
The OSRIC Player's Guide, by Seattle Hill Games, has most of the core rules to play the advanced first edition of the world's most popular role-playing game. It is an easy introduction on how to play the game as Gary played it. Once you have mastered the rules herein, you should be able to easily assimilate the full rules from the golden age of fantasy adventure gaming.
Please note; this is not the full ruleset. You will also need a manual of monsters and a game master's guide, which are available online. Alternatively, you can pick up the full OSRIC rulebook from Black Blade Publishing.
The Icemaiden
During AD&D sessions I doodle some of the action and I've started to develop these into a strip charting the party's progress. Updates will be when I get the time to put pen to paper. It should be noted that these are 'cartoons' and I'll be using some artistic license but the spirit of what happens at the table will always be there.
Melan's post discussing the end of the OSR, and Anthony Huso's response, offered a chance to have -if for a small moment shared by only a few people - that sort of chained conversation that kicked the whole mess off and running.
I say "mess" with mixed feelings ranging from fondness to good riddance...(click above for more!)
Cultists of Yox
As grodog mentioned at his blog, I'm hip-deep in keying out the dungeon level of Twisting Stair #1 for use in my home campaign (and for a prospective Roll20 online campaign). It's coming along nicely, although not quite finished in a shareable state.
One thing I like about the Twisting Stair zine is how it drops a tidbit without fleshing out the details. I find it just enough to jump start my creative process while leaving me completely free to follow my imagination. One example of this was the "Cultists of Yox" found on the Wandering Pairings random encounter table.
As a little teaser of what turned out to be a major faction in my adaption of the 1st level Twisting Stair dungeon map, here my take on the Cult of Yox...
Druids in First Edition AD&D do not have the ability to turn undead. Other than physical combat or druid spells, druids are just like anyone else when it comes to undead.
Magical Protections In AD&D
This is the third part in a three part series of articles spawned by my research into undead in AD&D.
Danger lurks in every corner of the small coastal city of Los Farport. The locals insist people are being abducted in the night and taken into the bowels of the rumored "Undercity Dungeon" below. A lone survivor managed to escape and give some information before dying in your arms: "Secret door...Tavern of the Wiley Wench...Ugh!" You and your brave team of adventurers have decided to investigate these rumors, plunder the dungeon and destroy the dreaded "Villains of the Undercity!"...right after you loot his still warm body, of course.
EOTB
Approach: gamist over simulationist
Appeal: player skill over character skill
Aesthetic: Heavy Metal: the Movie over fantasy geographic
My games and writing center around sandboxing between urban, wilderness and megadungeon play; and also a heavy dose of other-planar.
Quirks include an irrational love of treasure maps, and using the DMG unarmed combat tables. Dice openly rolled to the fullest extent possible. Illusions are real to the character if the player responds except to disbelieve. Gandalf was just a 5th level wizard, prove me wrong.
All of the OSRIC rules in one place
Undead In AD&D
I was reading up on the various undead in the Monster Manual, and noted which ones in their descriptions specifically mentioned throwing holy water on them would hurt them.
The Vampire Queen has assembled a team of her worst prisoners for a little game! Together you strangers face a simple choice...death or freedom? She has challenged your daring band of adventurers to run the gauntlet of her wicked dungeon lair using all of your original weapons, magic items and possessions! You must survive terrible traps, beastly monsters, even each other as you outwit and fight your way through all the horrific surprises she has arranged. Fortune and glory await those brave souls who can escape from the Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen!
Free City of Holting
I have some art, work OSRIC is welcome to use as it deems fit.
Old School Role Playing produces OSRIC material and other old school products for Drive Thru RPG. It also offers a blog with weekly articles on old school topics.
Undead In AD&D Part 2
Yesterday, I wrote a bit about Undead in AD&D, with a focus on the Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide.
I got a lot of likes and comments on it, some wanting to see what I had to say about the Fiend Folio.
My infrequently-updated blog ostensibly covering the entire gamut of 80s-era pop culture but in practice focused mostly on D&D, specifically Gary Gygax-flavored 1st edition AD&D and the World of Greyhawk. Occasional house-rules and new crunch (spells, monsters, items, etc.) are posted alongside reviews and retrospectives, reminiscences, philosophical musings, polemic rants, and other standard blog fare.
