Saturday, March 9, 2019

The OSR News: March 9, 2019

Courtney Campbell has a new adventure in print, Yami Bakura makes an epic Evil post and White Box gets the Eastern treatment. There's a new issue of Threshold and another piece of the Black Maw megadungeon drops. All this and more in this week's OSR News!

New Releases


Eyrie of the Dread Eye by Courtney Campbell. Published by Autarch. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $4.99. 56 pages.
The Premium Color Softcover coming soon! When it's released everyone who bought the PDF will receive a coupon code to discount the cost of the Premium Softcover. Thereafter the PDF will be free with the Premium Softcover.
From the imagination of Courtney Campbell, creater of the popular OSR blog Hack & Slash, comes a terrifying new adventure for characters level 6 to 8.

The Eye Is Opening.

Thousands of years ago, living gods named Khepri wielded powers beyond understanding. Their bizarre magics rived a rent in reality itself. This portal—the Oculus—led to the deepest realms of Chthonic Darkness, but it was not yet fully open. Malign forces, opposed to all life, infested the Oculus, and waited. The Khepri kept vigil over the Oculus till time moved her hand. When the Khepri vanished in the Day Without Night, their Elven epigones took up the watch. In time, the Elves were conquered by the diabolic Thrassian race, and they in turn were subjugated by the Zaharans. Through the millennia, the caretakers of the Oculus studied, waited, and watched.

Now the Awakening is near, the Spheres are coming into alignment, and the Oculus is beginning to open. The dark power is reaching out and for the first time in an age the Eyrie of the Dread Eye is accessible again. As the Eye opens, reality itself comes under further and further strain. And as rumors of a new valley containing an underground forgotten city filled with untold riches spread out from the Dark Wall, the Oculus continues to open ever wider.

Eyrie of the Dread Eye is a ready-to-play adventure scenario presented for use with the Adventurer Conqueror King System™ (ACKS) and other d20-based fantasy role-playing games. Discover the vast ruined eyrie of the Oculus and take a stand against the coming Awakening.

High-resolution printable maps are included in a separate .zip file. You can use these maps for Roll20 or similar platforms, or print them out for your table.
ImageThreshold Issue #22 Adventures and Campaigns. Available from the Publisher in PDF for Free. 186 pages.
Index of the issue:
  • A Mystara glossary
  • Icons for Mystara, Adapting the 13th Age Icon Relationships to Mystara campaigns
  • "So, You All Meet in a Tavern….”, Making the
  • most of those rumor tables
  • Campaigning in Karameikos. A guide to connect and use all the published canon adventures and several fan ones!
  • Thoughts About Civil War, a guideline to Mystara Almanac 1020 AC
  • Threshold Black Market, a secret location of the Thieves Guild.
  • Adapting Classic AD&D Modules to a Mystara Campaign, from the Northern Reaches to Wallara.
  • Escape from Hule, a sequel to X4 and X5.
  • The Egg Be Dammed! An adventure in Returned Blackmoor.
  • Deep Cover, A rather unusual cloak-and-dagger scenario
  • for 6 players in Corunglain.
Elegant Fantasy Dungeon Generator by Raphael Sadowski. Published by Nine Tongues Tales. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $2.50. 21 pages.
Dungeons. Skeletons of majority of OSR games.

Having a prepared dungeon is everything you need to run at least one game. Having a GOOD, detailed dungeon, filled with treasures, strange creatures and wandering monsters can suffice to keep your group entertained for weeks.

As always with my "Elegant Fantasy" series, you roll for inspiration, not stats. If we’re both lucky, then this book will inspire you, and help you create a fun adventure for your players, one that they will remember for a long time.

Have fun,
 
CASTLE OLDSKULL - Oldskull Anti-Paladins by Kent David Kelly. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $2.99. 54 pages.
Beyond mortal comprehension,

Beyond redemption,

Some insidious fiends

Just want to watch the world burn …


Ofttimes controversial, always vexing, but never boring, the ANTI-PALADIN is a specialized chaotic evil fighter sub-class which represents an irrepressible remnant order of the unholy black knights of yore. Whereas paladins represent ultimate light and the might of purity, anti-paladins are the harbingers of abyssal darkness, despair, and overpowering evil.

Anti-paladins were introduced to the game in 1980 and were even briefly made official by accident (via the 1981 fiendish bestiary) before being relegated to oblivion. They only ever returned in a sanitized form as the diluted “Blackguard.” But for those who want to include and glorify the original iconic class as first presented in a Draconian magazine almost 30 years ago, this supplement — likely the most detailed treatment of anti-paladins ever created — should be received with delectation.

The class has been reimagined and fully expanded upon within the context of the World of Oldskull campaign (as featured in the Oldskull Adventure Generator and other tomes), with elaborations pertaining to demonic worship, the enigmatic Knights of Saigoth, and the Great Old Ones who represent the Cthulhu Mythos. Systems featured in this old school gaming supplement include: a history and literary justification of the class (using Lord Mordred as a primary exemplar, among others), an overview of the Arthurian Knights Perilous, demonic empowerment and vigil systems, level titles, weaknesses, powers, spell casting rules, and ruling clarifications (based for example on a contemplated inversion of official Sagely paladin rulings made throughout the years).

Lacking in lechery or gore yet replete with sinister gothic atmosphere, the reimagined Oldskull Anti-Paladin is a perfect villainous archetype rendered for your enjoyment as a Non-Player Character, or even as a PC option pending Game Master approval.

However you decide to play them, I can assure you that your players will never forget these terrible nemeses. Why not give your most skilled and daring players a challenge, and a nefarious villain they’ll love to hate?

Another fine gaming supplement from Kent David Kelly and Wonderland Imprints, Only the Finest Works of Fantasy.
Grim & Perilous Chases - Supplement for #ZweihanderRPG by Peter Rudin-Burgess, Jnov36, Sean Van Damme, Adrian Kennelly. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $3.00. 17 pages.
This book as created by the ‘Grim & Perilous Librarians’. As the first collaborative project this book contains ideas, adventures and chase scenes by four different authors.

The chases in this book range from simple ideas and suggestions to full adventures. What we are striving for is ‘Something for everyone’.

This is also the first of many collaborative supplements.
Parasitic Magician #3 by Stephen Karnes. Published by Rocks and Roots. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 14 pages.
Issue 3 of my series of tables to generate material for science-fantasy / cyberpunk settings. This issue is focused on elements found in a city and includes 29 tables of varies lengths.
Black Maw 3ab - Ruins & Empire by Craig Pike. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $2.00. 6 pages.
Built on the site where dawns light first touched the world, and occupied time and again by civilizations both acient and recent. Any number of stories are trye, from dwarves to elves to mages to empires to private manor; all have been true at one point or another back to the literal dawn of time. But none survive for long, and wanderers keep coming to see what others have left behind. All pass through the Black Maw.
Deeper into the Black Maw you journey. Past the ghouls the Reptilians take repose in ruins of glory while the tiny ants toil and labour ... amid GOLD!

The sublevels of level 3 of the Black Maw megadungeon, for character levels 3. A classic dungeon, with the preview showing you exactly what you get!

Thanks for your support!
White Box: Eastern Adventures by Mark Tasaka. Published by Tasaka Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for Free. 126 pages. (Print edition forthcoming.)
Welcome to the days of old… to a time when adventurers were ordinary people, who took up this dangerous calling to accumulate hordes of treasure from monster filled dungeons. But be warned, adventuring is truly a dangerous profession here; dungeons are filled with deadly traps and even deadlier monsters. Most adventurers will perish on their first few adventures; those that survive have learnt the importance of knowing when to fight, when to run and when to rely on hirelings to get the job done. Take a step forward, if you dare, and enter a world of exotic dragons, talking cats and hungry ghosts with unending appetites… take a step forward and enter the world of ‘White Box: Eastern Adventures.’
‘White Box: Eastern Adventures’ is based on the simple and creative game play mechanics of the first incarnation of the ‘World’s Most Famous Role-Playing Game’. This game is set in a world inspired by Japanese mythology and folklore; a setting where social status and prestige are just as important as treasure and gold. Thus, the goal of adventuring is more than accumulating wealth; it is also about gaining merit and honour in a status conscious society.
Random Encounters Map Collection Vol 2, Issue 2 (Feb 2019) High-Res - REMC007 by Justin David Russell. Published by Epic Werkes Studio. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $10.00. Low-res version Avail. for PWYW. 64 pages.
Want help finding inspiration for your next adventure? Are you a busy GM looking for a quick map? Do you want unique locations to spice up your random encounter tables? Then you’ve come to the right place! Random Encounters provides creative solutions for gamers. It specifically caters to the Old School Renaissance, but the maps, hooks, and descriptions found in this book can be used for any fantasy role playing system.

