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

[Nikosandros]

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?

Fighters get 1 attack per level against targets with less than 1 full HD. It's the same rule as in AD&D.

 

[Nikosandros]

I just hope it's not a Kickstarter.

From the FAQs:

Will there be a Kickstarter campaign for the OSE 2026 Update?​

We won't be running a crowdfunding campaign specifically for the 2026 Update core books, but they may be available as part of a larger campaign we're planning for 2026. (More news on that coming soon!)

 

[Jahydin]

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

Oh, thanks for letting me know. Another forum I was on made it sound like it was distancing itself away from B/X.

 

[Nikosandros]

Oh, thanks for letting me know. Another forum I was on made it sound like it was distancing itself away from B/X.

To elaborate a bit on this: the "Classic" line of separate products is being discontinued (but the old PDF of the Rules Tome will remain available possibly also in POD). The two new manuals are revision of the "Advanced" tomes. However, the new rules very clearly indicate which elements (rules, classes, monsters, etc.) to pick in order to get an "authentic" B/X experience.

 

[Evaniel]

Thanks for your willingness to talk us through all this, @Nikosandros! OSE has become my game of choice, so I'm eager to see what the updates bring.

 

[Mannahnin]

To elaborate a bit on this: the "Classic" line of separate products is being discontinued (but the old PDF of the Rules Tome will remain available possibly also in POD). The two new manuals are revision of the "Advanced" tomes. However, the new rules very clearly indicate which elements (rules, classes, monsters, etc.) to pick in order to get an "authentic" B/X experience.

Good stuff. So you still get Classic, but you also get all the Advanced options in the same two books - Players' and Referees' tomes. All the Advanced stuff is just indicated as such.

 

[Evaniel]

@Nikosandros, I have another question if you can indulge me. What does the Barbarian magic item restriction look like in the update? Which items/spells become allowed at what level?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nikosandros]

@Nikosandros, I have another question if you can indulge me. What does the Barbarian magic item restriction look like in the update? Which items/spells become allowed at what level?

Thanks in advance!

• 1st level: no magic
• 2nd level: may receive divine spells
• 3rd level: potions
• 4th level: magic weapons
• 5th level: magic armors
• 6th level: may receive arcane spells
• 8th level: all magic items.

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

• 1st level: no magic
• 2nd level: may receive divine spells
• 3rd level: potions
• 4th level: magic weapons
• 5th level: magic armors
• 6th level: may receive arcane spells
• 8th level: all magic items.

I like this a lot.