Old School Renaissance (OSR) (2000)

Overview

The Old School Renaissance, Old School Revival or OSR is a play style movement in tabletop role-playing games which draws inspiration from the earliest days of tabletop RPGs in the 1970s, especially Dungeons & Dragons. More popular systems developed under the OSR system subculture are
Shadowdark https://groupfinder.eu/library/shadowdark-rpg-2023
,
Dungeon Crawl Classics https://groupfinder.eu/library/dungeon-crawl-classics-2012
Mörk Borg https://groupfinder.eu/library/mork-borg-2020
Dolmenwood
Mothership https://groupfinder.eu/library/mothership-2018
Perils & Princesses
Basic Fantasy
Description The OSR movement first developed in the early 2000s, primarily in discussion on internet forums. OSR games encourage a tonal fidelity to early editions of Dungeons & Dragons—less emphasis on predefined endings, and a greater emphasis on player choice determining the fate of characters. OSR Games provide play where wrong decisions can easily become lethal for characters and do not guarantee satisfying endings to character arcs. Characters live and die by player choice as opposed to the story's needs System Overview & Key Features
Rulings Over Rules Rather than providing comprehensive mechanics for all potential scenarios, OSR systems rely on the Game Master to adjudicate outcomes based on the players' stated actions. This approach is intended to expedite gameplay and encourage lateral thinking over rule memorization.
High Lethality Player characters possess low survivability, particularly at early levels. Game mechanics often dictate that a single error or unfavorable dice roll can result in immediate character death. This design element encourages players to avoid direct combat and approach the game world with caution.
Player Skill over Character Skill Game resolution depends heavily on the player's descriptive input rather than the character's numerical statistics. For example, instead of rolling a die to detect a hidden object, a player must explicitly state that their character is searching a specific area or manipulating a particular mechanism.
Gold as Experience Character advancement in many OSR games is directly tied to the acquisition of treasure rather than the defeat of enemies. Characters gain experience points primarily by extracting valuables from dangerous locations and returning them to a safe environment. This heavily incentivizes acquiring loot while avoiding unnecessary combat.
Resource Management Game mechanics require the strict tracking of consumable items such as rations, light sources, ammunition, and carrying capacity (encumbrance). Depleting essential resources in a hazardous environment poses a significant mechanical penalty, making inventory management a central component of gameplay.
Reaction Rolls and Morale Non-player characters and creatures do not default to immediate hostility. Game Masters utilize randomized reaction tables to determine the initial disposition of encountered entities, which can range from hostile to friendly. Additionally, adversaries are subject to Morale checks during combat, dictating whether they continue fighting or attempt to flee when at a disadvantage.
Additional links drivethrurpg.com https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?filters=45582_0_0_0_0 - DriveThruRPG (Major hub for OSR PDFs and print on demand books) basicfantasy.org https://basicfantasy.org - Basic Fantasy RPG (A completely free, open source OSR system)

Active games and players

OSR
OSR
Online
Campaign
Original Dungeons & Dragons
Players
4/10
GM
1/1
OSR
en English

Original Dungeons & Dragons

Roleplay focused Roleplay focused
Newbie friendly Newbie friendly
Online, 0e ODND, CST, Thursday-Saturday; What? Old-school 1974 D&D similar to Shadowdark, and Old School Essentials. Emphasis on open world player freedom. Party up and play when your schedule allows. Travel a hex grid. Meet, recruit, and barter with NPCs across the world. Carve out your name in infamy, fame, or obscurity.  How? Discord used for communication and record keeping. Miro used for visuals. Voice recorded, transcribed, and processed for notes to keep the world consistent. To enter the game contact via discord or Groupfinder DM if interested. Who is playing? Drop in/Drop out West Marches style. Play 1-on-1 with DM any time on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, or coordinate with others to schedule with other players in group effort. Player cooperation not required, you can adventure with NPCs for equal treasure share or hire them on other terms. Speak with players out or inside of game to meet in specific places. Enter the timeline in approved places. Having multiple characters in multiple locations in the game is advantageous as the world is vast and distance takes time to traverse. What are the rules? - Chainmail (some not all), The 3 brown booklets. - Knowing the rules isn't required to play because it's so simple - Character classes are: Magic-User, Fighting-Man, Cleric, Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit Tips? - The DM will not remind players of quest options available to the players. - Notes and good memory are important. Knowledge is precious. - Hiring NPCs is a core mechanic - No set story. No narrative or character arcs. Story emerges from random results of the game, so play like no one is watching but the NPCs.