Please enjoy this offering. Have fun and, as always, GAME ON!
Vintage Space Playtest Document by Jacob DC Ross. Published by Thunderegg Productions. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 39 pages.
Do you yearn for the days of optimistic, action-packed but thoughtful sci-fi? Vintage Space is a new OSR space opera game currently in dvelopment. This is the first PDF release of the game, though we've been gettin a LOT of feedback from the community.

With Vintage Space you play a member of the Interstellar Alliance's Space Corps. In just a couple minutes you can have a character made up Here's what you do:

-Pick a species from six familiar sci-fi tropes

-Roll your seven stats

-Choose which branch of the service you want to join and record your Space Corps Academy skills

It's really that easy. Thre are no feats to consider, no advancement trees, nothing.

Making yoru own starship is even easier!

Individual combat plays out on a standard hex map, but space combat uses an abstract, theater of the mind style. Instead of trackign acceleration, energy use and so on, each character decdes what they want to do to help and rolls to succeed. That's it.

The setting of Vintage Space is familiar to anyone who is a fan of live action science fiction produced from the 60s to the 90s.

This is a free playtest, but we appreciate tips. This goes towards helping us get the game ready for production. There are big things ahead for Vintage Space. Based on a flood of positive feeback and the enthusiasm of a growing community, we're going to Kickstart the game in a few months, with some very cool products on the way.
Men and Monsters Book 1: The Unseen (for The Front) by Robert Garitta. Published by Surreal Estate Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $0.80. 15 pages.
What you don't know can hurt you.
Introduce the paranormal to your World War Two gaming. Men and Monsters Book 1: The Unseen deals with invisible and shadowy threats and allies for the Greatest Generation. The Axis are already unleashing the unnatural on the battlefields. Do the Allies dare to follow?
  • The Haunted -they're never really alone.
  • Horlas -invisible monsters that make you doubt your own mind.
  • Agent Unseen -what will give out first, the formula making you invisible or your mind?
  • Kilroy -Kilroy IS here.
Men and Monsters is designed for The Front (all rights Mark Hunt) but can be used with other OSR systems. You need The Front or a similar system (i.e. The Black Hack -all rights David Black) to play.
The Armiger: Avremier Character Supplement I by David A. Hill. Published by Mothshade Concepts. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 19 pages.
Just the Armiger.

In this first new supplement for the Avremier Campaign Setting, we compile and add to the rules and details given for the Armiger PC class from Supplement 0 (Avremier) and Supplement I (Dhavon). With new material, clarifying edits, and brand-new illustrations, this mini-supplement contains everything you need to create and run an Armiger PC.

The (forthcoming) second part of this supplement will detail the Armigerial Courts, and their place in the Avremier setting - for use by the Referee.
Of Men Who Are Monsters - Adventure for #ZweihanderRPG Published by Sad Fishe Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 12 pages.
This scenario is released as part of the upcoming A Dark and Salient Land Campaign, the early access rules to which are available on DrivethruRPG as a “pay what you want” product. This scenario and others will be released with that product upon its completion. This product does not require A Dark and Salient Land.
Requires ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG from Grim & Perilous Studios, however.

Travel through the forests of the Zizka Valley is far from safe. Between the beasts of the wild, monsters of eldritch and corrupt evils, and numerous bandit lords and their troupes, there is much to fear. While a sufficiently sizable, armed, and vigilant party can expect to frighten away or stave off most dangers, this is not always the case. Most robbers and bandits will balk at the notion of anything near a fair fight and pick their prey accordingly. This is not so for Robber Baron Karl Duval.

Duval and his crew are known to target travelers, caravans, and brigades of essentially all sizes, from the poorest wayfaring peasant, to the most modest and well-guarded merchant, to even wagon trains carrying Imperial troops and supplies. Far from foolish and reckless, such attacks are quick, organized, and surgical in their tactics- never mind staggering in their ferociousness and shocking in their brutality.

Gaunt, cruel, serious, and a voyeuristic sadist, Duval now resides in a fortress somewhere in the wilds of the Valley. He must be put down.
Shadows on Starlight: White Stars - Black Ops by Walt Robillard. Published by HAZARD Studio. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $3.99. 61 pages.
Shadows on Starlight: White Stars – Black Ops is a source book that brings the intrigue and mayhem of Dark Operations to your White Star game. Whether war weary systems agent or wily renegade working the fringe, this book has what you need to make Space Opera into Space Ops!
Inside you'll find:
  • Agent's section for players to craft their existing White Star favorite classes into shadow working agents.
  • New gear and vehicles to make the dark an asset rather than an obstacle.
  • Referee advice for keeping the shadow operations sinister
  • Rules for making your operator, advanced.
  • New NPC's, allies, and adversaries.
  • A mission generator that can have you playing in the shadows in moments!
Mine the shadows for your story. Bring the burn of a gun barrel to your White Star table. Buy Shadows on Starlight today!
Antioch Station by Joseph Mohr. Published by Old School Role Playing. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 21 pages.
A representative of the Harcana corporation offers to hire the travelers for a delicate mission. An orbital research station of theirs has gone silent. No communications have been received from them in over a month. He offers to hire the team to visit the station and report on what has taken place there. Bonuses are offered for bringing back research data and rescuing crew members of the station.
Stairs of the Immortal: Swords & Wizardry Edition by Jay Libby. Published by Dilly Green Bean Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $9.50. 160 pages.
Welcome to the Kronosphere! A world of wonder and magic, where gods live and mortals fall! A place where life lessons carry for generations and the whispers of a dark god echo throughout time!
Stairs of the Immortal: Swords & Wizardry Edition offers advanced rules for character creation and leveling for Frog God Games’ Swords & Wizardry Role-Playing Game, along with information on the incredible world of the Kronosphere. No longer level up using just experience points! Now level up by completing story elements and advancing your character through true role-playing, not just hack and slash mass murder.

This book includes full character creation rules.

Full World Map

Weather patterns

Stats for all the Gods of the Kronosphere

The adventure ‘Quest for Kask’

The Dwarf Kingdom (with all the primary characters)

A collection of creatures and monsters that wander the Dwarf Kingdom.

This product requires: Swords & Wizardry Core rules, or Swords & Wizardry Continual Light
Off the Beaten Path: Mountain Excursions (Swords & Wizardry) by Thom Wilson. Published by ThrowiGames. Available from DriveThruRPG in Softcover/PDF Combo for $19.00, in Softcover for $15.00 and in PDF for $6.00. 32 pages.
Twenty-three single or double page mountain adventures to use as side quests or stand-alone adventures for your Fantasy RPG. There are over thirty pages of encounters found within a mountainous setting. As your player's characters travel through the wild, they will venture to snowy peaks, yeti caves, frozen tombs, deserted lodges, and wintry lakes (and more)! These adventures are a great way to add additional encounters during travel, or to handle an unexpected change in direction!
Gregorius21778: 50 Glitches & Drawbacks for Androids by Kai Pütz a.k.a Gregorius21778. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $0.75. 5 pages.
Do you need a quirk for your next android PC, but have trouble coming up with something? Are you a GM looking ideas for drawbacks (minor and major) to assign to robotic characters? Is a post-apocalyptic future calling for some damage and/or signs of neglect in the still active artificial humans of the by-gone age? Or is some serious damage to an android PC calling from some semi-permanent malfunctions?
If you were able to answer at least one of the above with a “Yes”, consider my 50 Glitches and Drawbacks for Androids. It is system neutral, it has 50 ideas, it is cheap and spares you sitting down for up to an hour to come up with such stuff yourself.
In The Darkness of Space by Joseph Mohr. Published by Old School Role Playing. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 28 pages.
A Neoh 'Am Abassador is on a mission to meet with the Qlansie to form an alliance against the aggressions of the Olonsean Empire. An Olonsean Majoor offers to pay well for an assassination of this ambassador before such a meeting takes place. The only problem is....it will have to take place aboard a luxury cruiser liner slowly traveling across the Sonora Sector of space.

This adventure is designed for use with Cepheus Engine and The Frontiers of Space.
Rolemaster Fanzine Issue 23 by Peter Rudin-Burgess. Published by PPM. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $0.99. 24 pages.
Welcome to Issue 23 of the Rolemaster Fanzine.
This month I have been getting rather excited about adventures. As you will know I have taken it upon myself to create starting adventures for RMu. The new game system is due for release at some point in 2019 and the one thing that a role playing game needs is adventures.
I have more adventures detailed on the blog than I have published so far in the fanzine. It occured to me this week that if you forget the idea of producing 12 starting adventures to give GMs a broad choice of starting points but rather put them together in a structure we are already part way to building a bigger adventure.

