OSR New edition of OSE in 2026

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

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Why be sad? The B/X version is still in print on Exalted Funeral

The SRD is also free

OSE SRD

oldschoolessentials.necroticgnome.com

Them releasing a 2026 revision of their own spin has no bearing on their USP and they didn't say they'd stop publishing the B/X clone?

In their announcement NG stated they will no longer be printing any of the versions of the corebooks besides the two new tomes.

Once vendors are out of stock of what is currently printed, they'll be gone for good.

 

[timbannock]

Them releasing a 2026 revision of their own spin has no bearing on their USP and they didn't say they'd stop publishing the B/X clone?

I would think the below statement from the press release suggests they won't keep the other books in print, but I don't know what that would mean for the SRD. Maybe it'd be fine, but they could also change it to be the SRD for the version of the game they keep in print, since doing otherwise adds to the confusion...which is a problem they are clearly trying to do away with.

While publishing the game in these multiple formats caters to different tastes and preferences, it's also proven to be confusing for new players, not to mention logistically complicated keeping all the different formats in stock. Going forward, we’ll be consolidating Old-School Essentials into a pair of core books: the OSE Player’s Book and Referee’s Book.

If I had to guess, I could see the SRD staying as it is for another year, maybe two at most, but then they'd either fork it and keep it alongside a new one for the updated game, or kill it in favor of just the updated game.

EDIT: Ninja'd

 

[kronovan]

...- if any of their allies help them they will lose their class abilities and become a fighter.,,

Which edition of the rules contain that? I ask, because that's not stated in the Advanced Player's Tome. If you're referring to the "glory in single combat" clause under Chivalric Code, that's a pointer to the "Single Combat" feature -what you're calling Suicide Geas- that's listed under Combat. I don't enforce Single Combat as a Referee. The idea that a Knight has somehow dishonored their leige by not taking on a threat that's too lethal, is rife with possibilities for RPing and presents the possibility of an adventure hook. As Ref I'd always opt for the narrative approach rather than demoting them to a Fighter.

But if you're a player with a Referee that's by the book - yeah, I can see it being a problem.

Anyhow, as I stated before I don't personally have a connection with B/X, having only had the opportunity to play AD&D1e when B/X was still being published. I agree with others though, that NG not publishing an edition with content that's close to B/X, isn't a good idea. But I guess it comes down to how they'd organize and layout a consolidated book - if it's crystal clear what sections are B/X and which sections are adding AD&D1e features, I could see it working.

 

[Nikosandros]

https://www.giochisulnostrotavolo.it/2025/10/24/need-games-lucca-comics-games-2025/

In this website (sorry, Italian only) is writing the press release of need games for Lucca

For those who do not speak Italian, I can confirm that they have announced a word-wide premiere of the revised rules.

 

[darjr]

Which edition of the rules contain that? I ask, because that's not stated in the Advanced Player's Tome. If you're referring to the "glory in single combat" clause under Chivalric Code, that's a pointer to the "Single Combat" feature -what you're calling Suicide Geas- that's listed under Combat. I don't enforce Single Combat as a Referee. The idea that a Knight has somehow dishonored their leige by not taking on a threat that's too lethal, is rife with possibilities for RPing and presents the possibility of an adventure hook. As Ref I'd always opt for the narrative approach rather than demoting them to a Fighter.

But if you're a player with a Referee that's by the book - yeah, I can see it being a problem.

Anyhow, as I stated before I don't personally have a connection with B/X, having only had the opportunity to play AD&D1e when B/X was still being published. I agree with others though, that NG not publishing an edition with content that's close to B/X, isn't a good idea. But I guess it comes down to how they'd organize and layout a consolidated book - if it's crystal clear what sections are B/X and which sections are adding AD&D1e features, I could see it working.

Aren’t the AD&D features all about classes and elf dwarf stuff? Outside class aren’t The rules of the game the same as B/X? That’s the big thing for me.

Edit to add I’m also it that big of an adherent to complete b/x compatibility. It’s nice, but really I just want to be able to run old school style games like b/x style with that level of simplicity.

 

[overgeeked]

Aren’t the AD&D features all about classes and elf dwarf stuff? Outside class aren’t The rules of the game the same as B/X? That’s the big thing for me.

No, and yes.

No, the AD&D additions span everything. Races, classes, monsters, spells, magic items, etc. Lots of AD&D content was added.

Yes, the main chassis and rules are still 100% B/X. Gavin and Co modified anything that needed changing when they imported the AD&D content to OSE.

 

[Piperken]

I have the current AF books; it sounds like there is a bit being put into the revised books, but it is also nice that there is a pdf with only changes as well.

2026 is far enough ahead, I may have a better sense of what my table's leanings are by then.

 

[darjr]

No, and yes.

No, the AD&D additions span everything. Races, classes, monsters, spells, magic items, etc. Lots of AD&D content was added.

Yes, the main chassis and rules are still 100% B/X. Gavin and Co modified anything that needed changing when they imported the AD&D content to OSE.

For me this is great. This is what I would want for any additions.

 

[kronovan]

Aren’t the AD&D features all about classes and elf dwarf stuff? Outside class aren’t The rules of the game the same as B/X? That’s the big thing for me.

As Overgeek said, there's a number of additions. Races are most significant, as the Advanced Players Tome supports the combination of race+class for PC builds. The core rules are simple and coherent and much better than the AD&D1e PHB, so if those in the know are saying it's B/X, I believe it

I'm currently separating race and class, because I'm running a campaign set in a published AD&D1e era setting and running that way supports the canon of lore better. I'm only allowing the seven 1978 core races though and classes are restricted to 9 of the AD&D original 10 - the OSE APT doesn't have the Monk. So no Acrobat, Barbarian and Bard, which one of my players wasn't too happy about, but c'est la vie.

Anyhow...I'm appreciative of the effort NG put into the advanced tomes. They've made it easy to support prewriten adventures from the AD&D1e era and easy to hombrew them for that era's settings.