Free OSR - Arcana Rising (Modern-Day Urban Fantasy)

I really enjoy finding OSR rulesets that push the game into less-used genres. Arcana Rising imagines a "modern-day urban fantasy" setting "that posits a world where magic and the supernatural have awakened once more after millennia of slumber beneath the frozen ice of the Antarctic."

Arcana Rising is priced at Pay What You Want.

Generations ago, the source of all raw magic was sealed away beneath the frozen ice of the southernmost continent, but now, with the breaching of the ancient seal by Russian scientists, magic once again flows throughout the world as it once did. Wizardry is once more a genuine calling, the divine influence is making itself known in greater strength than has been seen on the Earth in human memory, and with the return of magic, supernatural creatures that had long fled to the outer planes where magic still held sway are once again encroaching into the material realm and threatening mankind. 

Players will take on classic fantasy roles thrust into our world, modern day wizards, adventurers, and holy champions, who seek out the knowledge of the lost era of magic and attempt to protect mankind from the supernatural beings that now threaten it, while juggling their mundane lives around the demands of a life of danger confronting unholy threats from beyond the veil.

Arcana Rising is powered by the same core system as the critically-acclaimed Hulks and Horrors science-fiction role-playing game. The H&H Engine brings a simple to learn set of rules inspired by the classic fantasy role-playing games of Gygax, Mentzer, and Ward. 

• 7 core classes with rules up to level 12 and beyond, each a new spin on the classics: Gunfighter, Gladiator, Rogue, Wizard, Cleric, Champion, and Forestwalker
• A Day Job system, representing the characters' day to day careers
• A new skill system that aims to provide the skilled with better talent and success without blocking off options
• Arcane magic and Divine prayer, with spell lists for each up to level 6
• Rules for generating magical treasures and artifacts from the ancient era
• Over 100 classic fantasy and folkloric monsters
• GM advice and tools for modern and urban fantasy adventuring
• Alternate 'genre packages' and rules for other game concepts from traditional medieval fantasy to post-apocalyptic horror

 

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DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Rumble or YouTube - Tenkar

Update Backerkit - Stars & Sails - Stretch Goal Added

Well, the more I learn about Stars & Sails, the more I can't wait to give it a play-through at Wizard Con in April. 

Now that we have a sneak peek at an S&S character sheet, we can learn more about Stars & Sails. Apparently, resources are essential (rations and water have their own tracking boxes ;)

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Rumble or YouTube - Tenkar

Humble Bundle - The Complete ElfQuest

Back in my college days, I was a huge fan of the ElfQuest series of comics. Well, for 18 bucks, you can own The Compete ElfQuest Bundle. I'm all in, 'nuff said!

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Kickstarter - Dark Visions - For the Shadowdark RPG

Here's the point where I talk about "connections." I've known Jeff Jones for several years. He laid out and edited the two issues of our Torchlight zine. He simply does good, professional work in a timely fashion.

Dark Visions is a current Kickstarter project for the ShadowDark RPG. Starting as low as 12 bucks in PDF (I'm backing at $50, BTW), Dark Visions is: 

"An expansion for the Shadowdark RPG focusing on cults, their gods, and their domains. Featuring 3 Player Classes (Cultist, Inquisitor, and Knight of the Covenant), 25 New Spells, and 16 Cultist Domains, each containing their own dedicated creatures, magic items, and tables. Not just a resource guide, DARK VISIONS includes a pair of stand-alone adventures that have the party following an occult trail into dank dungeons. You can string both of the adventures together plus add THE TOWER OF SIX companion zine to form a three adventure campaign!"

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Rumble or YouTube - Tenkar  

Bundle of Holding - CBR+PNK (Minimalist Cyberpunk)

I must confess, when I look at new rulesets (or at least ones that I've never encountered before), I look for ones that will be convention-play friendly. I have plenty of potential rulesets to use at my home table, but convention play, IMHO, goes best with light rules that play fast. 

The CBR+PNK Bundle looks to be PERFECT for convention gaming. YMMV ;)

Adventurer! This new CBR+PNK Quick Deal presents the complete line of CBR+PNK minimalist Forged in the Dark cyberpunk pamphlets from Cabinet of Curiosities. In low-prep, fast-playing one-shot sessions, your team of Runners, living on the edge in the shadows of a gritty, ultra-violent world, make their last run. Maybe you'll recover a payload from an abandoned AI-run hotel – or buy an encrypted Hosaka key in the corporate megalopolis Mona Rise – or search lunar habitat Biosphere-5 for the escaped APX PRDTR. The CBR+PNK core rules fit in three four-panel pamphlets; you can print each pamphlet on one legal-size sheet of paper, double-sided. Read the entire game on a lunch break, then create characters and start running one of this offer's one-sheet adventures in 15 minutes.