I don’t want a linear railroad. What I am thinking is a starting point, the adventure in this issue, Revenge! At the other end the adventure will conclude with City of Forgotten Heroes and the penultimate step and then a final showdown.

Sandwiched between these bookends will be a number, as yet unknown adventures. The intention is that these unknown adventures will be party size and party level independent. They will also be position neutral so as GM you pick the ones you like and do them in the order that works well for your group.

Making them level independent also means that you don’t have to push your players through adventures they don’t really want to do to simply earn enough experience points.

So this is the plan. It is slightly different to what I had envisioned in January but this structure means that if I formally create City of Forgotten Heroes and the showdown. Then with just one of the in between adventures you have a viable Adventure Path even if it is rather short. Each month from that point on the path becomes both longer and more sophisticated.

So that is my new mission and it all starts with Revenge!
BLUEHACK
BLUEHACK by Michael Thomas. Available from Lulu in Softcover Print for $4.49. 24 pages.
BLUEHACK™ is a minimalist but traditional tabletop role-playing game, played with paper, pencils and dice – it uses the Holmes Basic edition of that Original 1970s Fantasy Roleplaying Game as an inspiration to give you that ’77 Holmes flavour in as few pages as possible.
The Dog That Would Not Bark by Jonathan Hicks. Published by Farsight Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $1.00. 6 pages.
When a dog comes running to the players looking for attention, what dangers will they be led to?

The Dog That Would Not Bark is an OSR adventure for Swords & Wizardry White Box, although it can be easily adapted for most classic OSR systems. The adventure is designed for a party of four adventurers of any race and class, and can be inserted into your existing campaign quite easily, no matter what world you’re gaming in.

Designed for the Swords & Wizardry ruleset, but it can be easily adapted to most OSR systems.
Free Rain: An Introductory Module for Stars Without Number by Dominic Moore. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $2.49. 9 pages.
This is an introductory module for 3-5 1st level characters using the Revised Edition of the Stars Without Number ruleset.The module is intended for two purposes: first, to bring a group of PCs together to start a campaign as well as provide them (if all goes well) with a ship, and second, to introduce the player and the GM to the mechanics of the Stars Without Number game.

To that end, this short introductory adventure features opportunites for skill checks, ground combat, hacking, starship navigation, spaceship combat, pursuit, and evasion. This will help players get a feel for the game. It also includes page referances and reminders to the GM.

It can also be played as a one-shot to “test the waters” of the SWN revised rules.

Re-Releases, New Editions, Now in Print, etc.


Fight On! Compiled Compilation II + 11Fight On! Compiled Compilation II + 11 by Ignatius Umlaut. Available from Lulu in Softcover for $24.99. 358 pages.
We're back, baby! Enjoy this new compilation of issues 9-11, jam-packed with old school goodness, while we get issue 15 up and running. No real new content here, but some people prefer this format, and making it available to the public lets us make sure we can still generate files for Lulu and get you that new cavern crawling cheddar you crave!
DSM1 Black Flames (2e) by Sam Witt. Published by WotC. Available from DriveThruRPG in Print/PDF Combo for $14.99, in Print for $12.99 and in PDF for $2.99. 122 pages.
A simple trip from Urik to Raam: What could be easier? But unexpected encounters and freakish sandstorms conspire to make this journey more dangerous than imagined. Lost and dying of thirst, your characters unwittingly involve themselves in a strange mission-the motivation behind which lies hidden.

On the adventurers' trail are enraged dragons, desert fiends, and a curse that threatens to drive them mad-or make them one of the walking dead. Their only hope is to enter the ancient ruins of Yaramuke, site of a great battle between sorcerer-kings of ages past.

Yaramuke?City of Black Waters. The very name curdles blood.

Designed for four to six characters of 3rd to 6th level, Black Flames is set in and around the remains of Yaramuke and the cities of Urik and Raam. Let your Dark Sun game characters experience new adventure among the ancient ruins of Yaramuke!
Polyhedron Newszine V6 #3 Issue 30 Published by WotC. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $0.99. 32 pages.
Included in this issue:
  • Ravager - by Jeff Grubb. A bandit leader known only as "The Ravager" is reported to be immortal. Six player characters must find the secret of his power before his armies bring destruction to the desert kingdoms.
  • Nienna & Friends - by Christopher S. Jones. Our cover story is an other installment of "New Rogues Gallery." If you need a few interesting NPCs for your campaign, try this unique group.
  • In Search of a 12th-level Mage - by Roger E. Moore. A demographics study of the average AD&D® Game campaign world.
  • In Defense of the Lowly Fighter - by Brian Leikam. Have plain old fighters disappeared from your D&D®Game campaign? Here's one member 's suggestions for keeping the lighter a viable character choice.
  • Beware the New Golems - by Jeff Martin. If your players are tired of fighting the same old golems all the time, try the new ones presented here!
  • Littl Miss Sure Shot - by Preston Shah. Annie Oakley, a famous lady of the old west, is developed as an NPC for the BOOT HILL® Game.
  • The GAMMA WORLD® Game: New & Old - by James M. Ward. Previews of the upcoming revision from the author's notes.
Polyhedron Newszine V6 #4 Issue 31 Published by WotC. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $0.99. 32 pages.
Included in this issue: 
  • Ravager (Part II) - by Jeff Grubb. A bandit leader known only as "The Ravager" brings ruin to the Border Kingdoms. Six player characters must destroy the source of his power and defeat him before he can complete his evil plans.
  • The Plebe Zone - by Steve Thearle. One volunteer mem ber relates his experiences at Network HQ prior to GEN CON® 19 Gam Fair.
  • The Big Con (and me) - by Skip Williams. The co-author of this years Masters tournament reveals the truth about pre-convention work at HQ.
  • Aliens in the Cryptic Alliances - by James M. Ward. The truth is revealed in this issue's cover story - aliens have infiltrated the power gro ups of the GAMMA WORLD® Came!
  • Unofficial New Druid Spells - by Jon Pickens and Skip Williams. The final installment of the "New Spells" series offers suggestions to round out the druid's spell selection.

More Free Gaming Stuff from the Blogosphere and Environs


Yami Bakura of Remixes and Revelations posted OSR: The Minions of the Dark Powers.

Evlyn of Le Chaudron Chromatique posted Slumber City.

Michael Raston of The Lizard Man Diaries posted Alignment dependent "What does the NPC do?" table.

KingBrackish of Tomb of the Wandering Millennial posted Death and Cannibalism.

Jon Peterson of Playing at the World posted The Complete OD&D Illusionist.

Greyhawk Grognard sort out Quasi-Deities, Hero-Deities, and Heroes. 

Boris Stremlin of Bardiches & Bathhouses posted Running Village Adventures (Part 2) - Layout and Structures.

Mickeal van der Haar of Beneath the Ancient Slopes posted The Jungle of Bones - A One-Page Setting. 1 page PDF.

Tristan Tanner of The Bogeyman's Cave posted 30 Minute Dungeon: The Lonely Witch and 30 Minute Dungeon: Ratfolk Outpost.

Tamás Kisbali of Eldritch Fields posted [Dungeon] 30-minute dungeon: The Chaldean Archives.

Self Portrait as a Giant posted 30 Minute Dungeon...Literally Tower of the Time Lord Halacras.

GeneralApathy of Gen-Roll Apathy posted 30(ish) minute dungeon challenge.

V. A.  of Leicester's Ramble posted 30-minute dungeon.

Melan of Beyond Fomalhaut posted [BLOG] The Conspiracy.

Konsumterra of Elfmaids & Octopi posted d100 Things Elves Dislike, Beyond Exilon, Hex 0036 Copper Town & Bat Ruins and Exilon Region.

Jason Zavoda of Hall of the Mountain King posted Adventure Idea - Land Clearing.

Vagabundork uploaded The God's Bathhouse. Link direct to 4 page PDF. And A Ghost in a Jar w/ separate map link, links also direct to files.

Tamás Kisbali of Eldritch Fields posted Cheat sheet for The Gardens of Ynn and Cheat sheet for The Stygian Library.

The Scones Alone posted "The Gardens of Ynn" Referee Control Panels.

Oorlof of The Things We Do for XP posted Hauling - a custom inventory and houserule sheet. 1 page PDF.

James Mishler of Adventures in Gaming v2 posted [Advanced Labyrinth Lord] Class Level Titles.

GREGORIUS21778 posted ROBOTIC RELICS: THE C.A.R.S.U.

Sigve Solvaag of Revenant's Quill posted Sorabu Forest.

Evan Elkins of In Places Deep posted The Cosmology of Nightwick.