Lost Temple of the Snake Men
Strange abductions of villagers and travelers are growing bolder near the port town of Caraal on the edge of the Glimmerhold Jungle. Frightened and half-crazed, a woman has escaped from her captors and returned to civilization. She tells tales of snake men who inhabit the ruins of an ancient temple deep in the jungle. Adventures are called for to put down this threat. The jungle is thick and full of strange creatures. The ancient terrors of the snake men are only rivaled by whispers of the treasures of their lost civilization.
This one-shot adventure for OSRIC, AD&D or similar retro-clones is recommended for 7th through 9th level characters.
Fear stalks through the darkness of night in the form of the walking dead! They attack innocent travelers and merchant caravans in the moonlight! Animated skeletons have also been seen digging up the recently dead and carrying them into the nearby ruins of an old abandoned keep! Rumor spreads fast from lip to ear amongst the locals, whispering that a sinister hooded figure has been seen directing the undead and is taking up residence in that foul dungeon! Your stalwart group of adventurers has decided to take on this challenge, get the treasure you know is in there and defeat this evil menace known only as the Shadow of the Necromancer!
Follow Me And Die!
I am a long-time gamer. I started with the Holmes Blue Box set of "Basic D&D" that only went to third level, back in March or April, 1977. I then moved on to AD&D, anxiously waiting as each book was released, reading every word as quickly as possible.
We are about writing, illustrating and publishing table top role-playing games. MontiDots is a collaborative venture between three friends incorporating passions, skills, ideas, creativity and fun. Through OSRIC we have published a series of adventures for various levels of play from low level exploratory dungeons to grim survival adventures in upper layers of hell.
Secret Machines of the Star Spawn
Locals have been hearing whispers of strange happenings around the Ancient Volcano. Rumors over the last several years of an unspeakable evil that has risen up inside. An evil that "fell from the stars." There is something wicked and devilish going on inside. Highwaymen report of strange creatures, mechanical monsters, horrible beasts and "little green men" that are roaming the land. You and your stalwart adventurers have decided to take on the challenge of plundering the mountain for the treasure within!
HM1 - The Disappearance of Harold the Hedge Mage
PRODUCT
& Magazine #14 - Animal Companions
PRODUCT
The Lost Keys of Solitude
CREATOR
EOTB
PRODUCT
Footprints #18
The Lost Pyramid of Imhoptep
PRODUCT
Footprints #24
PRODUCT
TOWR1: Secret of the Sinister Sect
PRODUCT
The Obsidian Sands of Syncrates
PRODUCT
The Conqueror Worm
The Monastery of the Order of the Crimson Monks
PRODUCT
Dark Druids
PRODUCT
HU3 The Mortuary Temple of Esma
MEDIA
Magical Protections In AD&D
PRODUCT
ZA2: Tomb of Kings
& Magazine #9 - Spells and Spell Casters
PRODUCT
Footprints #04
PRODUCT
Footprints #09
PRODUCT
Old-School Gazette #4
CREATOR
Free City of Holting
GS13: Secret of the Storm Giant King
PRODUCT
Old School Gazette #11
PRODUCT
Mistress of the Ghost City
PRODUCT
& Magazine #13 - Character Races
PRODUCT
Footprints #21
Villains of the Undercity
PRODUCT
Monsters of Myth
PRODUCT
L5B: The Kroten Adventures
PRODUCT
The Mad Demigod's Castle
PRODUCT
Palace of the Dragon's Princess
ZA5: Flayers of the Mind
PRODUCT
The Mouth of the Shadowvein
PRODUCT
Footprints #03
CREATOR
Follow Me And Die!
PRODUCT
HS1 - The Village of Rashtan
ZC2: Barrowmar: City of Adventure
PRODUCT
The Pod-Caverns of the Sinister Shroom
CREATOR
& Magazine
ARTICLE
What is Classic Adventure Gaming?
PRODUCT
Vault of the Dwarven King
LG3: Evil in the Borderlands
PRODUCT
F1: Zombie Curse
PRODUCT
Aerie of the Cloud Giant Strategos
PRODUCT
& Magazine #8 - Urban Adventures
PRODUCT
LG2: The Famine at Fort Kraken
Footprints #07
PRODUCT
Monstrous Tome 2 - Book of Beings
PRODUCT
Beneath Black Towen
PRODUCT
The Valley of Eternal Rest
PRODUCT
Old-School Gazette #1
Site Designed by the
Mage in Black