Old School Role Playing Bonanza

It may be apparent that while I respect games like Blokus, and love games like Carcassonne, I have a special place in my heart for role playing games. Over the last few years many gamers and authors have re-examined the first generation of these games and published their own versions. These are known as "retro-clones." "Retro" because they are very "old-school" in their style of play, and "clone" because they are almost direct reprints of the originals.

The latest online menace to your child's college fund is Lulu, a site where you can order all sorts of small-press items that are not likely to be found in the local chain bookstore. Imagine my delight when I discovered that there is a central storefront which represents many of the retro-clone authors. The publishers are listed on one side and the products are listed on the sidebar along with an illustration. In many cases there are free downloads of sample product so you can see if the complete game is for you. The page is not super well organized but it does give you a place to start. Anyone with an interest in starting some old-school gaming for their children (or, uh, themselves) should take a look!