D. G. Chapman of The Graverobber's Guide posted The Seven Seas. 

The blogger at Bucket of Squids posted 30 Minute Dungeon.

pjamesstuart of False Machine posted The Wodlands 12 - The Imaginary City.

Wayne Snyder uploaded Dark Ruins 1 & 2 to Google Drive. 

Michael Galosi of 400 Billion Suns posted Strange New World: Buffalo-folk OSR Race (Kickstarter zine preview.)

Monsieur Le Battlier from The Bottomless Sarcophagus posted The Parthenogenesis of the Mayfly Elves, and their White Form.

T AKW of Dreams and Fevers posted Welcome to the Ashlands. 1 page setting PDF.

Luke Murphy of Whose Measure God Could Not Take posted Quick List: d50 Pirate Ship Names.

David Baymiller of The OSR Library posted Operation White Box WWII: Air Combat Options, Planes, Flyboy Class.

Maptime


Dyson Logos of Dyson's Dodecahedron posted Release the Kraken on Paradise Control!, Lorean’s Manor and Brenovale Castle.

Glynn Seal of MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing posted this map of The Island of Hsst-Akal.

Jacob Hurst posted A New Map of Swordfish Islands. 

Reviews & Play Reports


Melan of Beyond Fomalhaut posted [REVIEW] Tar Pits of the Bone Toilers.

Pookie UK of Reviews from R'lyeh posted a review of Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG.

Joshua Burnett of Bernie the Flumph posted Educated Goats and Creepy Wells [LotFP: Ashes of Angels session 6].

Bryce Lync of tenfootpole.org reviews Trollback Keep, B2.5 Caves of the Unknown and Hard Light.

GREGORIUS21778 posted REVIEW: ELEGANT FANTASY ARTIFACT GENERATOR.

Dungeons and Possums posted Review: Dead Planet for Mothership by Donn Stroud.

HYPNOGORIA 110 - Answering the Call of Cthulhu: Looking at the new starter set for the classic horror RPG. 

BRUTORZ BILL of Green Skeleton Gaming Guild posted SWN Sector Cabal Sigma Session 1 - The Wrong Side of Heaven (part 3).

R.E. DAVIS of The Chaos Grenade posted RAMBLING ON: SOLAR BLADES & COSMIC SPELLS.

Jeremy “frothsof” Smith of Thought Eater posted Humpday Blog-O-Rama 3.6.19, Frothcast #22: Night Below Session Recap 3.3.19 and Frothcast #24: Five Minute Friday: Unknown Clones 2.

DADSANGRY of Rolling Boxcars posted Tall Tales: Wild West B/X Fantasy Adventure Game.

Tamás Kisbali of Eldritch Fields posted [Actual Play] The Stygian Library [LotFP].

John Large of Red Dice Diaries posted Thousand Lands S01E04.

Dungeon Musings of YouTube fame uploaded Actual Play - Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea - Reavers of Thule Ep 4 and Actual Play - Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition - Session 2.

Matt Finch RPG Studio uploaded Swords of Jordoba (Original D&D actual play) 3-5-19.

And in Other News...

ImageDungeons and Possums posted Interview: Sean McCoy Talks Mothership, Dead Planet, Game Design, and More!, as well as Interview: Donn Stroud Talks Dead Planet, A Pound of Flesh, Drink Spin Run, and More!

Bundle of Holding is doing Castle Oldskull!

Dungeons and Possums posted Interview: Fiona Maeve Geist Talks Dead Planet, Diversity in Gaming, Rotten Sycamores, and More!

Konsumterra of Elfmaids & Octopi posted Exilon Real Estate Hex Rush! Imaginary kingdom giving away land!

[Threshold] Issue 23 Campaigns and Adventures, Call for Contributors!

Kickstarters, Pre-Orders, etc.


Winter's Daughter published by Necrotic Gnome. Now available for Pre-Order from the Publisher in Print/PDF combo for €12,00. 24 pages (B/X) 36 pages (5e.)
Winter's Daughter—The New Dolmenwood Adventure
Deep in hoary old Dolmenwood, a long-forgotten burial mound looms behind a ring of standing stones where the sinister Drune congregate. Within the tomb lie the treasures and mortal remains of the knight Sir Chyde. Folklore knows him as a hero of the wars of mortal against fairy, in ancient times, when men and women finally wrested dominion of Dolmenwood from the frigid grasp of the cruel Cold Prince.
A tempting site for those who seek to unravel the secrets of the past (or just rob tombs). But those who intrude upon the quiet sanctity of the tomb may awaken forces long dormant. Sir Chyde was secretly betrothed to a fairy princess and daughter of the Cold Prince, and their souls have waited—beyond time and death—for the day when they may be reunited.

Can your band of heroes or ne'er-do-wells unravel the riddles of the tomb of the giant-slayer?

  • Suitable for characters of 1st to 3rd level.
  • 24 pages (old-school version) or 36 pages (5th edition version).
Deluxe Print Edition
We're primed to produce this adventure with a high-quality printer in Europe. Feast your eyes on these stats:

  • Digest-sized (A5) hardcover. (It will look great alongside your LotFP books.)
  • Durable, sewn binding. (Press the pages flat. No really, it's safe!)
  • Lovely creamy-tinted paper. (Ooh, creamy.)
  • Maps and area summaries printed on the end papers of the book for super easy access. (You know, inside the cover.)














And That's It for This Week...


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About The OSR News

Unless otherwise noted, all links to products and files are to the individual authors sites, pertinent posts, or sales pages. I don’t link directly to files unless that is the only link available.

I have received no remuneration from any publisher for reporting on their releases, nor is such a requirement for a product to be included in these posts. At times, an author or publisher may send me a complimentary copy of an item, for purposes of review. This is not a requirement for a product's inclusion in these posts. One Bookshelf site links are affiliate links and may provide some compensation from that retail site.

All prices are set by the respective venues and are subject to change, or may otherwise be different from what is listed in this post.

Please feel free to send me information on any new releases, events, or other items of interest, which you would like to see mentioned.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

OSR Heresy

Here's a very recent post I made on reddit. It addresses something I've been meaning to write about anyway, so I'm reposting it to the blog.
Image result for g1 giants ad&d
There's certainly some good suggestions in the thread so far. Now, one of the reasons I run 1e is because the characters are a bit sturdier than they are in B/X, OD&D, etc.

Here's the thing. Here's where I disagree with OSR orthodoxy. The idea of "combat as a fail state." The problem being, I've never in 35 years of running the game, had someone at my table who didn't like combat. Who didn't want combat! I'm sure they're out there. And yes, there are a lot of things that happen in D&D that are exciting and fun and don't require the combat tables.

But, combat is where it's at! Take every advantage you can, plan, play smart, use every advantage and strategy, be cautious and judicious, by all means, but at the end of the day who wants to play in a D&D game where you get to level five and have never killed an orc? Or, have never fought in a dangerous, fever pitch battle that you survive by the skin of your teeth and get to brag about for months or years to come? Unless you've created a super tame dungeon and some real quiet random tables, combat and combat death is going to happen and blaming the characters for being too lame to avoid it is unreasonable and undesirable. Few wanted to avoid it in the '80's and few want to avoid it now. I've never had a party play through G1 and just, you know, talk to the giants. I've never had them trick the giants into leaving, though admittedly, that would be pretty cool. G1 is a slaughterfest. And fun as all hell to run or play through.

My son is 15. He and his friends play 1e/Osric. They're also into super hard and retro video games. Like Spelunky. Ever play Spelunky? Fuck. Spelunky is hard, unforgiving and there's no save function. A lot of things can kill you with one hit and it takes skill and determination to get anywhere with that bloody game. Not every young person wants a game that hands everything to them. There are always going to be gamers who want the Hard Stuff!

Some decent death rules are desirable. Nothing as easy as, say 5e, but something more forgiving than death at 0. And make resurrection plausible by at least fifth level or so. Charge out the nose for it, use it to force quests, whatever. But once res is on the table, characters get a lot more relaxed with the idea of PC death. At that point, a TPK is what they worry about.

Old School play is probably never going to be for more than a relatively small sub section of RPG gamers. And that's okay. Get out there, talk to people, recruit people totally new to the game. Play via internet, if you've got no other choice. It isn't bad and still feels like playing D&D.

And do remember this. Three or four years from now, the players are unlikely to remember much about the time they casually dispatched the Lizard King's guards after putting them to sleep, then sneaked into his treasure room while Mr. Lizard was busy eating lunch, stole his treasure chest and coolly sauntered out of his dungeon.

