The first public beta playtest version of Microlite81 Extended is available for free download. The game is complete enough to play although additions and changes are sure to come. These rules are an expansion of the standard B/X-based Microlite81 rules to include a Microlite81 version of the house rules I created in the late 1970s and used with all TSR editions. In addition these rules add a number of optional additional human and non-human classes including Assassin, Barbarian, Bard, Druid, Illusionist, Paladin, Ranger, Warlord, Dragonborn, Tiefling, and Warforged.

These rules also include a system for modifying the base experience points of a class when optional abilities (like psionics) are included. A large number of optional rules are already included and chances are more such rules will be included before the final version Microlite81 is released.

Here are a few specific things to look at when you are reading/using this Beta draft:

First, please ignore typos and grammar errors unless they make the intent of the text hard to figure out. I’m the Typo King and I know there are probably a good number of such errors. However, until the text stabilizes (that is, until Beta versions are replaced by Release Candidate versions), there is no point to worrying about the majority of typos.

Second, please check over the rules for modifying the experience points a class needs to level to ensure they are clear and work.

Third, look at the new classes to ensure they are interesting and their powers and abilities are good representatives of the archetype. While exact parity between each class at each level is not the goal of this or any old-school game, if one class is considerably more powerful than all the others in play, please point that out. Note: Such problems only matter if they show up in actual play with normal players who are not devoted to charop/min-maxing. Players who are interested in breaking the game will always be able to do so unless their GM says “no” to their game-breaking ideas, so Microlite81 is not going to worry about min-maxers breaking the game. Nor do I were about “in theory” problems that those who actually play the game do not encounter.

Fourth, please try the optional rules in various combinations and see how well they work (or don’t work) in play in your games.

Fifth, if something does not seem clear or seems contradictory, please point that out. Chances are there are a few places where I added something in one place and forgot to change something that contradicts it elsewhere.

You can down the PDF of Microlite81 Extended Public Beta 1 from the download area of the RetroRoleplaying forum by following this link:

Download Microlite81 Extended Public Beta 1