“Down We Go” (https://plusoneexp.itch.io/dwg) was designed by Markus Linderum as a minimalist OSR (Old School Renaissance) role-playing game in the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons. It uses d20 and d6 dice, and all the player rules fit on one sheet of paper.
“Ever shifting, ever changing, ever hungry for the gold, treasures, and bodies, Infinopolis is a complex machine of human parts crying out in hunger for more.
There is only one way to feed it, so… Down We Go.”
CHARACTER CREATION: Put +2 in one role or +1 in two roles from the start. Choose LVL number of abilities in those Roles. You can use Role as a roleplaying prompt.
SNEAKY (Lvl ___) (Defense Modifier)
(Quick, Nimble, Dodge mechanical traps)
Abilities (Auto-success, LVL times/day)
* Backstab (Inflict LVL Hits if attack from behind)
* Lockpicking (Pick any non-1nagical lock)
* Hide (Totally hidden in shadows when still)
* Appraise (Tell junk from valuables)
* Acrobatics (Make an impressive feat of agility)
* Contacts (Find infonnalion or Hear rumors)
HOLY (Lvl ___)
(Poise, Confidence, Resist mental influence)
Abilities (Auto-success, LVL times/day)
* Turn undead (LVL undead flee for LVLx2 min).
* Bless (Give LVL targets+1 or one target+LVL on any one roll)
* Heal (restore LVL Hits on one target or 1 Hit on LVL targets)
* Cleanse (Banish any lingering effect)
* Divination (Ask deity, get answer to 1 question)
* Smite (Inflict 3 Hits of Holy Damage)
MYSTICAL (Lvl ___)
(Willpower, Logic, Resist magical effects)
Abilities (Auto-success, LVL times/day, Range: LVL x 10 ft.)
* Pain bolt (Inflict LVL Hits on one target)
* Sleep (LVL targets sleep 1 min. or one target sleeps LVL min.)
* Light (Mystical light LVLx10 ft. for LVL rooms)
* Missile (Inflict 1 Hit on LVL enemies)
* Invisibility (Invisible for LVL min.)
* Wall (Raise impenetrable wall of something for LVL min.)
BLOODTHIRSTY (Lvl ___) (To Hit Modifier)
(Endurance, Nerve, Endure physical hardship)
Abilities (Auto-success, LVL times/day)
* Tactics (Adjacent friends get +1 To Hit for tlie combat)
* Cleave (Extra attack if you kill an eneniy)
* Alertness (Win Initiative)
* Parry (Re-roll a Defense roll)
* Intimidate (Scare off LVL non-monsters)
* Rage (Do two attacks but draw free attack from closest enemy)
HITS (hit points)
* 1 as a base, then…
* +1 if Mystical
* +2 if Sneaky
* +3 if Holy
* +4 if Bloodthirsty
* +1 if total LVL 3 or more in any role
* +1 if total LVL 6 or more in any role
* +1 if total LVL 9 or more in any role
RULES
* Players make all rolls.
* Saves: d20 + LVL at or over 15. (Sneaky to dodge, Holy to resist mental influence, Mystical to resist other magical effects, Bloodthirsty to endure physical hardship).
* Attack: d20 + Bloodthirsty at or over enemy’s Difficulty.
* Defense: d20 + Sneaky at or over enemy’s Difficulty.
* Luck: X-in-6. Ref sets odds depending on the situation.
COMBAT
* Initiative: 1d6, on 4 to 6 you go first.
* On your turn, you can move and take one action.
* Successful Attack: Inflicts 1 Hit, regardless of weapon.
* You die when you fill your last Hit circle. (Lose last hit point.)
* Light, medium, or heavy armor lets you reroll a defense roll 1, 2, or 3 times.
LEVELING
* After LVL number of completed dungeons, travel back to The City to increase LVL in any Role and get another ability in that role. Every third ability in any roll gets another Hit circle.
OPTIONAL
If your dice ends up on the floor, your character dies in a gruesome and embarrassing way.
NOTES
Default difficulty (d20 total target number) is 15.