The Companion Expansion (not to be confused with the B/X Companion) is an add-on for OSR rulesets with new classes, new spells, new creatures, new magic items, and more. Did I mention it was PWYW?
Presenting additional creatures and magical items for fantasy roleplaying games for basic- and expert-level players and gamemasters, including 7 additional character classes (bard, druid, gnome, half-elf/half-orc, half-ogre, illusionist, scout), expanded experience tables up to 36th level, two additional types of magic (druid and illusion) and additional magic-user and cleric spells (90 in all), over 130 new or additional creatures, dozens of new or additional magic items, and a complete treasure generation system!
Also includes expanded spell lists for three free "retro-clone" rulebooks and expanded combat, saving throw, and other tables. Use these rules to expand your campaign in the WORLD OF STRONGHOLD or wherever your games are set! Note: this free download version does not contain art. Print version available at www.barrataria.com.
I'm always a fan of Gamma World-esque hacks. Metamorphosis BX had escaped my attention before today, but I noticed it as today's Deal of the Day. Until tomorrow morning, Metamorphosis BX is priced at $3, 50% off its regular price.
Metamorphosis BX is a post-apocalyptic MiniBX hack in which you'll roleplay a hybrid survivor in an ever-changing world in which a cataclysm has fragmented time and space. It is light both in mechanics and tone, aiming to be fun above all.
With the release of version 1.0, the game is complete with many character origins (like alien-insect, primal-animal, nano-machine, etc.), mutations (benign and malign), powers (hacking and psychic), artifacts (ancient, alien, and planar), creatures (from Alien Artificial Intelligences to Radioactive Zombies), and a setting, called Atropicalypse (inspired by Brazil), with its regions and factions.
Are you looking for new classes for your OSE/LL/B/X game or for Swords & Wizardry or other OSR ruleset? How about some mass combat rules that aren't only usable, but understandable? Rules for herbs and foraging? Maybe even alchemy? It's all here and more in Fantastic Wizardry, nicely priced at PWYW.
FANTASTIC WIZARDRY is a rule supplement for "basic" editions of "the world's first and most famous fantasy roleplaying game" and associated retro-clones. FANTASTIC WIZARDRY expands upon rules found in "basic" games by adding the following:
- NEW CLASSES! Alchemist, Arcane Fighter, Brawler, Hunter, Swashbuckler, Theurge, and Warlock!
- EXPANDED PLAYER OPTIONS! Misc. Combat Options, Exceptional Abilities, Retraining Abilities, and Mundane herbal Crafting and Foraging!
- MORE MAGIC OPTIONS! Alchemical Crafting, Overcasting, Intuitive Casting, Commoner Casting, and Finding, Binding, and Summoning Outsiders!
- ADDITIONAL GAME MASTER RULES! Strongholds, Settlements, and Demense! Hired Jobs, Missions, and Commissions!, Narrative Dice! Mass Combat!
FANTASTIC WIZARDRY is for those who love "old school" gaming but are interested in adding something new to their table!
Looking for a gonzo, Gamma World-esque RPG that riffs off the B/X rules, takes them to 11, and then rudely pukes out of the passenger side door of your car as you zoom down some abandoned highway? If so, Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland Core Rulez is the game you've been waiting for.
A gonzo vomit-punk post apycolyptic cassette futurism table top RPG. A visceral mash-up of 80s/90s pop culture mixed in a grimdark blender and barfed onto the table! Siskel and Ebert would give Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland two big thumbs down! For fans of The Toxic Avenger and all the sleazy over the top late night sci-fi/horror you can handle!
Ultra-Violent, and style matters tabletop RPG, that builds off of the “BX” rules. Half Medieval Fantasy half Sci-Fi, neon lords of the toxic wasteland is a no-holds-barred to the max game! Oozing 80's and 90's nostalgia the game features items from Ninja Stars to Fanny packs in addition to many references to the era.
In addition to being built on top of the 'BX" rules, the core rules use an ability class points system and fortune points which grants the player some flexibility in dire rolls.
The setting a post-apocalyptic Earth in which magic, mixed with the technology of the 1980’s- the early ’90s, has created the cassette futurism seen in both the Neo-Terraxx and Xeno tech, as well as the art style. Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland is over the top, bloody, random, wild, and a hell of a good time. Sit back, crack open some TAB, and roll some damage.
This bad boy has so much packed inside! The Core Rulez include:
All the rulez required to run a sick game of Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland! From character creation to combat to exploration to additional rulez, the Neon Lord (Game Master)has everything they need! Types of damage, drugs, diseases, poison, and how to play all the wasteland baddies are all included too!
Hair Style choices in character creation that can help or hinder you in your rad adventures in the forgotten future! Will you pick a Mullet or Mohawk? You decide!
11 Playable classes with 1 super secret hidden class.
Over 100 unique monsters!!!! The list spans from the Aggressive menacer all the way to Zombie!
