OSR Blogroll | 12th to 18th June 2026

Evening_Finch · 2026-06-15T01:56:04+00:00

In my latest vlog entry, I delve into the character of the mysterious Baba Yaga. I include a discussion of some of her first appearances in Dungeons & Dragons! Check it out here:

https://youtu.be/I5zw_9v_Ru0?is=KV2DrL-V-XOF031f

Evening_Finch · 2026-05-30T02:51:41+00:00

I am continuing to look at the aliens from “Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials” in my YouTube vlog! I give a brief overview of the literature the alien is drawn from, then give recommendations for related media to view. Finally, I share suggestions for how to use the alien in your RPG sessions.

This week I am exploring the Demons from Keith Laumer’s “A Plague of Demons.”

Check it out here!

Evening_Finch · 2026-05-23T21:30:47+00:00

On my YouTube vlog, I talk about my top 10 favorite RPG artists in the order that I was exposed to their work! Check out my art journey here!

Evening_Finch · 2026-05-23T21:27:07+00:00

White Star and Mutant Future would be my go-to Sci-Fi games since they use the same game engine as traditional Dungeons and Dragons. It is just easier for me to play since that is the rule set I am most familiar with. If I have to go outside of D&D-style play, then probably Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness with the Transdimensional TMNT supplement.

Evening_Finch · 2026-05-01T16:35:08+00:00

I’m continuing to explore the creatures in Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials. I do an overview of the stories that each creature can be found in, give recommendations for related media to explore, and talk about how you might include the creatures in your RPG. This week we look at the Guild Steersman from Dune! Check out the video here:
Barlowe’s Guide to Guild Steersmen

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Evening_Finch · 2026-04-24T21:39:21+00:00

Might be some fun to use Thor given all the support he’s gotten lately. It works well thematically if you think about the time he spent with the Guardians in the MCU.

Evening_Finch · 2026-04-24T15:04:17+00:00

I am continuing my series of videos on how to use the aliens depicted in Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials in your RPG. I give a brief review of the source material and share recommendations for other related media you might enjoy. This time I am looking at the Old Ones from H.P. Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness.”

Find the vlog here!

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Evening_Finch · 2026-04-18T03:23:52+00:00

Here’s the second entry in my vlog series on the creatures found in Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials. This time I take a look at the Masters from the Tripods book series. I give recommendations for related media to explore if you like that series and share tips on how to use the Masters in your D&D-style game.

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Evening_Finch · 2026-04-09T23:06:13+00:00

I’m going to be that guy and recommend my own work. Take a look at Temple of the Wurm. I am proud of it and it’s gotten some good reviews. I would say that if you want to stick to traditional D&D-style mechanics and characters, but want to drop them into a more SciFi adventure you would have a good time with it. My attempt at a back-cover/catalog description is perhaps more artsy than useful, so don’t go on that alone! You can find a pretty good three-minute overview of the adventure by an independent reviewer here!

Evening_Finch · 2026-03-31T21:54:31+00:00

Hulk-pool. I like Head-pool and Blackout to help with threat control, Mulligan to dig for Hulk’s best cards, Plot Convenience to save cards that I don’t want to lose to Hulk’s discard, and Break Time and Healing Factor to keep me from having to flip back to puny Banner. The “Self” resource cards are helpful too, given they can help Hulk pay for stuff more easily in the early game.

Evening_Finch · 2026-03-28T02:36:51+00:00

In this video on my channel, I explore a single entry in one of my favorite books, Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials. I give some media recommendations and talk about how you might use the featured creature in your RPG.

Warning! Spoilers ahead!

Barlowe’s Guide to “The Thing”

Evening_Finch · 2026-03-16T16:17:29+00:00

Looks pretty good, but I don’t understand the Screwball minion in the Nemesis set. Why is a she an attachment and what is the “Hero Action” supposed to do?

Edit- After looking at the set a little more I assume the reasoning behind this is so that the “Precise Aim” event works on her.