What they're going to remember forever is the firefight, down to the wire, one or two PC's down, all out melee, which they won with grit, daring and a timely lightening bolt or critical hit, finally killing that bastard Lizard and looting his treasure, limping out of the dungeon and calculating how much they would have to spend on getting a fellow PC resurrected. 

Friday, March 1, 2019

The OSR News: March 1, 2019

The GM Day sale at DriveThruRPG is here and there's some damn good prices on a lot of excellent OSR stuff! Meanwhile, Dungeons and Possums is still kicking ass, Timothy Brannon brings us more witchery, James M. Spahn keeps making me want to run a Science Fantasy campaign and another OD&D supplement becomes available in Print. All this and more appear in this week's News!

New Releases


Walking the Way: A Mysticism Sourcebook [Swords & Wizardry] by James M. Spahn. Published by Barrel Rider Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $6.39. 64 pages.
Strange Gifts and Mystical Powers 
Across A Galaxy of Endless Stars

Walking the Way: A Mysticism Sourcebook for White Star brings a plethora of new options to your OSR sci-fi campaign! As heroic Star Knights and exotic Alien Mystics fight against the agents of the Void and the evil Galactic Consortium, they find new options to add to their arsenal in the latest supplement for White Star: White Box Science Fiction Roleplaying and White Star: Galaxy Edition. Inside you'll find:

  • Four brand new classes! Elusive Althar meld both Meditations and Gifts, while Augumented Waybreakers meld cybernetic enhancement with the powerful Meditations.
  • New Gifts and Meditations to expand the power of your Mystic character classes!
  • Half a dozen paths for Alien Mystics to customize their journey towards enlightenment!
  • Complete rules for building and customizing the iconic weapon of the Star Knights: The Star Sword.
  • New gear, weapons, and armor!
  • New Advanced Technology, like the esoteric Spirit Stones!
  • New Monsters, from the adorable Gorp to the dangerous Void Serpent!
  • A completely new form of Mysticism: Technomancy! 
Expand your galaxy today with Walking the Way: A Mysticism Sourcebook.
The Angel's Burial Ground - A Suburb of Infinigrad by Michael Raston. Published by Gorgzu Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $1.99. 31 pages.
A mountainside suburb of towers, inhabited by angels and haunted by an undying colony of scaled men. The Angel's Burial Ground is filled with gilded corpses, gangs, mysteries and ancient medical technology. All set in the sprawling fantasypunk megacity of Infinigrad.
The Angel's Burial Ground can slot into your campaign's world preexisting megacity or serve as a fully fleshed out settlement in a mountain range of your own hexcrawl. This adventure location can be scaled or tailored to your party, as NPC hit dice are variable and random throughout.

Included in the PDF are:

  • Stats and descriptions of 7 local factions
  • Suburb Map
  • Landmark and Building descriptions of 39 locations
  • Random encounter and reaction tables
  • Rumour table
  • Quest generator
  • Bone to pick table
  • Random name tables
  • Angel visual quirk table
  • Building interior stocking and mapping tables
  • NPC relationship table
Grimtooth’s Trapsylvania (DCC Sourcebook) by Grimtooth the Troll. Published by Goodman Games. Available in Hardcover for $39.99, in Softcover for $24.99 and in Leatherbound for $100. A PDF version is available for $14.99. Also Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $11.99. 168 pages.
For the first time ever: the Legendary locations of Grimtooth’s Traps revealed! And fully compatible with DCC RPG!

For over 30 years Grimtooth’s numerous Traps books have horrified players and inspired gamemasters with hundreds of dangerous devices, deadly deathtraps and hilarious hijinx! Now Grimtooth (with a little help from kid sister Grimtina) will take you 
on a personally guided tour of his realm and the central hub of his vast Traps empire.
Run your own Grimtooth campaign or pick and choose locations you can use in your own single location adventures. Explore Grimtooth’s caverns, visit his Inner Sanctum, escape the Deathmaze Testing Center, attend Warthog’s School for Trolls, take a ride on Grimtooth’s Airship, tour Grimtina’s Petting Zoo or get lost in the Infinite Corridor of Hallways and many more gigantic places of doom. Each of these infamous locations include maps, descriptions, Non-player character details, scenarios, all with in-depth DCC stats and lots of art by Traps artist SS Crompton.

And can you uncover the horrendous secret that lies deep beneath Grimtooth’s caverns and back into his family’s history? It’s a great read and a useful campaign setting all in one book. What are you waiting for? Get yours today!
1988 Dungeon by Goblin's Henchman. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 20 pages.
This is an 1e AD&D adventure made in 1988. It was one of the first dungeons I ever made when I was a teenager. So, it’s about as Old Skoool as it gets … not in an OSR sense, but in a “I’ve made a dungeon who wants to play” kind of way. If you’re looking for understandable/sensible dungeon ecology, themes, plot, and balanced encounters etc., then you’ve signed up for the wrong adventure!

I'm very happy for you to pay nothing for this product; and anything given to me will only be frittered away on RPG-related wares anyway.
Escape the Noose - Adventure for #ZweihanderRPG by Brent Scanlon. Published by Nights of the Shed. Available from DriveThruRPG in Print for $3.99. 13 pages.
Can you make it out of Nuess alive, and Escape the Noose!? 
Escape the Noose is set in the context of historical events known as the War of Cologne, or the Seneschal’s War. The adventure begins with the characters finding themselves trapped in the fallen city of Neuss on the Rhine river.
Neuss was once famous for repelling previous attempts to storm her walls; however, this time her garrison is surrounded—and outnumbered—by a host of Spanish and Italian soldiers with cannons.

This adventure is designed for Basic Tier characters; however, it can be easily made more difficult for Intermediate Tier play by adding extra soldiers to encounters, increasing the rate of cannon fire at escape vessels, or increasing the difficulty rating of skill rolls due to smoke, rubble, toil and other trouble.

This adventure also contains:

  • Historical background for the Siege of Nuess
  • A short bestiary detailing new foes
  • Adventure seeds for further escapades in 16th Century Cologne
  • Nuess city maps
Adventure Location 003 - The Mountain Tollkeep by Peter Lattimore. Published by Garblag Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $1.99. 10 pages.
For a century the only safe land route between the two nations was to go all the way around the Great Central Mountains. The sea route wasn’t been much better, with stormy seas around the peninsula barring the path of all but the bravest captains. So when the Mountain Pass was hewn from the rock of those great peaks a short, and important, route was finally available. To ensure that this route was not abused another construction project was undertaken.

High on a mountain side where the pass skirts the flank of a massive peak sit two towers standing proud against the sky. Between them a thick wall and portcullis bar the path of anyone seeking to sneak from one land to another, for whatever purpose. The walls of this structure have witnessed many things: diplomatic envoys hell-bent on trade deals, generals on horseback with declarations of war, displaced peasantfolk hammering on it’s gates with malnourished hands.

The Mountain Tollkeep does much more than just watch the border of two countries.

This open source adventure location is a standalone scenario that is designed to fit into an existing campaign, or be the jumping off point for one.

As an open source fantasy location, the Mountain Tollkeep is a useful site for many roleplaying games, including: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Zweihander RPG and of course, Dungeons & Dragons!

This document will provide you with location descriptions, hooks to get in and out of the scenario and some potential hazards and enemies that would fit into the location well. As such this document will refer to elements that should be represented by finding the appropriate stats in which ever system you choose to play.

We hope you enjoy.
Rakehell - Issue One: The Rift of Mar-Milloir. A downloadable zine for KNAVE by Goatman's Goblet. Available from itch.io in PDF for $3.00 USD or more. Pagination unknown. (A print edition is forthcoming via DTRPG. ed.)
The Rift of Mar-Milloir will always be contested between two kingdoms, though neither will ever have the means or desire to enforce that claim with true rulership. Each year, the representative courtiers will send spies and assassins to one another’s court, to beguile, berate, and suffer further insult to see the conflict never ends. No one goes to Mar-Milloir who has a choice, it is a wretched and perfidious region of serpent-haunted mountains, wayward nephilims, and heretical holdouts who refuse the reformation of the Grand Heliopapacy of the Cathedral Tempestuous.

You have been sent here, if not to die then to profit your betters. You are a blaggard, a knave, a blackguard, a rakehell, and an out-and-out scoundrel; whether you desire such a title or otherwise.