An entire unique spell system with its unique spells and all the classics you come to expect from an OSR RPG! 121 soul-crushing black magic spells at the War Wizard's sick disposal! 41 prayers granted to the Holy Smiter by their deity. 44 Psychic Manifestations the mysterious Star Spawns can conjure up. 36 hacks the Skull Jammer can cook up on his high tech Tape Deck, plus all the other random spells or slimy dudes who cast their unique spells!
A massive section on fantastical items and all the rad treasure you can dig up in the ruins of the forgotten world or hoarded by Mutant Wasteland Warlords!
1 MASSIVE Setting to get your campaigns started!!!!
I've said this before, and I'll say it again - Gylnn Seal (AKA Monkeyblood) is one of the most skilled RPG professional creators in the business. Writing, artwork, mapping, layout, you name it - he's one of the best.
Ryecroft: A Dangerous Cemetery Crawl is Glynn's latest Kickstarter. While not explicitly set in the Midderlands, it will fit right in (or likely fit most any old-school setting.)
I've known Bill and Ben (best hair in the OSR) Barsh for well over a decade, and their knowledge and devotion to the OSR and old-school gaming is second to none (even if Ben is a bit of a 5e guy)
At the moment, I'm in between campaigns, so a nice, solo adventure may do me well. Of course, my preferred flavor is B/x ;)
Up the Beanstalk is a true solo adventure for 3rd level characters using the 5th Edition or B/X game systems! For more about solo gaming, see the SoloSystem header here in the "Story" section.
This book will feature a variety of new content to each game system to better fit the adventure at hand. You can expect:
75+ Pages of Adventure
New Marvelous Magic Items
New Malicious Monsters
Detailed maps to guide adventure where necessary
Beautiful black and white artwork to tell the visual story
"Writing a fantasy roleplaying adventure based on such a classic story comes with a fair amount of responsibility. I have done my best to retain the spirit and themes present within the original tellings of this story. The stalk is still a challenge in itself, a certain hen may lay certain eggs, Blunderbore (you know him) is still evil, etc etc. However, this adventure module gives your character the opportunity to be the hero of the story. I hope you all enjoy this adventurous re-telling of one of the greatest stories on Earth. We all have a beanstalk to ascend to become whom we were meant to be. Time to start climbing!" -Ben Barsh, author and designer of Up the Beanstalk
I'm quite sure you read of and/or heard of the recent uproar over WotC's plans to cancel the 1.0(a) OGL, upon which nearly every 3rd party D20 system/scenario/ campaign is built. If you only care about OSR material, you are well covered and have amazing value in the RPG Worlds by Kobold Press & Friends Humble Bundle. If you play 5e or are willing to convert from 5e to OSR, the value is off the charts.
A gonzo vomit-punk post apycolyptic cassette futurism table top RPG. A visceral mash-up of 80s/90s pop culture mixed in a grimdark blender and barfed onto the table! Siskel and Ebert would give Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland two big thumbs down! For fans of The Toxic Avenger and all the sleazy over the top late night sci-fi/horror you can handle! Here is the original write up from the 1st printing Kickstart:
Ultra-Violent, and style matters tabletop RPG, that builds off of the “BX” rules. Half Medieval Fantasy half Sci-Fi, neon lords of the toxic wasteland is a no-holds-barred to the max game! Oozing 80's and 90's nostalgia the game features items from Ninja Stars to Fanny packs in addition to many references to the era.
In addition to being built on top of the 'BX" rules, the core rules use an ability class points system and fortune points which grants the player some flexibility in dire rolls.
So, built on B/X means I can use this with any OSR ruleset of my choice and convenience. I missed this the first time around. I'm in on the rebound ;)
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Labrinth Lord was my initial introduction to the "real" OSR. Those art-free PDFs were eye-opening as to what one could find in the modern market that emulated the RPGs I cut my teeth on.
For years Labyrinth Lord was the OSR system of choice, not just the original rules but the Advanced Labyrinth Lord rules, which did an effective job emulating the AD&D rules while using the B/X / LL chassis.
Today's Deal of the Day, which is on sale until tomorrow morning, Jan 30th, 2022 is Advanced Labyrinth Lord (Dragon Cover) in PDF. Normally 14.99, it is currently on sale for 8.99.
Labyrinth Lord doesn't waste precious game time.
We're older now. It's hard enough setting aside time to game.
Then you have to wrangle all your players together at the same time.
The last thing you want is your hard-fought game time wasted.
Combats in Labyrinth Lord are resolved quickly. Running adventures isn't bogged down with bloated monster stats and overcomplicated combats.
Get right into the fun stuff, squeezing the most adventure out of your time.
Play the game on your own terms. Most of us started out with the basic game, working in advanced elements without even realizing basic and advanced were supposed to be two different games. We all might have created our own Frankenstein's monster of rules in slightly different ways, but Labyrinth Lord lets you play the game the way you want it.
If you want to keep basic classes, you can, and play them right along with the advanced classes. Or just use the advanced options. Pick and choose what you want to place in your game on your own terms.
Play the game like you remember it. Feel the adventure like you remember it.
That's why I want to share Labyrinth Lord with you.
COMPLETE AT LAST!
Basic and Advanced
Finally the basic and advanced game rules are in one volume!