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OSR
OSR
Keswick
Campaign
TTRPG group for various systems - Cumbria
Players
4/10
GM
1/1
OSR
en English

TTRPG group for various systems - Cumbria

Roleplay focused Roleplay focused
Newbie friendly Newbie friendly
Looking for new players for shadowdark RPG games in Keswick,Cumbria.  I have an established gaming group and am looking to expand session frequency through additional players Group is new player friendly Shadowdark is a rules-lite d20 system with OSR vibes. Open to other game systems in the future. Current casual  campaign is a west marches style setup where each session an expedition party leaves a central base to explore the world through rumours and previous expedition logs , each session ends with surviving party members returning to base.  Looking for players wanting to play sessions between weekly and monthly cadence, If is enough players available on a day(3+) then I will run a session/expedition.

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OSR
OSR
Online
Campaign
Better than Any Man
Players
3/7
GM
1/1
OSR
en English

Better than Any Man

Homebrew Homebrew
Playtest Playtest
KARLSTADT, OCTOBER 1631 — WAR IS HELL The Swedes are invading. Sorcerers have taken Karlstadt with the aid of unearthly creatures. In Würzburg, the Prince-Bishop schemes to retain control of his domain. And yet darker forces gather. Thousands will die before the week is out. Can a group of luckless adventurers change the course of events? Profit along the way? But what can they possible do against those who consider themselves Better than Any Man? The practical bits — A campaign in the Holy Roman Empire. Sandbox with no metaplot or chosen ones — Religious war, witch-hunts, mass civilian death and body horror. If that's not your thing, this isn't the table for you — Open table for up to 7 players — 4 hours per session — Online or in-person depending on the group — Custom OSR ruleset open to beginners and grognards alike — Language: English — Free Contact: tg @Angrysigma or here

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New
Posted 3 hours ago
en English
DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
...
Columbus
Online
Ano
Been running and playing TTRPGs for over 20 years at this point, been getting paid for it for the last 10. I run the TTRPGs community Dreamscape Adventures, maybe you'll come join us? We're hiring DMs and offer both free and paid games of all systems
New
Posted 4 hours ago
en English
Homebrew
Homebrew
...
Niagara Falls
Online
Amaril
My RPG obsession started when my dad got me into D&D aged five. I've been playing and running ever since. My most recent focus has been designing and running OSR games, but I'd love to get back into the player's seat. I've been captivated by the progression fantasy subgenre lately and am interested in exploring its roleplaying potential. My politics are solidly left-leaning, and I'm thoroughly uninterested in playing with conservatives or bigots of any kind. Likewise for those who use AI content in their gaming. Looking forward to adventuring together!
en English
DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
DND3E
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5
...
Online
SCARYWIZARD
Looking for asynchronous text play-by-post WarCraft game using the D&D v3.5 rules by White Wolf, for Alliance or Independent/faction-less group.  I'll consider other pitches on a case-by-case basis. PLAY-BY-POST ONLY; ANYONE OFFERING VOICE GAMES SHALL BE BLOCKED.

Other entries

Strange Table Fellows
Actual Play & Podcasts

Strange Table Fellows

English
Dungeons & Dragons
Actual Play
You ever start a Game of Thrones review podcast and then decide that actually you’d much rather push “publish” on your home TTRPG game instead? No? Just us? Well. We are a strange bunch, it has to be said. We’re a group of good friends, who are sometimes a tad irreverent, all with a passion for storytelling and adventure. After discovering the amazing way that storytelling could come to life through TTRPGs, we further fell in love with the idea of playing out space fantasy stories through the game of Starfinder. Thus, our first full length podcast, the Apollo Protection Agency, was born! The STF Network continues to grow; we now have a our second full AP show, an increasing Twitch presence, specialized talk shows, and exclusive Patreon content. Our library continues to expand along with an amazing community that supports us. Shows Drift Delvers Drifting in the space above Absolom Station, the strange Anomaly Beacon remains a mystery even five years after the Siege on Absalom Station. Shrouded in a force field, top drift scientists have tried to break through to no avail. The Church of Triune is now claiming that this new drift beacon should fall under their domain, claiming it as a mystery belonging to Triune and rumors are starting to swirl that Triune Priests say they are close to breaking through the Anomaly Beacons’ force field, jeopardizing Absalom Stations hold on the object. Councilwoman Rajni has gathered a highly specialized group of scientists - specializing in niche fields with differing perspectives from traditional scholars, will they be able to finally understand the Anomaly Beacon? Things however go vastly awry when the scientist teams ship is waylaid by space pirates and an even more anomalous event than the Beacon sends the team hurtling through space and time - unstuck from reason and logic - and the crew must not only find a way home, but manage to survive long enough to make it there… Apollo Protection Agency Come join the Apollo Protection Agency as they encounter threats across the Pact Worlds! The challenges they face are at times overwhelming, but as the camaraderie between the crew grows, so too does their determination to never back down from a worthy fight. The crew started Season One by tackling AGAINST THE AEON THRONE, brought together by a common friend to come fist-to-face with the Azlanti Star Empire. Season Two gets darker as the crew is unnerved in SIGNAL OF SCREAMS and our adventure takes a bit of a twist in the horror direction. Fear not, our epic crew gets their chance to shine as they rumble their way into DEVASTATION ARK for Season Three! Resident GM, Adam Kelly, guides the rest of the crew through these adventures with an eye for allowing for character relationships to flourish and to let storytelling to take center stage alongside dramatic starship combats and fights that can turn on a dime. Meet memorable characters from the vast reaches of space, cheer as the crew defeats a stubborn foe, and gasp in terror as Adam inflicts terrible, horrible fates upon our favorite characters. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. Come along for the ride! Live and Let Fly STF's own Zac Evans steps behind the screen to GM a crew of misfits and personalities more concerned with earning enough credits for beer and a cheeseburger than they are with saving the galaxy. Under the guidance of their greenhorn captain, Roland Mons Gelidus, the crew get their hands dirty as they wrestle with the hard cases of dangerous trade routes and the weight of the corporate thumb. They'll encounter a wide cast of characters in their pursuit to impress clients and get paid, before the competetion swoop in to take their jobs right out from under them. Strap in for a long haul as Zac leads the crew through the turbulent world of galactic trucking, nebulous time, and space goblins. Under The Table The dust kicks up on your boots as you stride through the smog filled streets, under the watching eye of the towering brass spires and feeling constant unease, knowing that all around you are ne’er do wells and outlaws, making it a hard place for an honest citizen. Even harder when the biggest scoundrels out there have badges, authority, and a willingness to use that leverage to make life richer for themselves at the cost of everyone else. Join the Strange Table Fellows as we make our first on-air journey into the world of steampunk and fantasy in a new game from Paizo - OUTLAWS OF ALKENTSTAR, a Pathfinder 2e adventure path! Links thestfnetwork.com - Official website youtube.com - Youtube channel feeds.blubrry.com - Podcast feed discord.gg - Discord server patreon.com - Patreon page

