Old School RPG — what is it?

[Stormcrow]

Old school means simply this: the game exists to challenge the abilities of the PLAYER, not the character. The character is simply an avatar to put the player into the game. This avatar has a general description and perhaps a few special powers, but his chances to do various things are undefined.

In an old-school game, if you want to find a trap in a room, you tell the referee where and how you look for it. If you want to make friends with someone, you converse with the referee. There's no rolling to do these things, unless the referee doesn't want to decide for himself and leaves the outcome to a chance he decides on.

In a "new-school" game, you check against your CHARACTER'S ability to find a trap. If you want to make friends with someone, you make some kind of influence roll based on your character's abilities. If the referee demands you to "role-play it," this only supplements the roll, or vice-versa.