This book combines the material originally presented in the Labyrinth Lord core rules and in the Advanced Edition Companion. Play advanced and basic characters in the same group, or choose to play one or the other.
Enter a world filled with labyrinths, magic, and monsters! Choose a basic race-class, advanced class, or even multiclass to combine the two! All of the basic and advanced options are within reach.
Labyrinth Lord is the Rosetta Stone of old-school fantasy rules.
It is easy to use basic and advanced game adventures from other publishers with these rules.
In this book you will find...
A complete guide to basic and advanced characters
All core basic and advanced monsters
Basic and advanced spells
The full repertoire of basic and advanced magic items
Optional rules to make your game even more advanced
Welcome back to old-school gameplay.
**Note that the PDF includes both the Dragon cover and Orcus Cover images.
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The Tavern.
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If you missed issues of Thom Wilson's Back to BasiX zine over the past few years, here's your chance to find that missing material. Maybe you missed the zine entirely or like me, you have a complete run but are so unorganized you can't find more than a handful of issues when you look for them on your gamng shelves. The Back to BasiX Fanzine Hardcover Compilation - Issues 1-10 Kickstarter is here to rescue you ;)
For as little as 20 bucks (plus shipping) you can get all 10 issues of Back to Basix in a single hardcover volume. Prefer PDF? A mere 10 bucks get you what you need.
This hardcover compilation combines all ten issues in their original format with a few tweaks to clean up layout and fix a couple of typos. Additionally, fonts were standardized throughout the book. The page size of the hardcover is slightly larger than the original digests, so the font size increased slightly (a half-point). The compilation will be printed on heavier stock paper and, of course, will be hard cover instead of saddle-stitched softcover.
Thom is tonight's guest on Talking Crit with Bad Mike & Tenkar - 8 PM EDT
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Gangbusters B/X the Roleplaying Game is set during the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties. It has all the usual trappings of the period: Prohibition, mob bosses, Tommy gun-toting thugs, speakeasies, big hats, big cars, big personalities, swanky gin joints, illicit booze and crooked people out to make a quick dime, and more, but what the game is about is rather simple. It is at its core just a good old fashion game of Cops and Robbers. This is because it is set during a time when America produced some of its most notorious and legendary figures. John Dillinger, ‘Scarface’ Al Capone, ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd, ‘Baby Face’ Nelson, ‘Ma’ Barker, Bonnie & Clyde, Eliot Ness and the ‘Untouchables’, J. Edgar Hoover, Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, and a host of others. Whether you join the in the crusade to stamp out lawlessness or join in on the crime spree that is gripping America is up to you.
Based on the Original Gangbusters from the ’80s created by Rick Krebs this edition is adapted to use the B/X game engine. But instead of exploring musty dungeons, characters in Gangbusters investigate crime, run speakeasies, rob banks, expose corruption, capture murders or try to get away with it all.
Now you can relive the adventures and exploits of these daring men and women with GANGBUSTERS™ 1920s role-playing adventure game.
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Pacesetter Games has a very nice Kickstarter record. Thom Wilson has a deep & full library of quality OSR releases behind him. Put them together and you get The Lost Triptychfor B/X and 5e.
Bad Mike and I sat down with Thom last night on theTalking Critpodcast and it was a blast, and we got some insights into how The Lost Triptych came to be as a collaboration between the two companies.
Minions of a rival deity have stolen a sacred artifact of your order with the intent to transform it to suit their own nefarious machinations. They have brought the holy device to the Mountain of Whispers, the stomping grounds of evil sycophants and zealot soldiers who serve the goddess Egramish without question. Your precious artifact has been broken into separate pieces and hidden in secret locations to make it harder for your order to recover. No doubt, the high priest Miltotok is preparing the rituals and spells to make the device a vessel for evil at this very moment.
Is your faith strong enough to endure the evil horrors of the mountain, where your gods can barely be felt? Can you persevere through overwhelming odds to defeat Egramish and recover the Lost Triptych?
The Lost Triptych is a campaign for characters level 8-12 for the 5th Edition or B/X game systems!
The Lost Triptych is a high-level adventure that pits seasoned adventurers against the dark forces of an evil god whose servants are willing to sacrifice themselves and others to bring about the end of peace and prosperity. The foes that the characters will face are quite deadly – powerful spellcasters, ancient undead, and ruthless spies will challenge the group at every turn. This is no simple adventure, by any means!
This adventure can be dropped into any world of the game master’s choosing. The only location-specific element of the story is the Mountain of Whispers, which can be placed in any mountain range within the game master’s campaign world. Characters will start their journey at the bottom of the mountain, crawl through its dark depths, and finally arrive at the fortress peak to confront the minions of the evil god and her thieving sycophants.
If none of the characters is Lawful or (especially) a Cleric, the story can be adjusted to fit the group’s deities or alignments. The story plays out best if a conflict between good (the characters) and evil (followers of the rival goddess) exists. Also, the opposing deity can be adjusted to fit the game master’s world as needed. The story suggests using the evil goddess Egramish if the game master has no other viable antagonist in mind. If Egramish is used in this adventure, it will be assumed that the central character or characters (those affiliated with the Lawful deity) will know of the goddess as a long-standing rival deity and her constant attempts to overthrow their own god.
