Scarlet Heroes vs Stars Without Number
Compare Scarlet Heroes and Stars Without Number side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Scarlet Heroes | Stars Without Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy | Sci-Fi |
| Tags | Solo-Friendly, Sandbox, Dungeon Crawl, Low-Prep, Random Tables, Heroic, Ascending AC | Sandbox, Exploration, Low-Prep, Faction Play, Tactical, Ascending AC, Vancian Casting |
| Core Mechanic | Checks: roll 2d8 + attribute modifier + highest relevant trait vs. difficulty number. Attacks: roll d20 + attack bonus vs. AC 20. Unique damage conversion: each damage die reads individually (1 = 0, 2–5 = 1 point, 6–9 = 2 points, 10+ = 4 points), making a single hero viable against hordes. Heroes roll a Fray die each round to auto-damage lesser enemies. | 2d6 + skill + attribute ≥ target for skills; d20 + modifiers for combat. OSR-inspired. |
| Dice | 2d8 / d20 | 2d6 / d20 |
| Complexity | Low | Medium |
| Availability | Free quickstart | Free core rules |
| Runnability | 4 of 5 book tools | 5 of 5 book tools |
| License | OGL 1.0a | Proprietary |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Sine Nomine Publishing | Sine Nomine Publishing |
| Year | 2014 | 2017 |
| Languages | English | English |
| Best For | Solo players, duet groups (1 player + 1 GM), or anyone wanting to run classic old-school adventures without a full party: one hero can tackle any module. | Sandbox sci-fi campaigns with comprehensive GM tools for faction turns, sector generation, and adventure creation. |
| Highlights | Solo and duet scaling makes any old-school module playable with one hero, Fray die and damage conversion solve the action economy, solo oracle and adventure generators included, compatible with B/X and OSR modules, Red Tide setting included | Free version is generous, comprehensive sandbox tools, faction system |
| Considerations | Solo adventure tools require creative self-GMing, Red Tide setting is baked in (though easily reskinned), limited character options compared to full OSR games, older layout | OSR combat can feel flat compared to modern tactical systems, B/X heritage means limited mechanical support for social or narrative play |