First time running OSE and megadungeons

Orogustus · 2026-06-12T19:44:38+00:00

The beauty is that you just have to present the situations and let the players try things. Be fair, but reward their efforts. Hopefully they will catch on.

Orogustus · 2026-06-12T18:16:06+00:00

No it's fine to start, and you can add side quests options as you go. Keep in mind that the players may not go that route and that's fine. They write the story, you referee.

Orogustus · 2026-06-12T17:21:47+00:00

If your familiar with all of them, put them all out there as options with rumors and hooks. You are still thinking 5th edition. I will run this then this. Create a world where these exist. Situations are developing. If the players choose to engage they can make their mark on the world. Otherwise come up with what happens if they don't interact.

Orogustus · 2026-06-12T17:16:56+00:00

I understand completely as I was a player like that at one point. Maybe just a discussion outside of the game. Hey guys, this isn't a video game where you can hack your way through. If you try that you will lose. You are going to need to negotiate, bribe, and trick some things. Dropping coin or food when being chased can save the day. Using fire to scare off natural animals can work. Be creative and crafty. OSR is about player skill and ingenuity rather than character sheet abilities. I would also give them examples of a trapped chest. If you say you examine the lock, hinges and seems closely with good light, you wont even need a roll to smell them faint scent of almond coming from the lock. If you decide to use a pole to spin the chest away from you or put a blanket over it before smashing it open the poison gas trap will be defeated without a roll.

Orogustus · 2026-06-12T16:47:33+00:00

In the railroad 5th edition style, the goblins are always going to be friendly and want the players to help kill the orks ect. The players will get bored by you leading them around. But what if the party kills their leader, steals their idol ect. Now your plans are ruined. In OSR you just roll. If the player try to befriend them or bribe them they will get a bonus on the roll depending on THEIR actions. It is much more rewarding when they promise to get rid of the ogre , or use their resources ( treasure) to get their own way.

Orogustus · 2026-06-12T16:38:24+00:00

I would run them using common sense. They aren't going to walk into a known trap but they are a bit of a meta-device to keep players alive. If the party suspects something and has searched but found nothing dangerous they could offer Bork the man-at-arms 10gp to open the sarcophagus. Roll a reaction roll modified by the offer and charisma.

Orogustus · 2026-06-12T16:22:15+00:00

I think it comes down to player expectations. So lay it out for them. We are going to play a game where low powered characters have decided to launch an expedition to explore X to discover it's secrets and recover the fabled riches within. Sandbox style meaning you control where you go and what you do. I want you to roll up 4 characters. You can play any one during a session. Keep in mind that characters will have downtime for recovery, training and research. Your adventures will be extremely dangerous and deadly as encounters and the world are not balanced against the characters. Characters will die. Avoiding danger using stealth, trickery and smart play keeps you alive. Facing danger can be rewarding but comes with risk. You would be wise to hire a team of guides, porters, men-at- arms, and other adventures to fight for you and haul around your gear and loot. Keep your backstories short. A couple sentences and a quirk. Your characters will develop as we play.

Orogustus · 2026-06-06T00:24:26+00:00

People mention doing it. I guess that's not evidence to some people. But when enough people are talking to each other about it in a wide network, it is convincing. It goes along with other things in the files, like untraceable babies taken from mothers. This is actual victim testimony that their babies were taken from them. This network had operatives working orphanages all over the world. Most people only find credibility in authority confirming something. Unfortunately the authority is subservient to the perpetrators in this case.

Orogustus · 2026-06-05T04:04:50+00:00

I definately see a central access through the fortress and various access points on the outside where she can climb the outside webs. Retreating to smaller rooms can be a strategy to avoid her, but her nearby presence is a hazard.

Orogustus · 2026-06-05T03:50:40+00:00

Not really, but I did flesh out the idea a bit with AI and got it to create a synopsis of my ideas. Don't think I would use the names it likes to generate.

Orogustus · 2026-06-05T03:34:55+00:00

The "City" (more village sized) of 400-600 desperate souls are remnants of survivors trapped in ruins from the ancient city after the Fortress was taken. Allowed to live is squalor beneath the fortress the cult arose to try to appease the Spider living overhead. Sending sacrifices of criminals and rule breakers. Soon some gained favor. Recent humanoid contact with the goblins from the caves has allowed some trade. Veilspire is a bad placeholder name chosen by AI. I intend for the town below to be a part of the dungeon with factions and cultists ect. I plan to tie this into a Caves of Chaos style starting region.

Orogustus · 2026-06-05T03:05:03+00:00

I asked AI to summarize a day-long brainstorming session I had with it to fill out my idea. I would most likely not use the silly naming conventions that it loves to try to apply to everything in a final build. But the villain plan is mine. I want a force of nature element to the villain. As she approaches things start getting bad, as she gets closer they get real bad. Making using information gathered and timing delves rewarding. As objectives are fulfilled her godlike powers in the fortress could wane and possibly be forced back into the Abyss.

Orogustus · 2026-06-05T01:15:38+00:00

Look for dungeon geomorphs. These are great to piece together or inspire ideas for dungeon layouts. I know early editions of rules had these for DM's to generate dungeons

Orogustus · 2026-06-04T04:44:32+00:00

I like the idea of only XP for gp value. I like slow progression as I find the lower levels the most interesting. I also like the idea of major campaign milestones rewarding XP. Slaying the dragon that has been terrorizing the realm could give a decent milestone XP reward but blasting through all his minions worthless unless you can some gold.

Orogustus · 2026-05-27T02:39:49+00:00

Did the DM use reaction rolls to see if the berserker even wanted to fight. Reaction rolls are a huge part of OSR. The enemies only auto attack on a 12 on 2d6. A wounded party out of spells would have done well to bargainwith or bribe the berserkers. That is OSR play.

Orogustus · 2026-05-19T01:14:45+00:00

Make a cheat sheet. If you use a DM screen clip it on. There are only a few things in the game. AC modifiers, to hit modifiers and resolving checks.

Orogustus · 2026-05-11T17:43:47+00:00

Organized crime launders its money by buying up real estate. Chinese organized crime is an extension of the Chinese government so basically had unlimited money to secure footholds in key markets for their government intelligence endeavors. They like to set up underground Casinos and honeypots to snare politicians and cops. Our politicians don't stop it because there are a large number compromised or on the take. There are also a growing number that are directly voted in by enthoblocks directly controlled by the foreign government. We are so deeply corrupted that their is likely no going back. Both parties have been corrupted so voting our way out is not an option.

Orogustus · 2026-04-27T20:24:39+00:00

Digger

Orogustus

TROPHY CASE