This book will include:
150+ Pages of Adventure
Full-Color Interior Art and Maps
New Magic Items
New Monsters
And More Pending Stretch Goals!
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Sometimes all you want to do is dungeon crawl like we did back in 1984. Back when we didn't worry about what went on outside the walls of the dungeon. Backstory? Setting? NPCs? Bah!
Mike's Dungeons: The Deep Levels allows you to game like the old days. Normally 2.99 in PDF, until tomorrow morning it is a mere 1.49.
MIKE'S DUNGEONS: THE DEEP LEVELS includes 39 dungeon levels that take 10th-level characters up to 14th level.
DETAILS, PLEASE?
This is a massive dungeon of 39 hand-drawn levels, for character levels 10th through 14th. It was made with Moldvay/Cook's 1981 Dungeons & Dragons rules, but it can be used with other versions of the game.
WHAT IT IS NOT:
These dungeons are not for collecting, not for reading, not for gazing at, and not for displaying on your coffee table. It has no art, no stylish formatting, no production values at all. If you aren't going to use and abuse this in a game, there's no reason to buy it.
WHAT IT IS:
The word for this is FUN. These are the dungeons you could have made when you were 12 years old, but were too lazy. It is a no-nonsense dungeon for playing D&D. You don't even need to study it beforehand. You can run it on-the-fly.
YOU CAN PREVIEW ALL 39 LEVELS.
You read that right. You can freely preview every single page of this book. It's like you're flipping through this in a bookstore before you make your decision to buy.
The price comes to less than 8 pennies per level for the PDF, and a quarter per level for the print+PDF option.
Fight on!
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Thousands have vanished... do your heroes have what it takes to defeat the mysterious Raiders?
A little background. I've known Bill & Ben Barsh since the first NTRPG Con I attended, Ben, the younger (and taller Barsh) will be contributing to The Tavern and the Tavern Chat podcast later this summer. He also has the best hair in the OSR.
I'm a big fan of settings and campaigns. Rarely do I use them as is, but as a source of inspiration they are priceless. Path of the Vanished is 20 bucks in PDF, 45 in HC Print plus PDF.
Path of the Vanished is a campaign-style adventure that finds the adventurers on the trail of the Raiders. Produced in four distinct sections, the first part of the campaign finds the player characters traversing the ruins of an ancient city, swallowed in darkness, which is sinking into a near impenetrable swamp. Beyond the city, the player characters discover a road leading to massive building looming over a white beach and swaying palms. The building, used by the Raiders, holds a clue that leads the adventurers to the mythical, yet entirely real, floating island city of Sanctuary. Used by pirates, black market merchants, and other undesirables, the island is made of metal and segregated into seven sections. In one of those sections the Raiders have set up base from which their ships terrorize the coasts. However, thousands of people are still missing and the path forward leads to a distant island that is home to crumbling buildings of some ancient race of star-worshipers. Little else is known of the race but their ancestors, or seemingly so, prowl the island in a primal state. For what reason would the Raiders take innocent people to such a place?
Path of the Vanished is designed for starting characters of approximately third level. It has two rule system options; the Fifth Edition (5E) version of the world's first fantasy role-playing game, and the BX Role Playing Game. The 5E version will take characters from third level to tenth level as the campaign progresses. BX characters will start at approximately third level and will most likely complete the adventure series at sixth or seventh level.
We've been using the Old School Essentials rules in Tim Short's Monday Night game for the past year or so. Well laid out, beautifully edited, you aren't going to be surprised by anything new. Instead, they will fit like a pair of well-worn gloves coming right out of the box.
Today's Deal of the Day happens to be those same rues - the Old School Essentials Classic Fantasy: Rules Tome. Normally 20 bucks in PDF, until tomorrow morning you can snag them for a mere 10 bucks.
Old-School Essentials is an adventure role-playing game of exploration, danger, monsters, and magic. The game is intentionally rules-light, putting the focus of play on imagination, improvisation, and fun. The rules are optimised for ease of use at the table, with meticulous attention to wording and layout clarity. What's more, Old-School Essentials is 100% compatible with the classic Basic/Expert game from 1981, meaning that decades of adventure are at your fingertips!
A Complete Game All in One Book
Old-School Essentials is a modular game where the core rules of the game are extended by additional "rules modules" which add content for different genres of fantastic adventure. The Old-School Essentials Rules Tome is a compilation of the core rules plus four rules modules, forming a complete game for Classic Fantasy adventures:
Core Rules: Rules for character creation and advancement, adventuring in dungeons, the wilderness, and at sea, magic and combat.
Classic Fantasy: Genre Rules: Seven classic classes (cleric, dwarf, elf, fighter, halfling, magic-user, thief), complete lists of weapons and adventuring gear, extensive lists of vehicles, mounts, and vessels, mercenaries and specialists for hire, rules for stronghold construction.
