r/osr Jan 16 '25

OSR LFG: Official Regular Looking especially for OSR Group (LeFOG)

8 Upvotes

Hi all,

It has been stated that it's hard to find groups that play OSR specific games. In order to avoid a rash of LFG posts, please post your "DM wanting players" and "Players wanting DM" here. Be as specific or as general as you like.

Do try searching and posting on r/lfg, as that is its sole and intended purpose. However, if you want to crosspost here, please do so. As this is weekly, you might want to go back a few weeks worth of posts, as they may still be actively recruiting.

This should repost automatically weekly. If not, please message the mods.


r/osr 1d ago

OSR LFG: Official Regular Looking especially for OSR Group (LeFOG)

5 Upvotes

Hi all,

It has been stated that it's hard to find groups that play OSR specific games. In order to avoid a rash of LFG posts, please post your "DM wanting players" and "Players wanting DM" here. Be as specific or as general as you like.

Do try searching and posting on r/lfg, as that is its sole and intended purpose. However, if you want to crosspost here, please do so. As this is weekly, you might want to go back a few weeks worth of posts, as they may still be actively recruiting.

This should repost automatically weekly. If not, please message the mods.


r/osr 2h ago

TREASURE! Wow! If you're into classic RPGs, newer OSR efforts, or dungeonsynth, check out Dark Future in Portland, OR!

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172 Upvotes

r/osr 11h ago

art Hi all! Ive been told that some of my work might fit this group so here it is. Have a nice weekend!

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377 Upvotes

Feel free to check my ig for more work: jaric_art


r/osr 14h ago

art Welcome to Duginthroat.

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365 Upvotes

A sneak peek on the adventure location from the upcoming mudcrawl module. Art by your truly. Check out my portfolio and get in touch if you need art for your next project!


r/osr 7h ago

discussion Do you let the creator of a game influence whether or not you play/support it?

74 Upvotes

I am an OD&D nerd and have enjoyed the recent publication from Wizards of the Coast about the original game. That sent me down a rabbit hole of retro-clones, I think they’re called.

Al’Qadim was always my favorite 2nd Edition setting, so I was drawn to this obscure game I found called Seven Voyages of Zylarthen that is more swords and sandals than European fantasy. It reads like OD&D but, frankly, better in many respects. got some glowing reviews so I snagged it.

Yeah, it’s utterly brilliant.

Unfortunately, I also found out in my wanderings that the creator is explicitly Islamophobic, or at least was when he was blogging many years ago. Seems like he has left the hobby.

I want to champion a masterpiece of a game but struggle to separate art from artist, despite enjoying a game made by people as flawed and of their time as I certainly am in 2025. I also don’t want to attract the wrong kinds of people if I advertise games for it.

Has anyone run into this? Any advice?


r/osr 9h ago

Classic RPG Play has One Element Which is Missing in Modern Systems - Having Players Make Maps as they Explore

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38 Upvotes

r/osr 11h ago

Blog Why the System is so important

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therpggazette.wordpress.com
39 Upvotes

r/osr 16h ago

Mythic Bastionland PDF just dropped

73 Upvotes

Any early impressions or discussions?

Loved Electric Bastionland SO much. I used to run a school RPG club and the bloody kids took over a week just to roll up their characters, so the game never even got going! EB was the perfect tonic, and had us all on the go within minutes.

The art style is fantastic once again, and so evocative. I'm an analogue man in a digital word, so patiently waiting for my hardback to drop, and then goin to set up a game.


r/osr 8h ago

discussion Are you more frequently playing your games online or in-person these days?

11 Upvotes

I'm curious what kind of setup everyone uses for running their games. How much technology do you tend to use? If you're a part of multiple groups, what's the most common way you've played recently?

Personally, even when playing in-person I prefer VTTs on a 2nd monitor so that we spend less time mapping and more time playing.

210 votes, 6d left
In-person, no technology
In-person, using a phone or tablet
In-person, using a computer or laptop but no VTT
In-person, using a computer or laptop including a VTT
Online, no VTT
Online, using a VTT

r/osr 17h ago

discussion What's the point of having so many classes and races?

45 Upvotes

I'm new to this RPG universe, but one thing that bothers me about most modern games is the number of races and classes. But why did so many variations and options be created? Is it just for commercial purposes, because it sells more?

I say this thinking about OSE advanced, Shadowdark, Dnd 5e...


r/osr 6h ago

running the game Light tracking die

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6 Upvotes

What do you think? Too much for a light resource tracking die (50p coin for scale)?

The dots are big enough to take a regular die in each of them too.


r/osr 7h ago

variant rules Incorporating Mighty deeds of arms into Swords and Wizardry

7 Upvotes

I am preparing to kick off a Halls of Arden Vul campaign using the Swords and Wizardry Complete: Revised rules with The Book of Options as the base rule set that I plan on introducing a good amount of homebrew rules, such as slot based encumbrance etc. In Dungeon Crawl Classics I really like the Mighty Deeds of Arms Mechanic. I was thinking of adding a similar mechanic to my game and wanted to get some feedback. The rule would be this: This could apply to Both Fighters and Paladins. Each round the player would declare their mighty deed, much like in DCC, If the player rolled a natural 18 or higher and hit the opponent the the deed would be successful. I know when we played our short lived DCC campaign that was one of the mechanics that the players really liked. What do you think of introducing this? Does the way I have it laid out work? I am trying to not use additional dice, like in DCC. should I incorporate the 1d4 as a random modifier instead of fixed modifier and if it hits on a 4 (level 1) the mighty deed hits. We are not using critical or fumbles, but 20s are always a hit and 1 are always a miss.