Survive. Change your fickle fortunes. Take the Rift for yourself. Praise be to the Sun and those who have inherited its grace; with ambition enough, you will stand among them.
Bastard Sword Hargrove. Published by Mystic Beard Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $1.00. 10 pages.
A collection of down and dirty house rules for The Original Fantasy Roleplaying Game, I've culled these mechanics over the past 24 years from various sources for use in my home games. Now you, too, can use these rules as you see fit, for the low price of only $1 (US).
A Dark and Salient Land (Early Access) by Tyler A. Thompson, Owen L. Luetkemeyer, Tyler J. Urish. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 28 pages. (This appears to be a Zweihander thingie. ed.)
A short time ago, a Great Horde formed far to the east, from deep within the cold and savage mountains at the edge of the known world: a horde of foul, corrupted men, twisted human-beast hybrids, the dead walking in perverse imitation of life, and distorted, maddening creatures of corruption and chaos.
This horde marched westward, growing in strength and devouring all that is good and living as it went. The Empire and the other nations of men rallied a great host of their own, and engaged the forces of evil and corruption across a massive front spanning the east, a bulwark against annihilation. For years, they fought what seemed a losing battle to push back the foul tide of corruption, but through the valor, heroism, and determination of the great heroes of the lands and the stoic labor of the people, the foul host was broken, scattered, and destroyed. The Empire has at last achieved some semblance of peace, prosperity, and security within its own borders. Corruption, heresy, and the other great evils that plague humanity are still present, but are for now pushed firmly to the fringes of the realm or beaten back into hiding throughout the realm. The same cannot be said of the lands beyond the Empire’s core. Those to the east are war torn, and those beyond the final frontline are desolate and destroyed. Those to the west, while enduring struggles with corruption of their own, stand strong, but consider themselves the true heroes of the recent war and have themselves settled back into petty politicking, even as efforts to reconstruct the east have begun. Worse, the lords, priests, and academics of the land have reason to believe the host was merely a vanguard, and in time a new host will form and once again descend from the mountains. Many believe it to be unbeatable, a mere fact of existence now. Others have hope that it can be vanquished for good, if only all of humanity continues to try. What is certain is that the enemy is powerful, and grows more powerful still, day by day. When it will come is uncertain, but there is every reason to suspect it will indeed come, and just as much reason to suspect that humanity is not yet ready. The players take on the role of petty lords and their personal retinues, freshly granted title to fiefs in the Zizka Valley, a region at the border of the Empire, a final gateway to the Eastern Kingdoms and steppe tribes that lie beyond- or the final gate before the Imperial core, and mere days of travel from the final frontline of the war. A long-neglected region which has suffered greatly from corruption and waste, the players have been tasked with reclaiming the valley and establishing a defensive line, a final bulwark to buy humanity time should the evil host return and beat back the crusading forces at the frontlines. Players will be afforded little help by their Emperor, nor their neighbors; the Valley is a contingency plan, a gap stop, and not a priority in which to invest too much cscarce time, money, and resources. How much time they have before the horde is at their doorstep is unclear and depends on their contributions to the effort, the valor of the crusaders, and luck. Perhaps they have mere weeks, perhaps years, perhaps it will be vanquished before reaching them at all. All that is known is their duty, and that the fate of humanity may depend on securing the Zizka Valley.

DISCLAIMER: This represents the main rules of the A Dark and Salient Land campaign, but lacks the scenarios which will accompany the final release. These scenarios will be released on their own as they are finished at a nominal cost, and later added to this document. To support development, pay what you want. Enjoy.
Ruins & Adventures 2: Aldair's Arboretum (B/X Essentials) Published by Mesozoic Press. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $1.50. 10 pages.
This version uses the B/X Essentials rules from Necrotic Gnome

An isolated forest dwelling holds mystery, magic, and new dangers.

Encounter Location: Forest

The Ruins & Adventures series is intended to be dropped into an existing campaign as encounters and events that occur during their travels. While each one is self contained, they contain advice on how to further expand upon the events.

Contains:

  • 7 magical items
  • 4 new monster
  • 150 DPI jpeg map (17” x 25”) for use with VTT’s
Whisper in the Crags (S&W)by Lloyd Metcalf. Published by Fail Squad Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $4.00. 15 pages.
When the winds blow in from the east at just the right angle, the Whispering Crags north of Lorview howl and moan, giving rise to dark superstition and legends. Little Lottie Fisher has a secret friend who knows more than most about the crags. That strange little girl, drawing her pictures and talking to the dark.

“Lottie has a wanderlust,” her mother Rasel Fisher often says. “Even as a babe on the road, she wandered off for two days into the forest alone. She’s a blessing and a handful.”

What dark secret await the heroes in the city of Lorview this time?
Falls Keep (S&W) by Lloyd Metcalf. Published by Fail Squad Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $4.00. 12 pages.
An old keep at the head of nearby falls fills the local tavern with rumors of the past lord of the land, Lord Venwexal. The purpose of his towers is the subject of wild speculation, late night tales, and rumors. After the lord was removed from power by a revolt, some twisted sorcery took up residence, or so the tales say. The abandoned towers have certainly fallen to the wildlands, and few, if any, survive venturing anywhere near the falls. What is sure is that the stone buildings are not standing empty, and most can agree that some powerful magic is at the heart of the unusual keep.
Gregorius21778: 50 Small-Time Vendors for a Weird, Irradiated Post-Apocalypse by Kai Pütz a.k.a Gregorius21778. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $1.40. 11 pages.
50 Small-Time Vendors for a Weird, Irradiated Post-Apocalypse is a collection of hawkers, hucksters, peddlers and other NPC that have something to sell in small quantities. It is all Mutant Future(tm) compatible, so the goods are from the equipment and technological artifact section of said game. A few vendors offer services instead of goods. Each one (humans, mutants, robots, mutant plants and mutant animals) comes with a very brief description and a name, as well as what is on sale for what price (or whatever else a given vendor may ask for in return). Use them on a “a few per settlement” basis in your game, or round them all up in one location for a big, colorful, post-apocalyptic flee market.
Back to the Dungeon Zine for LL/AEC V1I4 by Eldrad Wolfsbane. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 28 pages.
The freasome 4th level of the BLACK STAIRS MEGA DUNGEON!
Macchiato Monsters by Eric Nieudan. Published by Lost Pages. Available from DriveThruRPG in Print/PDF Combo for $12.00 and in PDF for $6.00. 58 pages. (There's also a PDF upgrade bundle, which looks like it comes with a different version of the game. $10.00.)
Macchiato Monsters is a rules-light, slightly collaborative, old school roleplaying game. It is not a game about coffee.

Two years after the release of the Zero Edition, we come to you with a perfectly tuned engine for adventure, exploration and survival in all kinds of perilous 
, whether you're using published settings and adventures or create your own.

Key features:

  • Freeform characters: emulate a classic concept, or come up with something unique and help define the world.
  • Risk dice: a simple attrition mechanic for armour, gear, encounters, treasure, and story progression.
  • Flexible magic: invent your spells, and keep casting them as long as you have resources - and hit points - to fuel your magic.
  • One-roll combat rounds: no initiative, no battle maps, no quarter given.
  • Campaign tools: a panoply of tables and procedures to prep and improvise content.
  • A while lot of illustrations of monsters having coffee!
Midlands Low Magic Sandbox Setting Hex Map by Stephen J. Grodzicki. Published by Pickpocket Press. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $5.00. 2 pages.
A gorgeous full colour Hex Map (plus no hex version) for the Midlands Low Magic Sandbox Setting by RPG veteran cartographer John Stevenson. The Map is 14 inches by 15 inches, PNG file. The hexes are 20 miles by default (scale in the bottom left corner, beside the compass). For more pictures of the map (including close ups) check out the Low Fantasy Gaming website. Hope you enjoy!
The Merchant's Heart by Michael Palacios. Published by Three Swords and Three Ravens. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 8 pages.
*THIS ADVENTURE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN*

*IT PROBABLY ISN'T SUITABLE FOR ADULTS EITHER*


A rich merchant is found murdered, his heart removed. Will the heroes find the murderer or will the apocalypse be unleashed upon an unsuspecting Europe?

This was a joke, a jest, a parody, a, dare I say it, lampoon that got out of hand. But it was well received. Interest was expressed. It's bad. It's kind of terrible. But it might be so terrible it's good. It's also free!
GM Screen Panels - Low Fantasy Gaming Deluxe Edition by Stephen J. Grodzicki. Published by Pickpocket Press. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for Free. 8 pages.
8 x landscape 8.5" x 11" GM Screen Panels (4 x Colour and 4 x B&W) for Low Fantasy Gaming Deluxe Edition, illustrated by Daniel Comerci. Fits perfectly in the 4 panel DrivethruRPG Game Master Screen (landscape).

