The B/X Hack

The B/X Hack combines the slick chassis of The Black Hack, by David Black, with the procedures, feel, and power curve of B/X. It can run B/X modules if you convert armour and magic, and a long-term B/X campaign if you want to.

It is opinionated. The Thief has been replaced with the Fool; instead of rolling to trivialize situations, the Fool has critical safety nets, and rewards lateral thinking that finds solutions just plausible enough to merit a roll with Disadvantage. There are no stealth abilities, because it’s a team game and everyone should play together.

The magic system is the biggest departure; the answer might not be on your character sheet, but it is traditionally in the spell rules, and “I cast Fireball” isn’t much more interesting than “I swing my sword”. So, magic is now tactical and alien. Law is armoured, slow, and focuses on spatial control; Chaos is explosive, dangerous, and based on combos. This introduces module conversion costs (or just let NPCs cast B/X spells) but the results are worth it. 

The classes should appeal to different types of players: Fighters are impactful but straightforward, Fools are for the theatre kids, and Magic-Users are extremely tactical. All are essential for surviving the meat grinder.