Classic Fantasy: Cleric and Magic-User Spells: The complete set of 34 cleric spells (from 1st to 5th level) and 72 magic-user spells (from 1st to 6th level), for use by players or cleric, elf, and magic-user characters.
Classic Fantasy: Monsters: A selection of over 200 classic monsters to challenge adventurers of all levels.
Classic Fantasy: Treasures: A hoard of over 150 wondrous magic items.
The material in this book forms a complete clone of the classic Basic/Expert game, including all rules, classes, spells, monsters, and magic items.
Yep, that is an affiliate link above. Keep your bartender in Kleenex and Nyquil by using The Tavern's affiliate links.
Old-School Essentials is an adventure role-playing game of exploration, danger, monsters, and magic. The game is intentionally rules-light, putting the focus of play on imagination, improvisation, and fun. The rules are optimised for ease of use at the table, with meticulous attention to wording and layout clarity. What's more, Old-School Essentials is 100% compatible with the classic Basic/Expert game from 1981, meaning that decades of adventure are at your fingertips!
A Complete Game All in One Book
Old-School Essentials is a modular game where the core rules of the game are extended by additional "rules modules" which add content for different genres of fantastic adventure. The Old-School Essentials Rules Tome is a compilation of the core rules plus four rules modules, forming a complete game for Classic Fantasy adventures: Core Rules: Rules for character creation and advancement, adventuring in dungeons, the wilderness, and at sea, magic and combat.
Classic Fantasy: Genre Rules: Seven classic classes (cleric, dwarf, elf, fighter, halfling, magic-user, thief), complete lists of weapons and adventuring gear, extensive lists of vehicles, mounts, and vessels, mercenaries and specialists for hire, rules for stronghold construction.
Classic Fantasy: Cleric and Magic-User Spells: The complete set of 34 cleric spells (from 1st to 5th level) and 72 magic-user spells (from 1st to 6th level), for use by players or cleric, elf, and magic-user characters.
Classic Fantasy: Monsters: A selection of over 200 classic monsters to challenge adventurers of all levels.
Classic Fantasy: Treasures: A hoard of over 150 wondrous magic items.
The material in this book forms a complete clone of the classic Basic/Expert game, including all rules, classes, spells, monsters, and magic items.
Yep, that is an affiliate link above. Using The Tavern's affiliate links keep the taps flowing and the beer cold.
Want a free peek?
A 56-page, art-free sample of the basic rules of the game required by players is available here:
The full introduction and character creation rules.
The four core human classes: cleric, fighter, magic-user, thief.
Full lists of adventuring equipment, weapons, and armour.
The rules for dungeon adventures, encounters, and combat.
The full rules for spell casting and the complete set of 1st level spells.
"A modular adventure game in the tradition of the beloved 1980s role-playing rules. 100% old-school rules, 100% modern design."
If you read The Tavern, I'm sure you've come into contact with the B/X Essentials ruleset. At the very least, you've heard of it. It has been called the best presentation of the Basic / Expert rules, and that says a lot. Well, Old-School Essentials is a rebranding of B/X Essentials and then some. Let's see what you get with theOld-School Essentials Kickstarter:
Old-School Essentials is an adventure role-playing game of exploration, danger, monsters, and magic. The game is intentionally rules-light, putting the focus of play on imagination, improvisation, and fun. The rules are optimised for ease of use at the table, with meticulous attention to wording and layout clarity. What's more, Old-School Essentials is 100% compatible with the classic Basic/Expert game from 1981, meaning that decades of adventure are at your fingertips!
Old-School Essentials comes in two forms: a chunky tome and a modular boxed set. The content is identical. Choose one or both, depending on your preferred format!
The Old-School Essentials Black Box: A game box containing five deluxe, sewn-binding, A5 (Digest sized), hardcover rule books presenting the complete rules of the game and everything you need to run games in the classic fantasy genre.
The Old-School Essentials Rules Tome: A deluxe all-in-one, sewn-binding, A5 (Digest sized), hardcover tome containing the complete rules of the game and everything you need to run games in the classic fantasy genre.
Free Basic Rules PDF: To whet your appetite for this game, you can download a free PDF, featuring the basic rules for creating characters, adventuring in dungeons, combat, magic, and spells. Includes the complete rules for four classic fantasy character classes: the cleric, fighter, magic-user, and thief.
Compatibility: Old-School Essentials is a 100% accurate restatement of the original Basic/Expert rules (B/X), with nothing added, changed, or removed. All material written for the B/X rules over the last 38 years can be used with Old-School Essentials, without any conversion effort whatsoever!
Refinement: The original Basic/Expert rules form a wondrously solid rules set, but they are not without areas of confusion and contradiction. All known omissions, contradictions, and areas of confusion have been carefully ironed out in Old-School Essentials.