Note page number references in the PDFs may change depending on the final page count of the LFG Deluxe Hardcover (due by 31 June 2019). This file will be updated if so.
An Evening’s Adventure #2: The Nixie’s Quandary by J. Published by New Realms Publishing. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $1.60. 6 pages.
A chance encounter with a nixie sends the party on a quest to discover the source of Briar Creek’s pollution. But the source may be difficult to cleanse and deadly hazards lurk around each bend of the river. Can your party save the nixie and her kin or will you fail to solve the Nixie’s Quandary? 
The Nixie’s Quandary is a short adventure for five to seven 1st level characters and suitable for use with Labyrinth Lord (tm) and similar Old School games. The adventure can be played independently or as part of the Evening’s Adventure campaign.
Hobonomicon #1 Published by Alephnullpublishing. Available from Gumroad for $15.00.
HOBONOMICON ISSUE #1 is planned to arise at Gary Con 2019. Gods help ye all.

Includes Art, Comics, Words, Thought Crimes and Game Mechanics by:
 
Doug Kovacs
Stefan Poag
Steve Gomez
James MacGeorge
Jarrett Crader
Wayne Snyder
Clea Bennett
Make your own decisions. Elastic thought is paramount. Dig your hands into the clay of the universe and shape existence as you will.
The Hobonomicon demands it.
SCAIII.1 Cavalier Attitude by Louis "sirlou" Kahn. Published by Starry Knight Press. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $2.00. 19 pages.
Hello and welcome, adventurers and Game Masters!

Welcome to the First issue of the Third Volume of my webzine: Cavalier Attitude. As the
 masthead says, this zine will focus on the Old School Revival (OSR) in fantasy role-playing. The Oldschool System Reference and Index Compilation™ (OSRIC) is my personal retro-clone of choice, but I will cover other games systems as well, as interest and time permit. The zine is publishing quarterly. The first issue was published in September 2017, this is our seventh issue.
The seventh issue’s contents include the following highlights:
  • Felony Murder Hobos: Law and Order in Medieval Campaigns: an article on applying legal system in your fantasy role playing campaign.
  • Bard’s Corner: a feature showcasing fantasy fiction with an RPG theme, by myself and others.
  • The story in this issue is entitled “Prue’s Fate".
  • Magickal Menagerie: a feature wherein we provides new and unique magic items for your players, straight from the pages of my published adventures!
  • Pre-generated player character: a set of six pre-generated player character ready to take on whatever your GM’s campaign can dish out. This issue features our new landscape character sheet format, which we hope you enjoy!
  • An Exclusive OSR adventure, "The Blood Moon": a lycanthrope-themed OSR adventure which takes place at a ransacked farm a few short miles outside civilization, known as the Humbill House. This mid-level adventure features a set of three new lycans, the WEREWEASEL, WEREJACKAL and WERELION. It is compatible with most FRPGs and is intended for 4-6 player characters of levels 4-6.
  • BONUS HANDOUT: A full-page sized handout of the map for the Humbill House farmstead for use with the BLOOD MOON adventure.
  • Old School art: a showcase of art by myself and others which is features in my published books;
  • Market Square: synopses and information on my recently published books; and
  • The Inn: a roundup of role-playing social media posts. 
The inaugural issue of the zine is still FREE to anyone who purchases one of my modules, supplements or one-shots. It is also available for regular purchase here on this site.

This zine is sure to please discerning GMs and players everywhere! Thanks for checking it out!
Tantalus by Simon Todd. Published by MontiDots Creations: The Art of Simon To. Available from  DriveThruRPG in PDF for $6.00. 44 pages.
Tantalus can be played as part of the Highcliff Gard series or placed into any adventure where characters step through a magical gate. Designed for characters of 5th level or above, this book provides players with challenges requiring more than just brawn or spell power and introduces players to a completely new realm of existence unlike anything they have encountered before.

Re-Releases, New Editions, Now in Print, etc.

OD&D Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry (0e) Pubished by WotC. Available from DriveThruRPG in Print/PDF combo for $14.19 in Print for $12.99 and in PDF for $2.99. 60 pages.
The book you now hold in your hand represents new dimensions to an already fascinating game system. This is the third supplement to DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and was produced as a result of an ever increasing demand for new material.
This book also represents a new trend in the fine art of Dungeon Mastering. As originally conceived, D & D was limited in scope only by the imagination and devotion of Dungeon Masters everywhere. The supplements have fulfilled the need for fresh ideas and additional stimulation. But somewhere along the line, D & D lost some of its flavor, and began to become predictable. This came about as a result of the proliferation of rule sets; while this was great for us as a company, it was tough on the DM. When all the players had all of the rules in front of them, it became next to impossible to beguile them into danger or mischief. The new concept pioneered within these pages should go a long way towards putting back in some of the mystery, uncertainty and danger that make D & D the un-paralleled challenge it was meant to be. Legend Lore once again becomes the invaluable spell it was meant to be. No more will some foolhardy adventurer run down into a dungeon, find something and immediately know how it works, or even what it does, By the same token, no longer will players be able to send some unfortunate hireling to an early demise by forcing him to experiment on his master's goodies. The introduction of psionic combat is bound to enliven games grown stagnant. It opens up untold possibilities for both the players and the DM, and in so doing recognizes one of the favorite topics of science fiction and fantasy writers: the unknown powers of the mind.

As with the two previous supplements, the material herein contained follows the format of the original three booklets that comprise D & D. Corrections and additions are noted, so that it can all be integrated into the original with a minimum of bother. As you will note on the title page, this supplement had many contributors. Such is the nature of the beast. D & D was meant to be a free-wheeling game, only loosely bound by the parameters of the rules. We feel that ELDRITCH WIZARDRY goes a long way toward fulfilling the original premise of danger, excitement, and uncertainty. May you always make your saving throw.

This PDF is drawn from the Original Edition Premium Reprint, which included new cover art and updated layout.
Praise the Fallen. Published by Graphite Prime Studios. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 16 pages.
There were those demented powers that wanted to return all to naught, to become one with the Ever Slumbering Void. Pantheons collided and the Heavens shattered with war. Untold cosmic powers were lost without their names ever spoken by mortal tongues. Countless legions fell. Defeated in their gambit of annihilation, they scattered across the universe. Several of the Fallen fell to this world, forever imprisoned at their point of impact...
Praise the Fallen is an OSR styled one-shot dungeon-crawl where the players explore the lair of a Fallen Angel Cult. It is designed to challenge character levels 3-4. It is a place where alignment matters and foolish decisions have consequences. It is also a place where the players may find strange bedfellows as they ultimately try to thwart the cult from resurrecting an angel of destruction.
Polyhedron Newszine V6 #1 Issue 28. Published by WotC. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $0.79. 32 pages.
Included in this issue:
  • The Great Bugbear Hunt - by Frank Mentzer. Originally written as an AD&D® Game Open Tournament for the GEN CON® South Game Fair in 1982, Module R5 has become one of the RPGATM Network's most popular tournament scenarios. This search for the party magic-user's missing spell books set the standard for wilderness adventures.
  • Adventure in the Clouds - by Jeff Martin. Need a new setting for adventures? Our cover story offers suggestions from a top-notch player and judge for developing cloud islands for campaign use.
  • The Specialist Mage - by Jon Pickens. Our series of unofficial new spells for the AD&D® Game continues with new spell suggestions for the necromancer and guidelines for developing specialty magic-users of your own.
Polyhedron Newszine V6 #2 Issue 29. Published by WotC. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $0.79. 32 pages.
Included in this issue:
  • The Camel's Nose - by Michael D. Selinker. Five vally elves and a camel must carry a sacred artifact called "The Camel's Nose" across the desert to the Shrine of Camelopardus, Camel Lord of the Burning Desert.
  • The Lighter Side of Encounters II - by Skip Williams. Has your campaign grown too predictable? Add a bit of madness!
  • Dungeonsongs - by David Collins, Jeff Grubb, Frank Dickos, and Jon Pickens. More music to adventure by.
  • The Ecology of the Tiamat - by Michael D. Selinker. And you thought there was only one! Here's the REAL story of chromatic dragons.
  • Fractured Spells - by Rick Reid, with an introduction by David Collins. For our final installment of the "New Spells" series, we present the most unofficial set of spells yet!
  • The Gods of the GAMMA WORLD® Game - by James M. Ward. The stuff of which legends are made.
  • The Savage Sword of Lugnut the Barbarian - by Roger E. Moore. Foolish fiction for fantasy fans.
Thousand Suns Complete Bundle by James Maliszewski, Greg Videll. Published by Grognardia Games. Available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for $20.00. Includes: Thousand Suns: Rulebook, Imperio 1bis, Thousand Suns Character Sheet, Thousand Suns: Five Stars, Thousand Suns: Starships.
It is a time of wonder.