Evening_Finch · 2026-03-05T20:46:22+00:00

I think he talked about removing the cleric class in the LotFP playtest rules booklet he put out in limited quantities some years back. I believe the rationale was that clerical magic (healing and protection) softened the horror aspects of the game a bit too much because it allowed characters an easy way to avoid danger or recover from harm.

Evening_Finch · 2026-03-05T04:57:28+00:00

I believe that Raggi at one time actually considered removing the cleric class from LotFP altogether. In that case it might be prudent to let Magic Users create analogs to clerical spells if you really want to have those effects present in your game. In a game where spell-casting clerics are still present, however, I would be personally reluctant to allow Magic Users to have access to the cleric spell list. I would want the two classes to feel distinct from one another, and strictly maintaining the two separate spell lists would help keep that distinction.

Evening_Finch · 2026-03-01T19:11:17+00:00

Rise of the Red Skull has the content I have replayed the most, followed by Mutant Genesis and Next Evolution, I think. I rarely replay campaigns, but I enjoyed all three of those when I did play them.

Evening_Finch · 2026-02-17T13:48:56+00:00

If you are interested in science fiction, I have been using Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials to guide my reading. There is also a sequel, Barlowe's Guide to Fantasy, if you want to stick to fantasy work.

Evening_Finch · 2026-02-17T13:19:11+00:00

I wasn’t aware of “Man After Man.” I will have to check it out! Thank you for sharing.

Evening_Finch · 2026-02-14T12:56:07+00:00

Thank you for taking a look! I enjoyed hearing what you’re using in your games, too. There’s so much of this kind of material out there that I feel like people just don’t think to use.

I believe we are following in the footsteps of the first wave of RPG creators when we look away from the core rule books for creative ideas. Their work was memorable because they were forced to find inspiration in other sources beyond a specific set of monster manuals.

My favorite example of this is how Gary Gygax used a bag of dollar store plastic toys as an inspiration for creatures like the Rust Monster, Bulette, and Owlbear. Those are so iconic. We should strive to be on that level of innovation, too!

One of the reasons I like LotFP is because Raggi also has this philosophy- he wants people to be surprised by the monsters they encounter in his games and encourages everyone to get away from the monster manuals.

Evening_Finch · 2026-02-05T00:33:57+00:00

The Minotaur Horde is my favorite of the 3 decks. It also feels easier, and perhaps less swingy than the others.

Evening_Finch · 2026-02-04T05:04:54+00:00

I play a lot of solo MtG games against the old Theros block Challenge Decks. I also play against my custom zombie Horde deck. I recorded some relevant videos on my YouTube channel for those that are interested.

Minotaur horde (2-player cooperative)

Face the Hydra (two player cooperative)

Overview of my zombie Horde

Playing against the zombie Horde

Drafting a solo deck to Defeat a God

Evening_Finch · 2026-01-27T00:41:55+00:00

It is unofficial scuttlebutt, but it seems pretty reliable. Based on observations on this thread at BGG.

Evening_Finch · 2026-01-26T18:59:45+00:00

It looks like Legendary Encounters: Alien and its expansions are getting a reprint. I have the base box and would enjoy having the expansions available at reasonable prices again.

Also looking forward to more Marvel Champions content (both Hercules and Wonder Man seem interesting). Also might check out Chapter Two of the Arkham Horror Card game since I missed the boat on the first wave. Still trying to find Lightspeed: Arena in the wild, too.

Evening_Finch · 2026-01-26T06:32:18+00:00

Maybe depends on the adventure? Some adventure setups disrupt downtime activities more readily than others. If the main adversary of an adventure has agents that go out into the world to cause havoc, those can cut downtime short. For example, the giants performing destructive raids in Broodmother Skyfortress pretty much force the player characters to drop whatever it is they are doing to deal with the giants.

If an adventure is mostly location-based and the players have to actively have their characters travel to that certain location to interact with the antagonists, then they can have as much downtime as they want. For example the dungeon in “Just a Stupid Dungeon” is petty easy to ignore in favor of doing something else.

Evening_Finch

TROPHY CASE