What is it?

Adventurer Conqueror King (ACKS) is a TTRPG that came out when OSR was really coming into its own. At the time folks were re-discovering the simplicity of original D&D and how it concepts like agency are what made it great. This was in backlash to the contemporary d20 philosophy.

What made ACKS stand out was that it was one of the first complete (and I mean very complete) games that were faithful to old-school D&D and OSR. While other games were coming out, ACKS separated itself by including all of the stuff that you'd otherwise have to invent or create on your own.

I supported ACKS in a Kickstarter and it is how I wound up with it.

Fun fact, the creator and I worked in the same buildings. We never met but it was one of those truly wild, small-world things.

...and then

I stopped playing games. I got out of the hobby after I left my friends and had kids. A lot of things changed and evolved during that time.

Most importantly the author of ACKS became vocal about opinions and perspectives that I don't support or condone and view as hurtful.

Why do I play it?

I can't go back in time to tell myself to avoid the Kickstarter. I had the books before all of this happened.

I use the material because I find it useful. That doesn't mean I give them money or support the community. I don't turn off the radio when Michael Jackson plays, but I also don't buy music. That isn't meant to be patronizing, just another way to explain the line I'm presenting.

Over time I hope to adapt the parts I like best to something less problematic, but that'll take time.

If you want to learn about ACKS without support, there are multiple SRDs available for free.