Humanity has reached the stars and created a society of glittering sophistication and 
diversity on hundreds of planets. Poets declaim, lovers rendezvous, and rakes duel with wits and monoblades. Colonists settle virgin worlds, merchant princes vie for emerging markets, and free traders hawk their exotic wares. The Navy rules the jumplines, putting down pirates and charting new star systems. Scientists uncover startling new truths on long-dead worlds and posit revolutionary theories dizzying in their implications. Technology advances at a rapid pace, each year improving the lot of all who accept its boons. None dare deny the bright destiny Man has seized for himself.
It is a time of upheaval.

The inhabited galaxy – the Thousand Suns – teeters on the brink of chaos. Half a millennium since the Concord, and a generation since the bloody Civil War, the dynamism that ended the Age of Warring States is sorely tested. Diplomats try new gambits, shifting their ground for an unknown future. On dozens of worlds across known space, the lights are going out again and the process of decivilization begins anew. Despots and tyrants who would rather lord it over benighted backwaters than bend their knee to even a distant authority, arise once more. At the edges of explored space, rivals – both human and alien – watch and wait.

It is a time of glory.

Victorious fleets smash enemy armadas in distant star systems. Soldiers parade through liberated planets to alien cheers. Sector governors draw up breathtaking visions of terraforming and orbital cities. New jumplines open to the heart of unexplored space, daring the bold to venture into the unknown for profit and peril. Surveyors stumble upon lost colonies and puzzle out the mysteries of inscrutable clades. Captains with blazing eyes save worlds from barbarism-and rule them as gods. Daring thieves turn new technologies to unexpected ends or sell them to shadowy cartels on the fringes of known space.

Meanwhile, bold operatives seek out these criminal plans for reprisal. Everything is possible with enough beauty, brains, or blasters, and it's all within reach of a single jump.

It is a time of adventure.

Thousand Suns is a roleplaying game that takes its inspiration from the classic literary "imperial" science fiction of the '50s, '60s, and '70s written by authors like Poul Anderson, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Bester, Gordon Dickson, Larry Niven, H. Beam Piper, Jerry Pournelle, and A.E. van Vogt, among others.

This is a complete game, providing all the rules you need to play under one cover, from character generation to starship combat to the creation of alien lifeforms. Also included is the Thousand Suns "meta-setting," a flexible outline of a setting, in which certain details have been provided, along with lots of lots of "blank spaces," and whose final shape and content is entirely up to each Game Master to build upon as he wishes for his campaign.
The Necropolis of Nuromen by Michael Thomas. Available from Lulu in print for $5.99. Still available from DriveThruRPG in PDF for PWYW. 20 pages.
The Necropolis of Nuromen is the first instalment of three modular quests designed to let the referee introduce a group of 1st level characters to the thrills of Underworld exploration as they attempt to unravel the secrets buried in the evil necromancer’s lair.

To play this adventure you also require the BLUEHOLME™ Prentice Rules or the BLUEHOLME™ Journeymanne Rules, a table top fantasy roleplaying game that emulates the game play of the original basic rule book, popularly known as the Holmes Edition or simply the Blue Book.
Slime Bugs by Jorge Jaramillo Villarruel, Scott Charlton. Updated version. Available from the authors at Google Drive for Free. Link direct to file. 27 pages.
Mutants & Mazes is what happens when you combine Dan Proctor’s Labyrinth Lord & Mutant Future. But that doesn’t mean you need to run a hybrid campaign to make use of this little adventure. You can drop this dungeon in your campaign, either classic fantasy or gonzo post-apocalypse. It can be useful for when your players need to locate a special item; just put it in rooms 3, 10, 16, 19, or 23.

Or it can be just another labyrinth or ruins to explore.

News Spotlight: Evlyn Moreau

Evlyn recently re-released her delightful RPG stuff on Lulu. Here's the link to her Lulu spotlight and be sure to check out her blog at Le Chaudron Chromatique. If you enjoy Evlyn's art, she also has a redbubble store and a Patreon.

Mudwarren AlleyCosmic CrawlThe Kobolds' Art ExhibitionChromatic Soup 02
Chromatic Soup 01Spinetooth Oasis
The Wizard's InheritanceGormand's Larder

More Free Gaming Stuff from the Blogosphere and Environs

Evlyn of Le Chaudron Chromatique posted Basic boring monsters as building blocks.

David Perry of Lithyscaphe released Quintessential BX. 35 page PDF.

Max Cantor of Weird & Wonderful Worlds posted Weird & Wonderful Blasted Lands: Tarsos Theorem Appreciation.

James V. West of Doomslakers! posted Demodyn Character Class.

Jason Zavoda of Hall of the Mountain King posted Item - The Dancing Jesters Boots of Charm and Pain. Also, NPC - The Beggar King.

GREGORIUS21778 posted WHY DOES THE MONSTER ATTACK THIS SETTLEMENT?

KingBrackish of Tomb of the Wandering Millennial posted The Woodsman's Hatchet (A Weird Magic Item) and Black Dogs (A LotFP Monster).

Ben L. of Mazirian's Garden posted White Jungle Races: Plumed Reavers & Mole Rat People.

imminentchurchengine shared this on Reddit - d200(!) level-less spells for GLOG Magic. 14 page Google doc. Link Direct to file. 

wrathofzombie of Wrathofzombie's Blog posted The Sorcerer Spell Casting for Barbarians of the Ruined Earth.

Arnold K. of Goblin Punch posted The Ruined City of Braxa / Undead Armies.

Logan Bright Works uploaded The Harrington Harrowing. Link direct to 3 page PDF.

Doug of Smoldering Wizard made a White Box FMAG Player Quickstart. 1 page PDF. 

Dungeons and Possums posted Fraternity of the Festering Wood.

Shane Ward of 3 Toadstools Publishing posted Challenge accepted! 30 minute dungeon.

Michael Raston of The Lizard Man Diaries posted The Nautilus Shrine (30 Minute Dungeon).

Konsumterra of Elfmaids & Octopi posted d100 Broken Hill Ruin Encounters and a bunch of other stuff, surely you've added this blog to your blogroll, right? I mean you have, certainly, right?

Timothy Brannan of The Other Side posted Tanith, Iconic Witch for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea.

Anne of DIY & Dragons turned us on to Kyle Marquis and his Hex A Day Project. You can find The Sea of Vipers here and also a 36 page Google Doc put together by David Perry here.

The blogger at The Lovely Dark posted The Anti Wizard.

Maptime

Mike Bridges of Greyhawkery posted Greyhawk Map: Lordship of the Isles.

Anna B. Meyer posted the Final 2019 Edition of her Map of the Flanaess. 

Dyson Logos of Dyson's Dodecahedron posted The Halls of Ghuldesh and Quellport and the Isle of Seven Bees.

Reviews & Play Reports

Bryce Lynch of tenfootpole.org reviews Through the Gate of Flesh and Fight On! #14 – Citadel of the Dark Trolls.

Jeremy “frothsof” Smith of Thought Eater posted Frothcast #19: Night Below Session Recap 2.24.19. And Humpday Blog-O-Rama 2.27.19. And Frothcast #21: Five Minute Friday: Unknown Clones 1 (great idea for a series Jeremy!)

Pookie UK of Reviews from R'lyeh posted OSR & The Big One and The Other OSR: Bastion Ein Sof.

Robert Morris of Back to the Keep posted LL game - sessions 7 and 8.

Brutorz Bill of Green Skeleton Gaming Guild posted SWN Cabal Sigma Session One (part 1).

Trey of From the Sorcerer's Skull posted a review of Carapace.

Shane Ward of 3 Toadstools Publishing posted Black Hack Playtest Part Trois!

Patrick Stuart of False Machine posted The Unbalanced Creator Returns? - A Review of The Tricks of Treachery Isle.

Timothy Brannan of The Other Side posted Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea (Compleat Second Edition).

Endzeitgeist reviews Misty Isles of the Eld and Creature Compendium.

MODOC31 of Rolling Boxcars reviews The Marriage of Count Roderick.

Fred Daniel of White Box and Beyond posted Powers & Perils Partial Success.

Aaron Marks of Cannibal Halfling Gaming reviews Troika. 

Michael Curtis has a piece on the Goodman Games site: Adventures in Fiction: Margaret St. Clair.

Dungeon Musings of YouTube uploaded Actual Play - Scarlet Heroes - B/X D&D: Barrowmaze Beckons - Session 33.

Dungeons and Possums posted Review: Mothership RPG by Sean Mccoy.

And in Other News...

The DriveThruRPG GM's day sale is here!
DriveThruRPG.com

Moe Tousignant of Tabletop Bellhop posted MASTER LIST OF TABLETOP GAMING PODCASTS.

The Gong Farmer's Almanac 2019 is open for submissions.

Kickstarters, etc.









And That's It for This Week...


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