Barbarians and Basilisks is a nice, short, rules-light game that invokes the sword and sorcery films of the 80s, and elements of fantasy pulp novels. The game is presented in a simplistic, no-frills format that invokes the feel of a small publisher game from the 80s or 90s that was published on a copy machine. The art is simple, but consistent, there is no fancy page design, and the pages are full of tables. This is what most role-playing game books looked like from the 1970s through 1990s, and that is definitely the look that the publisher was trying to invoke here.

As for the gameplay, this is a standard fantasy game with 6 character stats, and typical sword and sorcery adventurer classes. This includes barbarian: unarmored brutes with great strength, sorceror: magic users, thief: cunning, sneaky adventurers, and warrior: fighters who use armor and fight with two weapons. There are six stats that range from 1-6, all determined by a D6 role. The stat level determines the number that a player has to roll on 2D6 in order to score a success for attack or skill use. The rules for magic are extremely simple--there are no spell lists, just guidelines the target roles based on effects. The skill system grants one skill at character creation and gives the character further abilities. The book has an equipment list that includes all you need for basic combat and adventuring--weapons, armor, and gear.

Figthing in this game is simple enough--roll 2D6 and hit a certain target, which depends on the type of monster or class of opponent that you are fighting. Your class determines your ability in combat for attack, defense, and turn order. There is some opportunity for character advancement as well. At the end of each adventure, there is a chance that your character can gain a random improvement that may include learning a new skill, a bonus to hit with a weapon, a follower, or one of several other possibilities. After capturing a castle through gameplay, players can advance further and gain more followers and gold, and then expand to rule more castles, gold, and soldiers.

The basic rules fit into under 10 pages, and after that, there is enough material to run several adventures. The book includes a sample adventure, complete with maps and treasure, and monters. As well, it comes with several sample characters, making it easy to start playing without much preparation work. For further adventures, there is a bestiary that includes more than 50 monsters for your players to fight, and some traps. This makes the game very easy to run as a one-shot, but also possible to play as a campaign.

Overall, Barbarians & Basilisks is a simple little RGP that you can pick up and run with little trouble. It's great as a one-shot, since it takes only 2D6 and a bit of prep work to run. It's a much simpler game than similar fantasy games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, at the expense of being less customizable. Though, it's a simple game with no frills, it does a good job of evoking self-published games of yesteryear but comes with enough material to play for several adventures. This is a great game to play with friends who want to try an introductory tabletop RPG, but will also keep veteran players entertained.

Read the full review at Geeksagogo.com!

I didn't have very high expectations for this product and didn't buy it for a quite a long time. I've been burned before ("Barbarians of the Gothic Wastes", "Barbarians, Booze & Battle-Axes", "Crypts & Things") by products with titles promising sword & sorcery but delivering half-baked, hand-wavy games that would take more work to get into playable shape than the time it took to write them originally.

So I was blown away by Barbarians & Basilisks (B&B). It not only reads as completely playable out of the box, but very well thought out and it reads like it actually was played! And even at such a short page count is more complete than many "OSR" style games.

I agree with the previous reviewer - the game is very much in the style of "Swords Six-Siders" (and can make a good supplement/pairing with it). A very bare-bones d6 only "old school" style RPG. But it delivers and deservers bigger recognition.

Wish I'd bought it much, much earlier.

There is a print edition at Lulu and I'm buying it.

I still have to try this game but from a first quick reading it looks like a small, well-done job. Quick and easy, it focus on the theme and seems to deliver an enjoyable experience. The artworks, a bit “old school” in my opinion, are not a few and appealing too. Overall, I am very happy with it!

Great little OSR game,nice combination of brevity,layout and art. The price was a good incentive also. Buy this if interested in OD&D , The Black Hack , BOL , Crypts & Things or Swords and Six Siders .Was very impressed with my purchase. Other books by this author are great too,I have a few in both Print and Pdf and when I saw this new book I knew I had to buy it and I was very happy I did. Definately recommend.