Less is More SRD

Less is More is a light, fast paced ttrpg that combines a lot of what makes the OSR tick with modern twists. Eschewing classes, ancestries, and levels for a series of backgrounds and keywords that define what the character can do, Less is More uses a simple d20 roll-under mechanic for its core. Deeply inspired by the Black Hack and Knave, Less is More also looks to games like Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun, and Mage: the Awakening for inspiration, making it easy to adapt to any setting and get a game going in just a few minutes.

Released under Creative Commons, Less is More is hopefully a great game that suits your group, or a great place to steal some ideas for your own game!

Note: Updated to 23.7.3, after some playtests. Various rough edges sanded down, and a Stress-Free version, which uses a Fatigue roll instead of Stress, for a more heroic, high fantasy vibe.

To see it in action, check out Chronicles of the Cursed Island and Under a Blood-Red Sun, two full games that use Less is More under the hood!

For more information on the design process, check out my blog post about it!

https://tothedicecave.wordpress.com/2023/05/07/lets-design-a-new-system/