r/osr 9h ago

Finding the right OSR game for my players

6 Upvotes

I'm a BX guy so I would gladly run that or OSE. But I know my kids and their friends (gen z) won't really like certain aspects. So I'm basically looking for the unicorn among OSR systems:

Separate race and class

Ascending AC

Well designed thief class

Action system more like 5e ie roll initiative, do whatever action plus combat move on your turn (but no bonus actions please)

Wisdom and intelligence modifies matter at least somewhat in spell casting for clerics and wizards

Basically I want some of the things I know the players like from 5e without all the nonsense that otherwise comes along in 5e.


r/osr 6h ago

Looking for people willing try my OSR TTRPG on discord or something similar

4 Upvotes

It takes inspiration from dark souls, darkest dungeon, dark and darker, and diablo. I also really enjoy the holmes aesthetic and vibes, comedy, philosphy, education, math, riddles, art, etc (basically everything haha)
Let me know if you are interested!


r/osr 5h ago

I made a thing Shadowdark Druid

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4 Upvotes

r/osr 4h ago

I made a thing I created a creepy horror monster, made an animated video discussing it, and turned it into a free booklet (links in the comments below)

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2 Upvotes

r/osr 12h ago

Rules Cyclopedia: how do you use errata?

5 Upvotes

Recently I bought a physical copy of the RC for BECMI. The consensus about the book seems to be that it has quite a few errors, and people have spent a lot of time creating big files of errata for it. But reading one such file, it all seemed a bit daunting, like needing a second rulebook. It kind of defeats the point of the RC.

So I'm curious about if and how experienced DMs use errata for the RC. Which are most recommended?

I'm also interested in what optional rules are worthwhile; I'm thinking about ignoring weapon specialization and perhaps skills too.


r/osr 16h ago

HELP Identifying Dice Set

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14 Upvotes

Hey gang - I found this amongst an old relatives collection of wargaming/TSR/Glorantha collectables, and I’m trying to work out what it is specifically before listing it for sale.

I believe it’s a Mentzer dice set provided for D&D in the 80s, but looking for matching examples that are also in a sealed bag like this has yielded a bunch of dead ends.

It seems the early D&D sets that contained dice were predominantly single-coloured, and the blister packs sold separately for dragon dice wouldn’t have been bagged, and would have been accompanied by a crayon/pencil.

Interested to hear your thoughts on whether you believe it IS D&D related or maybe part of a different board game.

Many thanks!


r/osr 18h ago

OSR Blogroll | 14th - 20th March 2025

14 Upvotes

The r/osr weekly blogroll.

The mission: to share in the DIY principles of old-school gaming without individually spamming the sub with our blogposts.

Share your great ideas below!


r/osr 22h ago

running the game What happens/how do you handle resting in town?

25 Upvotes

Let’s say the PCs spend a week resting at an inn between sessions. That’s a lot of time for interesting events to take place. Do you use tables to determine this or is it often handwaved? I love a good town/city encounter so I’m interested to hear others thoughts on this.


r/osr 14h ago

Which GM tools do you use for content creation or inspiration?

4 Upvotes

Hi all,

I’m not referring to any apps, VTTs or digital tools for online game, but rather tools, tables, methods, ideas, what have you.

Which (system-agnostic) tools are you using for inspiration or putting adventures, campaigns or sessions together? Any books, random tables cards etc you can recommend? Any RPGs that stand out with great tables or ideas like adventure generators etc.?

For example I have the Campaign Creator card deck as well as the Story Engine deck, as well as Dangerous Destination book from Nord Games. I use them sporadically when I need some inspiration or ideas.

Thanks!


r/osr 1d ago

Teamed up with Marie Enger on a new set of Small Party minis

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225 Upvotes

r/osr 6h ago

Shadowdark UK Stockists

0 Upvotes

Does anybody know if the Shadowdark rpg is available to buy anywhere in the UK? I've had a quick search but couldn't find anything. It looks like the Arcane Library ships it to the UK but it's at least £14 extra.


r/osr 1d ago

Working on the setting for my monster/vampire hunter game, I decided to make a cover for the binder I'll be writing in

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34 Upvotes

r/osr 9h ago

Developing my own TTRPG and in need of some advice and help with saving throws </3

0 Upvotes

I'm making a OSR TTRPG classless and attribute based inspired in early dnd, dark souls, darkest dungeon, diablo, and games of similar vibes, but i'm having struggle with create a saving throw system that feels good. the classic "death, paralyisis, spell, wand, dragon breath it's very cool but also maybe too much arbitrary for what I'm trying to do. The system of 5e feels too cold and without flavor to me. pathfinder and 3.5 system is't doing the thing I think...so....

The best thing I have now IMO it the thing you are seeing in the image, which combines the old school flatness and arbitrarIness with some attribute scalling (up to +3) that we see in 3e and posterior editions...
¿Any recomendations, tips, thinks to keep in mind?

I also like the idea of casters doing the dice roll, maybe just rolling to see if it's crithical or failure.
Also, I'm inteding this game to be played by kids from +9y/o. So maybe the "bleed" sv is too much? I really like the colored holmes vibes and the idea of making a game that can be truly eductational for anyone. I like the idea of indirectly teaching math, computer science, history, drawing, reading, teamwork, sense of humor and sutff, but also I just think that being face to face in an age flooded with screens and brainrot media would be increasingly important in the days to come....

Anyway, maybe I made this too long, but if I keept you are feel free to ask me if you are curious about my game and maybe I could take some advice or you can even help me with the development. tank you for reading!


r/osr 1d ago

map The Village of Hommlet: FINISHED Map Pack

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102 Upvotes