Errant
A downloadable role playing game
You are a failure.
You have no home.
You have no job.
You have no friends.
You have no family.
You have no prospects.
What you do have are a handful of pennies, a blithe disregard for your own life, and a particular set of skills. The kind of skills that make respectable folks avoid you.
Out there, beyond civilization, lies danger: monsters and magic and ancient ruins pregnant with treasure. Death is likely, but what did you have to live for anyway? At least out there is the chance to make something of yourself, and maybe even get back at those who wronged you. This is no life for decent folk, but you’re not decent folk. You are an Errant.
What is Errant?
Errant is a classic fantasy role-playing game in the vein of the first few editions of that role-playing game and its many imitators and descendants such as Knave, Into the Odd, and The Black Hack. It is freely compatible with material for all those games as well as the newest edition of that role-playing game, with conversion guides provided within.
Errant is designed with the following principles in mind.
- Keep it Simple, Stupid – No math above a 2nd grade level necessary.
- Cut to the Chase – The procedures in Errant are designed to create a gameplay experience in which the smallest possible time between meaningful decisions is maintained.
- Active, not Passive – To that end, player abilities are designed around the player making active choices, not receiving passive bonuses. Even using armour to defend is a choice!
- Options, not Proscriptions – All rules and procedures in Errant are intended as guidance, to provide a toolbox for play. Rules are written to be open-ended, extendable, and use natural language wherever possible. We trust you to make good decisions.
What makes Errant unique?
Errant is rules light, procedure heavy.
What does that mean? Well, it means that the rules you need to play Errant are simple to understand and minimal. At its core, the basic mechanic is to simply roll a twenty-sided die and try to get a result that’s in between two numbers (“roll high under” or “blackjack”) to resolve tasks.
However, Errant has a number of procedures that are designed to help you navigate different play situations in fair and interesting ways. Want to know how to run an exciting chase scene, or establish a fried cockatrice restaurant, or sue a demon for emotional negligence? Errant has procedures that can help you do that!
Procedures are not rules, but neither are they vague, general guidance. They provide a framework to structure the game, and can be adjusted, ignored, hacked, mangled, broken, stolen, or seasoned to taste.
While designed to be more comprehensive than the lightweight rulesets of many newer old-school role-playing games, all the rules and procedures of Errant are streamlined for ease of use and understanding. They have been hammered into shape by five years of rigorous playtesting. Every rule or procedure within the book has come into contact with a live player, and has changed as a result.
Third Party License
Errant is offered under the Waylaid by Errant license for any creators who wish to create their own works compatible with or built off the system.
Physical Copies
Physical copies of Errant are available on the Kill Jester store and elsewhere.
Files
Your download of Errant comes with a variety of files.
- The full-art PDF, which is bookmarked, hyperlinked, and tested with screen readers, available in both pages and spread formats
- A simplified layout PDF, optimised for screen readers, with alt-text in place of images
- A no-art version of the PDF
- A two-page character sheet, designed by emmy verte.
The simplified layout and no-art versions of the PDF are also available for free.
Status | Released |
Category | Physical game |
Rating | Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars (58 total ratings) |
Author | Kill Jester |
Tags | Dungeon Crawler, Dungeons & Dragons, Fantasy, OSR, Tabletop, Tabletop role-playing game |
Purchase
In order to download this role playing game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $10 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Download demo
Development log
- Files updated to Errata 1.2, Epub editions addedMar 04, 2024
- GM Screen Available & Upcoming Kickstarter!Oct 30, 2023
- Updated Files, Errata, and Free Editions!Oct 18, 2022
Comments
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
I'm hopelessly in love with zealots and also at acomplete loss on creating covenants. Any tips on where I can find some examples or an explanation for kindergarteners?
Are there any plans to do a print run of Errant? I was looking for a print copy but it seems to be sold out everywhere.
The next print run is already underway! As of now our new inventory is in transit between the printer and our warehouse. When new copies are available the first place you'll be able to get them is here:
https://www.killjester.com/products/errantorder
Can you make an epub version of this?
An epub version is currently in progress and almost ready to be released. I'll follow up with you when it goes live!
Ah nice. That will scale even better on my Supernote! :)
Supernote has been a game changer for reading RPG books!
I wanted to put the epub version on my supernote, but it says it is DRM protected. Was there a key or something I need to unlock it so I can read it from my supernote cloud?
Seconding the call for an epub version! I am planning on buying the physical copy but at the moment I'm travelling and would get a lot of use out of an epub.
I'm in love with my remarkable tablet for this reason. Can read and do marginalia in e-ink on pdfs.
Epub is ready for download! :)
It took longer than expected, but the epub version is available now!
Has anyone seen if there has been any Errant specific fan made supplements or materials? I'm loving the content and hoping to see a Jam or OGL material as well
Errant is the OSR game we were always promised. A triumph of old-school-inspired design, an excellent book, a game that respects and supports its GMs and players, and hopefully a milestone in RPG history.
Any plan to make a form-fillable character sheet? And/or some other digital usable character sheet?
We are currently working on a full Google sheets based campaign sheet, which will have built in character keepers.
There is a very nice and well made google sheet here as well.
Thanks!
Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!
Listen. I hate procedure. I will make things up constantly, fudge numbers, and operate purely on vibes whenever I can.
That said, Errant is a staggering accomplishment in applying procedure to every aspect of a fantasy adventure, allowing you to flesh out your players actions and make them earn their victories in a cool and engaging way. (I especially liked Lockpicking and the Magic/Grimoire system.)
All told, you can't make me follow procedure, but Errant will have a permanent spot in inspiring how I design encounters for my players.
One of the most comprehensive OSR products of recent years. I predict that the huge number of 2d6 downtime procedures will become a common point of reference for many. The rest of it is pretty good as well, especially the magic system. I could take or leave the combat system, but it gets the job done and I must admit to not having play tested it. Check it out!
This book is bananas. There is so much here I don't know where to start. Looking forward to reading it all. Slowly, probably.
I've been super excited about this for a while, extremely hyped to finally see it out!