor, Tyr, and Paladine into the world of Iorth, because the driving element behind divine magic and faith in Iorth is devotion to a wide-reaching philosophy rather than to the creeds of a specific deity.

This becomes more obvious when trying to constrain or force the setting to accommodate elements from settings which are not supported. The Mages of High Sorcery from Dragonlance wouldn’t fit in Iorth anymore that the dragonmarked houses of Eberron, the magical Weave of Forgotten Realms, or the organizations of Critical Role. If a character’s concept are so strongly tied to an element present in another campaign setting, then that character concept is best reserved for said campaign setting.

The current Common Age of 1375 is well represented by the latest (2024) iteration of the Dungeons & Dragons rules (though admittedly, firearms are not a normal part of the setting, and should be excessively rare). However, for the earlier years of Iorth, especially around the notable era of the Common Age of 1000, using the rules of an earlier edition or a retroclone is especially fitting. Though the premiere of the hero Tiram Voland is depicted in terms fitting for the original version of the game, it is not necessary to exactly use those rules to replicate such an early era.

While there are plenty of choices for retroclones to replicate that time, a ruleset that is optimal for such early years is the Old School Essentials Basic or Advanced rules. For my games, I use the Advanced rules, and I use the following optional rules:

• Ascending Armor Class
• Rerolling 1s and 2s for hit point rolls during character creation
• Variable wind conditions
• Variable weapon damage
• Invulnerability and damage for monsters by monsters
• Subduing foes
• Morale
• Arcane spell casters and staves
• Separate race and class
• Multiple classes
• Secondary skills
• Lifting demihuman class and level restrictions
• Human racial abilities
• Advanced spell book rules
• Attacking with two weapons
• Charging into melee
• Parrying
• Splash weapons
• Additional weapons and armor from Carcass Crawler issue #3. (Gunpowder and energy weapons, as detailed in the previous two issues, should be unique items encountered sparingly.)

Other optional rules which may be used within the spirit of the game include:

• Encumbrance (basic or detailed)
• Reload feature for crossbows
• Individual initiative
• Weapon proficiency
• Restricted weapons
• Weapon specialization
• Limits on turning the undead
• Limits on returning from death
• Missile attacks on targets in melee

Allowing high-level play for human characters only (up to 36th level) isn’t an option since it enforces a huge power disparity between human and demihuman characters that just doesn’t exist in Iorth. In addition, a majority of demihuman non-player characters may follow class restrictions, with the very rare exception, whereas player characters should be allowed to have characters who are unique compared to others of their culture (which opens the door for interesting interactions). As such, any character reaching 14th level is a significant achievement in these times.

The class options available for an Iorth campaign are generous, but not unlimited. Below are the class and race character options available. If a group wishes to use demihuman classes instead, those options will be listed in a separate section accordingly. Please note that the term “Race” used in OSE is merely echoing the terminology used in that game and the earlier editions it replicates; using “Species” instead may be preferable for some. However, the focus of the game is to facilitate gameplay in the style and flavor of those earlier versions of the game.

Class Options:

• Fighter
• Cleric
• Magic-User
• Thief
• Acrobat
• Assassin
• Barbarian
• Bard
• Druid
• Illusionist
• Knight
• Necromancer
• Paladin
• Ranger
• Kineticist
• Beast Master

Race Options:

• Human (with racial abilities option)
• Dwarf
• Elf
• Halfling
• Drow: Also known as Cave Elves, this group of elves are not the malign version often thought of in most fantasy settings.
• Gnome
• Half-Elf
• Half-Orc
• Gargantua: Also known as Goliaths or Giantkin, these beings are humans with traces of giant heritage.
• Goblin
• Wood Elf: This group of elves is the most encountered variety throughout most of Iorth.
• Dragonborn: A variety of lizardfolk with dragon heritage hailing from the southern hemisphere.
• Tiefling: A variety of human with fiendish heritage. A majority tend to have small horns on their temples/forehead and red-tinted skin, but other varieties may be encountered.

Demihuman Class Options:

• Dwarf
• Elf
• Halfling
• Gnome
• Half-Elf
• Half-Orc
• Gargantua
• Goblin
• Wood Elf
• Dragonborn
• Tiefling

Rare Options:

• Aasimar: Humans with traces of celestial heritage, this option isn’t currently available in OSE, but there are options out there. One option that could be used is featured in this Class Catalog for various OSR systems available at DriveThruRPG.com.
• Monk/Mystic: This option isn’t currently available in OSE, but there are options out there. One recommended version is provided in Scout Magazine, Vol. II., available at DriveThruRPG.com.
• Duergar: All duergar are members of the Leadfist clan of dwarves who were transformed and twisted due to weird magics and prolonged lead exposure, and thus tend to be hostile and xenophobic. Such characters should be extremely rare if permitted, and would face several obstacles outside of their hidden enclaves.
• Svirfneblin: Valuing secrecy for protection, this variety of gnome is highly unlikely to encounter outside the depths of the Nether Lands. These characters should be extremely rare if permitted.
• Mage: These characters should be rare if permitted.
• Acolyte: These characters should be rare if permitted.
• Mutoid: Many of these beings are not encountered outside of the reaches of a dungeon. These characters should be extremely rare if permitted.
• Mycelian: These fungal beings are so reluctant to leave their homes in the depths of the Nether Lands; consequently, they are extremely rare to encounter.

Setting Consistency:

There are some notable elements used in OSE that may not mesh with current versions of D&D. However, these issues are easily resolved with the following rules of thumb.

• Alignment: Unlike the current edition of D&D which uses 9 alignments from the good-evil and law-chaos axes, OSE has the original 3 of Lawful, Neutral, & Chaotic. In most instances, please consider Lawful to be analogous to Good (with Lawful Good at its purest expression), and Chaotic analogous to Evil (with Chaotic Evil as its purest expression). Some forms of Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, and potentially even some forms of Lawful Evil, may be treated as versions of the Neutral alignment alongside true Neutral. However, characters that are predominately Good should be considered Lawful, while characters that are predominately Evil should be considered Chaotic.
• Alignment Languages: The OSE continues the use of alignment languages, as they appeared in old versions of D&D. However, though that concept no longer is in use in D&D, these languages can be said to be alternate terms for existing languages.
  • The Lawful alignment language can be regarded as being the same as Celestial.
  • The Neutral alignment language can be regarded as being the same as Primordial.
  • The Chaotic alignment language can be regarded as being the same as Infernal (and by extension, Abyssal).
• Classes: In many instances, quite a few OSE classes may be “mapped” over to their equivalent in 5th edition. However, the same is not as easy for having OSE versions of some 5e classes. For rough approximations, please refer to the table listed below.

OSE Class	D&D Equivalent
Fighter	Fighter
Cleric	Cleric
Magic-User	Wizard
Thief	Rogue (Thief subclass)
Acrobat	Rogue or Monk
Assassin	Rogue (Assassin subclass)
Barbarian	Barbarian
Bard	Bard
Druid	Druid
Illusionist	Wizard (Illusionist subclass)
Knight	Fighter (Cavalier subclass)
Necromancer	Wizard (Necromancer subclass)
Paladin	Paladin
Ranger	Ranger
Kineticist	Monk or Sorcerer
Beast Master	Ranger (Beast Master subclass)
Mystic/Monk	Monk
Mage or Magic-User/Illusionist/Necromancer	Sorcerer or Warlock
Acolyte or Magic-User	Artificer