There's a lot more info on the Kickstarter page. I suggest you read it. If you are an old school gamer or are at all interested in old school gaming, this is pretty much a no brainer ;)
Old-School Essentials had a goal of just under $17k USD (it's listed in Euros). With 27 days to go as I write this, it sits at a hair under $58k USD and is knocking down stretch goals like a 10th level fighter swatting down goblins - at least under AD&D 1e rules ;)
11 bucks for the PDFs (17 if you want bother versions). Rules Tome in print is 28 bucks. Black Box with 5 individual books (this is The Tome broken down to shorter books) is 57 bucks. 79 for both versions of physical and PDF books. Damn it! I think I'm in for 79...
We’re very excited to announce the next release in our Original Adventures Reincarnated line: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks! As with previous releases in the OAR series, this one will include scans of the original 1E editions, a conversion to 5E, and new 5E material filling in some gaps from the original 1E module.
OAR3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks is slated for a September release. It will be solicited to distributors soon and will be available for pre-order once the book is at the printer.
Originally run was a tournament adventure at Origins II, the adventure was published by TSR in 1980. Expedition to the Barrier Peaks is a famous adventure module, because it mixes “science fiction” and “fantasy.” For this reason it is both well known, and an enduring favorite for those who played it during its heyday. The 5E conversion is consistent with the original design principles, and also offers new avenues for exploration.
In the adventure, characters come across a spaceship that has crash landed into your fantasy world, and have to deal with the consequences. Which include robots, plant people, and a zoo of alien creatures. And ray guns. It has ray guns.
The OAR volume will also include complete scans of the original 1E publication. This includes both the adventure booklet as well as the extensive book of handouts that was part of the original publication. Dedicated fans may already know that the handout art changed between printings. Three handout illustrations were changed between the first (1980) and second (1981) printings of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, and most of the remaining handouts were renumbered. The OAR volume will include scans of both versions of the handout booklets. For those of you who have an old ragged copy of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks in your personal collection, you will be able to discover which set of handouts you never had the chance to see before!
I'm at Gary Con. This is kinda like Day Zero. As in "Zero Tables for the Booth" and probably a late night of setting things up. So, I better get a post in now - and what's better than a Kickstarter post? ;)
In 1981 the Basic and Expert game for the world's greatest fantasy RPG was released. Written by Tom Moldvay, David "Zeb" Cook, and Steve Marsh, these two comprehensive books created a complete fantasy game system that exploded on the gaming scene and made it into mainstream game markets. This game system is alive and well some 38 years later! This pioneering game was later revised into what is commonly called BECMI and later into the Rules Cyclopedia. But even as those systems further expanded the game, Basic and Expert (B/X) retained a huge following - one that still thrives today. It is with this history in mind that we have decided to create two new books, the B/X Player's Handbook and Dungeon Guide. Instead of merely retro-cloning this system, we have separated the player rules and game master rules into separate books. We have also expanded the character classes, added spells, weapons, monsters, magic items, and much more. All the while, we have steadfastly maintained the simplicity and elegance of the original game. We have done all of this with one thing in mind; we are not replacing the Basic and Expert books, we attempting open the game up for more opportunity to new and old players alike. You no longer have to search for those beat up copies of the rule books - it's all here and more!
My thoughts - I was introduced to RPGs with AD&D 1e. I feel very comfortable with having the Players' and GMs' material in separate books. Additionally, in my old age, I find B/X and its various clones to be more my current style of play. Tastes great, less filling ;)
As for more classes? Awesome :)
35 bucks for the 2 books in Print plus PDF plus shipping. 60 for the boxed set (with dice). 100 gets you 5 players copies and a DM book to outfit your group. I'm going in for the boxed set I think.
Neither The Tavern nor myself receive compensation for Kickstarter coverage or Kickstarter posts. Some Kickstarters are brought to the attention of The Tavern by their creators. Such communication does not guarantee coverage here at The Tavern. I do not back every Kickstarter I highlight as my wallet's contents are not limitless but I do find all highlighted Kickstarters interesting for one or more reasons - Erik Tenkar
I am a huge fan of New Big Dragon Games. Rich LeBlanc bleeds OSR, B/X in particular. Fifty Fiends is a bargain and a half for a buck :)
Extra-planar beings come in many forms, and for outsiders hailing from the lower planes, almost every one of them comes in some shade of evil.
From the vicious malevolence of the demons of the Abyss, to the merciless schemes of the devils of Hell, to the psychopathic sadism of the yamadutas of the Naraka, the planes provide an unending parade of cruelty, immorality, corruption, and depravity.
Collected herein are 50 fiends from the darkest reaches of the outer planes, including the Abyss, Hell, Naraka, Pandemonium, Limbo, the Dreamlands, and the Beyond (a terrifyingly remote place of madness, aberration, entropy, and pure chaos.)
This book is designed for use with classic (BX/BECMI/LL) editions of the world’s original role-playing game, and with Old School Adventures Accessory PX1: Basic Psionics Handbook. It additionally provides information on dual-axis alignment, the planes of existence, languages spoken throughout the planes, and descriptions for a number of planes- and fiend-related spells and magic items.
Those are affiliate links above. Keep your Tavern Keeper in cold beer, shop using The Tavern's affiliate links :)
Session 0.5
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It’s been a few weeks since I’ve made any real posts. Tonight will be the
second session of my new D&D 2024 campaign. This is the first ongoing game
I’ve b...
