OSR New edition of OSE in 2026 (updated with some links)

[Nikosandros]

Confused why a new edition of OSE is needed. I thought that's what Dolmenwood was essentially going to be?

Is this for players who don't have Dolmenwood and also don't want a faithful retro-clone anymore?

It is still a faithful retro-clone. A couple of rules have been changed to make it even closer to B/X.

 

[Evaniel]

The optional increase to backstab is triple damage at levels 6 - 10 and quadruple at 11+.


It seems to me that the section on thief skills has remained unchanged and nothing from that article in Carcass Crawler 1 has been added, AFAIK.

Thanks! One last (I think?) question: what's the "formula" they're using for "training time and cost to level up?"

 

[Nikosandros]

Thanks! One last (I think?) question: what's the "formula" they're using for "training time and cost to level up?"

Training takes 1-4 weeks, either randomly rolled or chosen by the referee based on player's skill. The idea is quite similar to AD&D 1e and I could find no further discussion in the referee's book.

Each week of training costs 400 gp per current character level. If a character trains without a mentor, time is doubled, but cost is halved. I'm not sure if overall cost is halved or if it is cost-per-week (in this case, the total cost actually remains the same).

 

[kronovan]

Necromancer is still coming separately.


In the FAQ about the new updated version, they list a number of the changes for the 2026 edition. The Ranger will be getting the Giant Slayer feature. (+2 damage against Large Monsters ala the OG DND Ranger).

Oh yeah. I commented on it earlier in the thread and I really only know it from AD&D1e, but yes the Giant Slayer feature was a very good boon for the Ranger.

 

[kronovan]

... but if someone should have further questions, I'll be happy to answer them, as time allows.

Hey Nikosandros, I'm wondering how this implemented in the update rules:

• "Fighter combat dominance: multiple attacks versus creatures under 1 HD."

There's only about 2 handfuls of HD 1/2 monsters in the OSE Advanced Referees Tome. However, there's far more in the Tome of Essential Horrors. All of those ToEH mosters present a good challenge for a low level PC.

So am I correct in my read of that new Fighter feature, that they'll receive a 2nd attack against HD 1/2 monsters, or the rare HD 1/4 monsters. Or is it something else?

 

[mixmastashizz]

Hey Nikosandros, I'm wondering how this implemented in the update rules:

• "Fighter combat dominance: multiple attacks versus creatures under 1 HD."

There's only about 2 handfuls of HD 1/2 monsters in the OSE Advanced Referees Tome. However, there's far more in the Tome of Essential Horrors. All of those ToEH mosters present a good challenge for a low level PC.

So am I correct in my read of that new Fighter feature, that they'll receive a 2nd attack against HD 1/2 monsters, or the rare HD 1/4 monsters. Or is it something else?

Any monsters with a minus to their 1HD would count as well. (HD 1-1 like goblins)

 

[kronovan]

Any monsters with a minus to their 1HD would count as well. (HD 1-1 like goblins)

Good point. IIRC there's only goblins and halflings with HD 1-1 in Adv Ref Tome. I don't recall any in the ToEH which shouldn't surprise, as a good number of its HD 1/2 monsters are more of a challenge than the Ref Tome's HD 1.

 

[Weiley31]

I just hope it's not a Kickstarter.

 

[Weiley31]

Hey Nikosandros, I'm wondering how this implemented in the update rules:

• "Fighter combat dominance: multiple attacks versus creatures under 1 HD."

There's only about 2 handfuls of HD 1/2 monsters in the OSE Advanced Referees Tome. However, there's far more in the Tome of Essential Horrors. All of those ToEH mosters present a good challenge for a low level PC.

So am I correct in my read of that new Fighter feature, that they'll receive a 2nd attack against HD 1/2 monsters, or the rare HD 1/4 monsters. Or is it something else?

I did not attend Lucca Comics & Games, but last week Need Games put the new edition out for general sale and I bought my copy, which arrived today (with included PDFs).

As mentioned previously, this is more of a revision than a new edition and the FAQs on Necrotic Gnome website are quite exhaustive, but if someone should have further questions, I'll be happy to answer them, as time allows.

Hey Nikosandros, I'm wondering how this implemented in the update rules:

• "Fighter combat dominance: multiple attacks versus creatures under 1 HD."

There's only about 2 handfuls of HD 1/2 monsters in the OSE Advanced Referees Tome. However, there's far more in the Tome of Essential Horrors. All of those ToEH mosters present a good challenge for a low level PC.

So am I correct in my read of that new Fighter feature, that they'll receive a 2nd attack against HD 1/2 monsters, or the rare HD 1/4 monsters. Or is it something else?

This is what I'm mostly interested about: how many attacks do you get with the Fighter Combat Dominance? Reading online, the oh version from back in the day made it sound like you could get a crapton of attacks based on your Fighter level.

 

[mixmastashizz]

This is what I'm mostly interested about: how many attacks do you get with the Fighter Combat Dominance? Reading online, the oh version from back in the day made it sound like you could get a crapton of attacks based on your Fighter level.

If its not 1 per fighter level I dont want it!

I'd also be happy with a flexible # of attacks equal to Fighter level / monster HD rounded down. I cant remember which retroclone did that.