GLAIVE v2

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GLAIVE v2 is a rules toolkit for running old-school fantasy RPGs by Scott Wegener. 

Glaive combines what I love about old-school and modern D&D: Minimalistic rules and interesting player character mechanics. 

• TALENTS. Talents distill modern D&D class abilities and features down to their essence and rehash them through an old-school lens. 
  
  A Glaive PC starts play with 2 talents and maxes out with 6 Talents at 5th Level. There are no "dead" levels. 
  
  
• CLASSLESS. Talents are presented ala carte by archetype (Barbarian, Cleric, Wizard, etc.), but players are not restricted in what Talent list they can choose from. Players can build a classic Fighter by only selecting Talents associated with that archetype or create a Barbarian-Thief-Warlock if they like.

• COMPETENT.  PCs are not quite the feckless dirtbags you pay at lower levels in old-school D&D. They begin play a bit more robust and with a few more options. After that, their growth is a bit more lateral. It's less like a “zero-to-hero” level progression. It would be more accurate to describe PC progression as an apprentice becoming a journeyman, and eventually a master of their craft. You are the Ghostbusters, not the Avengers.

• DIEGETIC GROWTH. Character growth beyond the Talent system is intended to be diegetic. Form a warband, organize merchant caravans, or build a wizard's sanctum. Gain power in the game world.

• OLD-SCHOOL COMPATIBLE. Glaive's power level and gameplay assumptions are compatible with old-school and OSR/NSR adventure modules.  When in doubt, add an extra goblin or two to an encounter.

• MONSTERS. Glaive is compatible with your favorite old-school monster books. Glaive does not contain a bestiary of its own - though as I stat out specific creatures for my home game I do add them to the FELL CREATURES & Vomitous Foes pdf.
  
  Glaive does contain a Monster Masher section for making common fantasy monsters unique and creating interesting low-level bosses using other OSR/NSR bestiaries.