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Syrinscape
Tools & Platforms

Syrinscape

English
Audio & Music
Free
Syrinscape is a revolutionary sound design application created by Benjamin Loomes and the team at Syrinscape Pty Ltd. Unlike simple music players, it uses a sophisticated algorithmic engine to create dynamic, non repeating soundscapes that react to the events of a tabletop game. It is the official audio partner for major brands like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and Call of Cthulhu, offering hundreds of professionally produced "SoundSets" that provide everything from cinematic orchestral scores to specific monster growls and spell effects. Description Syrinscape is built on the philosophy that "Epic Games Need Epic Sound." It provides Game Masters with a powerful digital soundboard where every element of an environment is independently controlled. Instead of playing a single audio loop, the app randomly triggers individual sounds—like a distant wolf howl, a creaking door, or a tavern patron’s laugh—to create a living, breathing atmosphere. It is available as a downloadable app for offline play or as a high performance Web Player for remote sessions. System Overview & Key Features The Dynamic Audio Engine The core of Syrinscape is its ability to randomize sound samples in time and 3D space. This ensures that a "forest" soundscape never sounds exactly the same twice, preventing the listener fatigue that often comes from short, repetitive audio loops found in standard music players. One Shot Sound Effects Beyond ambient music, the app features dedicated buttons for instant sound effects. A GM can trigger a fireball explosion, a dragon screech, or a critical hit stinger at the exact moment a player rolls the dice, adding a cinematic punctuation to the narrative. Official Adventure SoundSets Syrinscape produces bespoke audio for official RPG modules. When running a major campaign like Curse of Strahd or Abomination Vaults, GMs can access SoundSets designed specifically for every room and encounter in the book, including character voices and unique environmental cues. The Web Player and Online Player For remote play, the Web Player allows players to hear the GM's audio in perfect sync through their own browsers without needing an account. It is highly optimized for low latency and high quality, making it a perfect companion for Discord based games. SoundSet Creator Advanced users with a SuperSyrin subscription can access the SoundSet Creator tool. This allows you to upload your own music and samples, mix them with existing Syrinscape elements, and build completely custom environments tailored to your specific campaign world. VTT Integration Syrinscape features deep integration with platforms like Fantasy Grounds and Foundry VTT. This allows the software to trigger specific sounds automatically based on in game events, such as a character taking damage or a trap being sprung. Additional links syrinscape.com - Official Syrinscape website and store app.syrinscape.com - The Syrinscape Web Player portal

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Nobody Wake the Bugbear
Actual Play & Podcasts

Nobody Wake the Bugbear

English
Actual Play
Mothership
Nobody Wake The Bugbear is a finely crafted actual play experience for the Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG. We are NOT a live stream, each episode is expertly edited for maximum audio quality and clarity so you can join us in the excitement and passion of a group of friends at the table, all the while aiming for the best listening experience. Links youtube.com - Youtube channel nwtb.podbean.com - Podbean feed

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