Witchcraft Wednesday: Daggerheart Witches
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A while back, when I was talking about my witch Elowen Hale, I said that
the Daggerheart playtest witch played a big role in who she is and what her
cha...
The Master of Puppets
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By Gordy HiggensSelf PublishedOSELevels 4-6 The ‘Toymaker’ has gone missing
– and nobility across the realm are scrambling to get their hands on his
highly...
Miskatonic Monday #447: The Black Tide
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Much like the Jonstown Compendium for RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha
and The Companions of Arthur for material set in Greg Stafford’s
masterpiece of...
The Common Store of Monsters
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I am slowly grinding my way through the re-writes for Veins of the Earth.
As part of the re-write I have re-organised the ‘Pariahs of the Earth’
monsters ...
[BLOG] News on the March! Episode XVI.
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This post continues the series of brief play reports I have been posting on
Discord. This does not cover every single session (sometimes, recon and
setup...
Card Game Update
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I received a set of rules clarifications from a Kickstarter Backer. Here’s
an update about where things stand with the card game going live on
DriveThruCar...
Konkord - Peace Operations
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*[A former Konkord Star Major, name since redacted, in response to an
audience question at the Windfall Orbital State of the Dragon Conference.
Recording...
Felltower Updates
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I did a little blog maintenance today.
I updated the DF Campaign page with links to to last 5 sessions, and also a
link to the heavier crossbow rules we us...
Doors for Dungeons
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These 3d printed doors are some that I found on some site some time in the
past, and I don't recall when or where or who the designer was. I printed
th...
The Living World Sandbox Campaign
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So for a couple of years, I've been slowly putting together an explanation
of how I run tabletop roleplaying campaigns, and I finally got a good intro
an...
Young Washington and 1753
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I saw Young Washington last weekend and absolutely loved it. If you know
me, you know the Revolutionary War era is my favorite time period. I have
always f...
Galloway vs. Gaming Gonzo...
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Devotees of D&D in the early 1980s were lucky to encounter Bruce Galloway's
master treatise: The Highest Level of All Fantasy Wargaming. The title was
a ...
Minimalist Magic Item table
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I've spent a lot of time trying to finish this table. Probably too much
time, honestly. It’s one of those things that works exactly as I wanted
once it’s...
The Old School (Hyperborean) Renaissance
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Are these poorly-masked adventure hooks? Yes, yes they are.
For the last century a peculiar fever has gripped the learned societies of
Marlinko, Kezmaro...
Micro-Adventure - #114 RATS!
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Dungeon tropes are a thing to embrace, not to dismiss. It's simple to
handwave the storm the orc infested tower to save the princess, evil wizard
in a t...
Moldvay Basic D&D now Available in Print
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Just a quick note that (finally) Moldvay Basic D&D is available in POD from
DTRPG – previously, only the Cook/Marsh …
Continue reading →
Abstraction in My Liege,
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I think the aspect of *My Liege,* that could potentially put off the most
people is its lack of accounting granularity. It does not track Court
wealth in...
Consolidated AD&D Weapon Characteristics List
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Having spent the last few days down a research rabbit hole, I ended up
compiling a chart of AD&D weapon characteristics, adding some "missing"
entries an...
Referee Sabotage
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It is an old saw that players are bad at executing their plans. Imagine
this common scene: the party have some big job that requires planning;
perhaps robb...
The March 1636 Lantern is Published
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Okay, The March Lantern is available. Those fast on the draw may have
noticed that I mistakenly published it as free access for 56 minutes. I
was just so ...
On a Happy New Year
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We are about to experience the most social upheaval since industrialization.
What will that look like in sixty years?
Sinless is starting it's third yea...
Mutants and Wizards
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Heya folks, long time no see.
I've just started working on something new called Mutants and Wizards. It's
going to be an OSE/OSR post-apocalyptic game t...
Rob Kuntz at Lucca Comics & Games 2025
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If you are planning a trip to Europe (like right now) and wish to catch up
with me in person, make sure to book a detour via *Lucca Comics & Games*,
...
How do you do piracy… in SPACE!?
-
Interstellar space travel in Iridium Moons was always going to be a form of
hyperspace jump like in Star Wars or Traveller. Simply because it’s the one
for...
A long overdue hobby update!
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Welcome back to the Vault everyone! 2025 is going by in a blur; I last
posted in February, almost started a post in March and now it's the end of
May. W...
Playing at the World 2E V2 Arrives
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With the release of its second volume, the second edition of *Playing at
the World *is finally complete. The two books combined total well over
1,000 ...
Writing playlists for all occasions
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Hello again! Going off the idea of inspiration elaborated on by the prior
post, I also have music playing while I write my various games and fiction
pieces...
The Tarot of Pips
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Somewhere in your dice collection is a die like this one, the humblest of
dice. Although you don't know it, this small white die carries with it a
secr...
Pirates and Necromancers, a Play Report
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Over the Thanksgiving weekend we did a lot of gaming ranging from
“off-table” domain level stuff to some solo adventures to spell and magic
item rese...
