Dolmenwood: Fantasy RPG built around the acclaimed Old-School Essentials rules

zbikowski 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I appreciate all that Gavin Norman and Necrotic Gnome have done for the OSR TTRPG scene over the past few years, but I have to say each time I see a D&D-derivative system it makes me wish that other systems of the time—like Runequest, Tunnels & Trolls, or West End Games' d6 system beneath Ghostbusters (1985) and Star Wars (1987)—got even half the attention. Tom Moldvay and Dave Cook's Basic/Expert (1981) has been done to death at this point. For a nice historical lesson, look to Moldvay's later work on the Challenges Game System[0], which pares down the AD&D 1E Players Handbook (1978) into 8 pages suitable for running the game at the table.

I could rant for hours about the sacred cows of D&D deserving slaughter, but I'll refrain.

All this is to say, the Dolmenwood campaign book is great and I own it. It was originally a setting for Old-School Essentials published through a zine[1], and I think they could have stopped at just a campaign book, the one that the OP links to. I just don't think we need any more flavors of B/X!

[0] https://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=14165

[1] https://necroticgnome.com/blogs/news/the-end-of-wormskin

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Propelloni an hour ago | parent | next [-]

At least BRP (the system behind Runequest) and d6 are actively developed and there are games, new and old, using them. They are also rather popular, at least if one browses rpg.net.

T&T I don't know. I think there is a new edition coming along?

	▲	zbikowski an hour ago \| parent [-]
		This is true. Though I will say that modern iterations of Runequest and d6 (namely OpenD6 and its derivatives) resemble the original systems only barely. Same is true for T&T, which after its 5th Edition became likewise unrecognizable. My point isn't necessarily that there shouldn't be modern versions of these games—obviously, D&D is the most popular TTRPG (at least in the US), and itself barely resembles the three brown booklets of '74. It's that by going back and discovering what made the originals so great, we can carry these lessons forward and make loving modern interpretations like Old School Essentials/Dolmenwood.

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SubiculumCode 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I am sure those systems deserve a modern renovation, but as a general matter, I think the particulars of game systems matter less, overall, when it is not a mechanics heavy system like Pathfinder and DnD 5e...or Rolemaster. It mostly comes down to rulings over rules...which is why rules lite systems, e.g. Mausritter, Knave, Into the Odd, have play in the OSR/NSR scene.

I do not know where on the crunch spectrum the systems you mentioned fall,

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SubiculumCode an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

I think one of the impetuses to not using the Old School Essentials rules was the Hasbro DnD debacle where they started making moves to undo the Open Gaming License (OGL) in 2023. The resulting Dolmenwood system cleanly removed the last vestiges of anything that might be subject to the OGL...e.g. certain spell names, monster names, etc.

	▲	zbikowski 39 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		I agree, and it's certainly a good idea; OGL fears are still valid to this day. I think a much cleaner route, however, would be to abandon the chassis entirely. It protects one's long-term IP through unique game mechanics or by using an open system as a base. A lot of how a game encourages play is based upon the small details that designers choose to include. In 1974, looking at OD&D for the first time, players probably wouldn't think to tap the floor for traps, but a 10' pole is curiously listed on the equipment table. Same with listening at doors, or things like that. So instead of coming up with something entirely bespoke, companies seem to use D&D as a base not because it serves the game, but because it has lower "buy-in" for customers. Which I think is a shame.

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sklargh an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I have run several campaigns in Dolmenwood - from early Wormskin and OSE Patreon days through the current open game license free format.

I’m consistently amazed at the depth this setting offers a sandbox-curious referee and a creative table. It is well worth exploring. It is also a masterpiece of information design and the easiest tool I’ve used at the table.

My session notes for my current campaign are here if you are interested in what is achievable.

https://publish.obsidian.md/generallyobservable/Dolmenwood+S...

