Spellcraft and Swordplay (S&S) is an old school game based primarily on the original Dungeons & Dragons box set, mixed with elements from Supplement I: Greyhawk, the even earlier Chainmail miniature rules, and combined with certain modern flourishes. Like the original 3-Volume Set, S&S is split into three books (which are also available separately): Swordsmen & Spellslingers (character creation), Combat & Conflict (combat, ability checks, saves, experience, etc.), and Monsters & Magic (monsters and treasure).
The basic mechanic is a 2d6 roll, inspired by Chainmail's combat system, though the original edition had certain "holdovers" like percentile-based thief skills. Spellcasting requires a casting roll (based on the spell's level), and spells are only lost when the caster misses a casting roll. Saves are based on ability checks, and scale uniformly with level.
The revised version (called 1.1 here) streamlines the system and removes anachronistic references. The deluxe edition (called 1.5 here) adds new material from Monstrous Mayhem and is supposed to the final version.
Notes on This Edition
176 pp, 6"x9" hardcover $28.00, PDF $6.50 (free between July 8 and 10, 2009 as part of a belated Free RPG Day promotion).
From the publisher: "incorporates all errata to date and includes revised and expanded material, including new Elite Paths, unarmed combat, naval combat, disease, new spells, and more. It is our intent that this will be the final version of S&S to hit the market, barring any true second edition years down the road.... As a final note, if you already own S&S AND Monstrous Mayhem, there's no need to purchase this book--it doesn't have anything that S&S and MM don't already include."
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