It's been a bit
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Hey everyone, I hope you are doing well! I've had a lot going on and
haven't had much time to blog lately. Heres a recap of gaming events and
other st...
*'s in SpaaaaaAaaaace
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A lot of SF (including a certain 2D6 RPG grandaddy) deal with ancient
aliens taking humans from Earth and dropping them, fleas and all, on one or
more w...
Last move - to self-hosting!
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As my vote regarding Substack in the “marketplace of ideas”, I’m moving to
self-hosting.
I’m now at (and hopefully staying for a long time at)
Blog: ht...
Clean Your Room
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Looking back at my little blog here. That last post… wow, I was having fun
playing WOW Classic! That was August of 1999 and I was having a blast… it
was ...
The Worm Ouroboros
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The Worm Ouroboros is a proto-fantasy (the in the genre sense) novel by E.
R. Eddison, originally published in 1922. It is an amalgam of mythological
tradi...
Steve Jackson Interview
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James Maliszewski recently did an interview with Steve Jackson over on his
Grognardia blog. Steve chats about the beginnings of The Fantasy Trip and
upcomi...
ToAD Monster of the Week: Crocoman
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Now that I'm back doing the blog thing I thought I would use Tome of
Adventure Design to create monsters for The Black Hack.
Using the monster tables in th...
Strange, Dangerous, and Inhuman: The Fey and Fairie
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When I was a boy I loved fairy tales. Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in
Boots, Rumpelstiltskin - I devoured all of it. My fascination that there
was a strang...
Dungeons & Dragonmead Fall Schedule
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*As you know, I run public classic Dungeons & Dragons games at **The Loaded
Die**/Metro Detroit Game Night's Board Game Nigh at **Dragonmead**, in
Warren...
Fiction in Airhde
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On a whim this weekend, I picked up some fiction off the TLG store. *A
Houseless God & Other Tales* and *The Mirrored Soul & Other Tales*, both by
the T...
Ravensburg Reboot: Streamlined City Map
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I mentioned in my last post how I was tweaking and reworking parts of my
Ravensburg setting. Today I streamlined the city map. The old map had lots
of redu...
The Withered Crag available now
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I just enabled the sale of the PDF version of The Withered Crag at
DriveThruRPG a few minutes ago, and the custom print version will be
available startin...
Annihilation Rising Goes live
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The latest in Fail Squad Games’ Quick Kick projects has gone live and needs
your support!! This project is only running 11 days and ends on 5/28/2019!
...
James's Celebration of Life
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We could not have asked for a prettier day for James's service. It was a
bit chilly and windy but gorgeous. A heartfelt thank you to all that joined
us tod...
Trap Tuesday: A step back
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I will get back to Tomb of Horrors soon. I found a topic that was
interesting enough to take a break. While interacting in a 5E group on
Facebook I talked ...
Let's Talk About Pacing!
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The idea, I think, is that the RPG is ultimately about the long game. Even
rolling back to the early days of Basic & Expert, the goal of the player
was...
Profane and Profound Prep Part 2
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This is part 2 of my work to edit my magic items for a DMsGuild release,
along with adding cursed items along the way. Here is part 1. Bone of a
Saint 8000...
Please, I don't do paid advertisements - don't ask.
-
A little note since people have asked me about this. My video channel's
*not* an advertising platform, so I'm not available for hire if you want to
promote...
New website!
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Slowly but surely, all the content here will make its way — in updated
form! — to my new website: timbannock.com. For fairly obvious reasons, that
site wil...
Please Update Your Link!
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If you're seeing this, it means your link to the Greyhawk Grognard blog is
out of date.
Please update your link to www.greyhawkgrognard.com (RSS feed is
h...
Total Sales for WB:FMAG
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Hi Folks,
It's been a long time since I provided an update for the sales of White
Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game.
*LULU*
Print: 396
PDF: 433
*OBS*...
How can We Destroy this Campaign World?
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d12
1. You must trick a bard into strumming the *Chords of Fate* on the *Lute
of Annihilation*
2. Legends tell of thermonuclear weapons beneath megadunge...
Mord Mar - Session 5
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We had another successful delve into the dungeon yesterday. The delvers:
Moira, the Magic-User
Radovan - Human Cleric (of Odin?)
Khazgar Stonehand - Dwarf ...
Bundle of Fantasy Age
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Bundle of Holding: Dragon Age/Fantasy Age: Available until March 12. PA
Presents: Fantasy AGE Freeport live play Green Ronin in 2018 The Fantasy
Age RPG ma...
New Free PDF Module: The Hyqueous Vaults
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A new dungeon module—written in celebration of OSRIC's 10th Birthday—by
Rebecca Dettmann, Allan T. Grohe, Jr., Jimm Johnson, Matthew Riedel, Alex
Zisch, a...
Swords & Wizardry Light: Session # 6
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Two months after our last session (thanks to things like 8th grade finals,
a 4 year-old's birthday and party, Father's Day, etc.), we finally had our
next ...