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SubiculumCode an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm just working up the courage (and the people) to run it. I might have the face of a grognard, but I've only run a handful of sessions as a gamemaster / dungeonmaster. Between relative inexperience and the demands of my career in autism research career, I have not yet taken the plunge.

On the plus side for prep, the Dolmenwood books and pdfs are wonderfully organized...bringing the same expertise that Gavin Norman brought to Old School Essentials that had won him (and his team) wide acclaim.

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SubiculumCode 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I was a backer and the books are lovely, and the setting is awesome.

Also this is my favorite t-shirt: https://necroticgnome.com/products/dolmenwood-goatlord-t-shi...

Also check out 3d6 Down the Line, an actual play worth listening to. https://youtu.be/xNWg_IcbHl8?is=54oqh6TbY5g6DP-B

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er4hn an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

If you're curious drivethrurpg is currently[1] offering a quick start adventure of this for free: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/575501/dolmenwood-qu... .

[1] - I found it in their "Free Title of the Week" from their newsletter. Not sure if it will go away 07-30 or so when the next newsletter comes out.

	▲	er4hn an hour ago \| parent [-]
		D'oh it's also on the owner's site's page for free: https://necroticgnome.com/products/dolmenwood-quick-start

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beebmam 38 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I find OSR style games to be too much effort as a GM. I much prefer GMing RPGs that make it easy to GM

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SubiculumCode 19 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Hmm. When playing online, I feel like Pathfinder/DnD5e put a lot on the game master in terms of lots of prep, battle maps, tokens, etc. B/X etc can be played much more theater of mind, and so would seem to require less work. In person, probably less of a distinction.

Personally, I have tired of the modern 5e/Pathfinder type games where the play often revolves around combat that takes way too long, where playes don't interact much, spend their time waiting to roll the dice and gazing at their character sheets trying to find an answer rather than by interacting with the world.

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Jtsummers 28 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

OSR systems have a ton of already published modules and campaigns to draw from, if you want zero prep (beyond reading, and maybe drawing out maps or something). Otherwise, it's about the same as running any other system in my experience. Easier than some, harder than others. The Dolmenwood campaign provides a lot of information for the DM, too.

	▲	beebmam 8 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		At least for me now, I'm quite older than I used to be, and I don't want to have to read a lot of information or setting details ahead of time to be able to run a game as a GM.

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teroshan 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The Dolmenwood Campaign Book [0] has been nominated in the both the "Best Setting" and "Product of the Year" category of the 2026 ENNIE award [1]

[0] https://necroticgnome.com/products/dolmenwood-campaign-book

[1] https://ennie-awards.com/2026-nominees/

	▲	Kichererbsen 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		it's beautiful AND incredibly well done. even if you don't plan to ever play dolmenwood: read through the campaign setting!

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127 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Didn't know this existed. Have to say that's some great looking art.

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simonh 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I just picked up the books, after finishing playing in a short campaign. It's a great setting. The rules system is a bit bare bones, but you could easily run Dungeon World or pretty much any trad fantasy RPG there. Yes, 5e, sure. It would work great for Pendragon.

	▲	SubiculumCode 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Bare bones is a plus for me honestly. I'm fairly tired of crunchy mechanics that takes days and slow player interaction.

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SubiculumCode 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

For a video with a fairly comprehensive overview, worth checking out:

https://youtu.be/hL_YAarvB5U?is=SQGjmmBP0ignvSy4

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jonnycomputer 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Dolmenwood rocks. A monumental achievement in TTRPGs.

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jasonlotito 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Woah... this is crazy to see here. The books are absolutely amazing. Everything is carefully crafted and filled with love. The modern OSR and modern TTRPGS are absolutely wonderful. This is the craft at its finest.

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pepperoni_pizza 3 hours ago | parent [-]

> Woah... this is crazy to see here.

Yeah, I'd expect HN to be more into Eclipse Phase or something.

	▲	GolfPopper 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Why would we need to play Eclipse Phase when we can spend all our time LARPing the Fall instead?