#OSRBlogger

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Creature Feature: Tendriculos!

Gushing over this leafy carnivore, the man-eating Tendriculos!

Surprise. It’s not a Pokemon. This carnivorous plant is like being attacked by a dump truck with tentacles in the middle of the forest. It’s one of my favorite all-time monsters. The entry shown here is from Matt Finch’s Monstrosities as printed by Frog God Games. You can find it here on DriveThruRPG.com.The creature originally appeared in Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Edition. I fell in love with it…

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Unnecessary Comments Will Be Deleted.

Some random commenter finally put me over the edge today. I opened my notifications to find someone had left a rather nasty comment on an older post today. I’m annoyed on multiple levels. Let’s just say I don’t deal well with unconstructive criticism. I know I probably picked the wrong field for this because it’s the Internet and there are trolls among us. I’m a TableTop RolePlaying Game…

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Labels and Communities.

TTRPGs have a complex culture built up around them. One part of the greater whole is the OSR movement. It is neither good nor bad, but there are definitely people who have given it a bad reputation. Let's try to change that.

The #OldSchoolRenaissance- we’re not ALL that bad. Once upon a time, I set out to make this a spiritual (New Age, not the other kind) blog. My number one goal when writing was to keep things positive every time I sat down. Then, a self-proclaimed guru, a yogi named Sri Akarshana started talking mad shit about how he treats his employees and how everyone else should do the same. I’m sorry. In the…

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Creature Feature: The Froghemoth

The Froghemoth. Some call it silly. Others believe it an Eldritch abomination. Recreated here for Shadowdark RPG. Enjoy!

Rebuilt for Shadowdark RPG. Froghemoth c/o Forgotten Realms Wiki. A hideous abomination with powerful hind legs, its front legs replaced with four long black tentacles and two yellowed misshapen eyestalks rises from the muck and slime before you. It towers over both man and elf alike. It opens its void like maw as the mud and slime drip off of it as it lets out a bellowing croak. What do you…

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#Promptober2023 Day 17: Mine/Tunnel

A new miner magic item for #Promptober2023. (Pun intended.)

This seemingly innocuous item could be a real life saver in Shadowdark RPG. The Miner’s Stone Lantern: Invented by a mage who lost his brother during a minne collapse, this ordinary looking lantern uses magic to burn everyday common stones instead of oil. This lantern appears as an everyday lantern complete with shutter but no oil reservoir. When an ordinary piece of stone is inserted into the…

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OSR Movement in the TTRPG Hobby: Friendly Alternative or Menace?

Talking about New School vs Old School. Let's all just do our best, okay? Please!

Here we are yet again. Disclaimer: Statements expressed in this article are strictly my opinion. If you disagree or have a different opinion, that’s okay. I’m not an expert on everything. I’m not always right. I’m just writing from my experience as I know it. Your mileage may vary. It’s been a bit of a chaotic week here both in my personal life and in the TTRPG community. Allow me to recap a…

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Shadowdark Midday Panic Part 3.

The third room of the third room dungeon. A hallway leading to certain doom. Dubney is begging to be rescued.

Welcome back to our 5 Room Dungeon. The door puzzle from last time. See below: The large stone archway has 9 dials on it with a tenth on the arch itself. Glyphs and pictographs in Room 2 are surrounded by 9 symbols if a clever adventurer recognizes the pattern and wipes away some of the oily muck that covers them. The dials all have 8 positions.Number 1 is the top position, Clockwise to 2 and…

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Depiction of Aragorn on Magic: the Gathering Card Ignites Social Media Firestorm.

A brief review of the new Aragorn artwork for the upcoming Magic: the Gathering/Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth release. What started as an artwork teaser turned into a raging online hate-fest.

Some “fans” react in the most abhorrent ways possible. Painted by Irvin Rodriguez, a talented American artist whose other works are awe-inspiring. I’ve seen things go sideways before, but this is an all new low for some Magic: the Gathering fans. Artwork for the upcoming Magic: the Gathering/Lord of the Rings expansion was just released showing Aragorn holding Andúril, Flame of the West. My hot…

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Shadowdark Midday Panic Room 2

The mystery deepens further into the fresh pit. What built the vault? Why is it here? What are these creatures? This and more in Room #2.

Map will be released at the end. When last we left our heroes they ran into their first Lurker in Darkness in Jayden’s family cottage. Lurker in Darkness:  AC 13, HP 13, ATK 1 claw +3 (1d6), 1 Tentacle +3 (2d4,) Or Bite +3 (1d8) MV double near, S +0, D +3, C +1, I -2, W +1, Ch -3, AL N, LV 3 *NEW* Weaknesses: Direct sunlight and loud noises such as yelling, music, or banging. Years of seclusion…

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Is the Old School Renaissance On Life Support?

It doesn't matter what edition or variation of the rules you prefer. Just get in there and have fun. That's what TTRPGs are all about.

Seems like this is becoming a relevant topic at least once or twice per year. But at least it’s not Wizards of the Coast’s latest flub. Am I right? This is truly not the article or topic I wanted to be talking about today. Alas, the city, the entire ICONS setting I’m working on that closely resembles Seasons One and Two of Batman: the Animated Series has to wait another month or so. Let’s get…

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Midday Excitement in a Small Village.

First part of a 5 room dungeon for use with Shadowdark RPG.

For use with the Shadowdark RPG or other D20 Fantasy RPGs. Screams are heard in the middle of the day in the quiet village of Perdozin where the group is staying or possibly just passing through. A young man named Jaden, out of his mind with fear, dashes into the middle of the village market screaming wildly at the top of his lungs.“It got Dubney! It-it- just dragged him down into the pit.…

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Design an Old School Essentials Character Class With Me.

Working on the Beast Master class for Old School Essentials. It's a World of Warcraft Hunter meets 5th Ed Ranger done as OSE.

Beast Masters are usually caring protectors of the forest. They work and live side-by-side with their fierce animal companions. Beast Masters care little for the laws of other civilized beings, instead preferring the laws of nature. Likewise, the lure of Chaos rarely befits them, as unpredictable, evil, or erratic behaviour causes animals and spirits of the forest to mistrust them.Beast Masters…

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Old School Essentials Advanced Fantasy Referee's Tome Review.

It's everything one could really ever ask for in a Game Master's book. The monster book is baked right in. The magic items are excellent. It offers good advice to starting Referees Truly a top tier TTRPG book.

Old School Essentials Advanced Fantasy Referee’s Tome. Old School Essentials Advanced Fantasy Referee’s Tome by Necrotic Gnome/Exalted Funeral is the second half of the OSE Advanced Fantasy series. I had a little trouble finding these books in person at a FLGS, but it is possible. Otherwise, they can be ordered online if you don’t mind paying some shipping. Link here. As one might well expect,…