For just US$6.95 you get all eight titles in our CBR+PNK Collection (retail value $36.50) as DRM-free ebooks, including the complete CBR+PNK Core rules sheets, along with the Rookie character expansion; the plug-ins (rules options) Cyberpunk Hunters and +Weird; and four runs: The Ghost of Adelaide, Mind the Gap, Mona Rise Megalopolis, and PRDTR.

We presented the original 2021 version of the CBR+PNK core rules in our December 2021 Forged in the Dark Bundle. This is the 1.5 Augmented Edition funded in a March 2022 Kickstarter campaign. If you purchased the Dec 2021 Forged offer, check your Wizard's Cabinet download page for the new edition of the core rules.

 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Rumble or YouTube - Tenkar 

OSR Christmas 2024 - Days 11 & 12 - Big Gifts Are Going Out the Door - See if They Are Yours!

Alright! We are finally here—the wrap-up of OSR Christmas 2024—the final Days—Days 11 and 12!

If you see your name/screenname/handle below, you must email me at tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom with "OSR Chrismas 2024 Days 11&12" in the subject. In the body of the email, we'll need your real name, screenname/handle, and the gift you are claiming.

Good luck to all!

1 - Frog God Games 50% off Coupon

Hyrieus & rockmonolit

2 - $200 Frog God Games Store Credit (Note, Outside US MAY be limited to digital purchases)

GMJasonGURPS

3 - Free Holiday PDFs from Frog God Games:
How Orcus Stole Christmas,
Orcus on 34th Level,
Orcus in a Winter Wonderland,
Beware of the Yule Cat, &
The 12 Days of Orcus


FallenAngel

4 - The New Adventures Dark and Deep Core Rulebook and Core Bestiary in pdf from BRW Games

Tim Baker

5 - Fat Dragon Games - DRAGON TILES: Dungeon Core Set

Narmer

6 - Fat Dragon Games - DRAGON TILES: Caverns Core Set

DungeonMapper

7 - PIG Games - Worlds Beyond in PDF

macloud

8 - PIG Games - Swords & Six-Siders Expanded Edition in PDF

Matthew

9 - $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate

Doug

10 - $50 DTRPG Gift Certificate

Jeff Bernstein

11 -Emperors Choice - 1 BIG Bundle - US Only

ch\/\/olfgang        

2 x Continent Maps of Khaora (Large and small size)

2 x 2024 Arduin Maps

2 x Original Arduin Maps

2 x Chorynth Country Maps 2024 versions

2 x Arduin Map Index Books

2 x Sets of Arduin Art Prints (Set of 4)

2 x Arduin Map Tubes

2 x Back Scratchers

Merry Christmas to all!

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Rumble or YouTube - Tenkar 

Bundle of Holding - Faster Than Light – Nomad Bundle

Quick note! Return here tomorrow as we gift the gifts of the final days of OSR Christmas 2024! - Tenkar

I'm still trying to find the "perfect" sci-fi ruleset that isn't too complicated. Until now, White Star has filled that niche for me, but everything I've read about Faster Than Light – Nomad has made me think it could have competition. Based on the SRD of the Traveller rules, this 2D6 system has been well received by reviewers at  DTRPG.

You can get the entire Faster Than Light – Nomad bundle for 12.95 (the core rules alone are 19.99 at DTRPG).

Adventurer! This FTL Nomad Bundle presents Faster Than Light: Nomad, the high-adventure science fiction tabletop roleplaying game from Stellagama Publishing. An evolution and expansion of Stellagama's Quantum Starfarer, Nomad's streamlined and approachable old-school rules support any kind of future space setting from cyberpunk to space marine firefights, free-trader interstellar travelling to mecha melodrama, and the galactic escapades of far-future star heroes.

Nomad roleplaying gameFor just US$12.95 you get all five titles in our Nomad Collection (retail value $56) as DRM-free ebooks, including the complete Faster Than Light: Nomad corebook, plus the free Quickstart; three supplements – Mecha, Spacecraft Go!, and Synthoids; and Adventure 1: The Customs Job.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Rumble or YouTube - Tenkar