YOU CAN KEEP YOUR BORDERLANDS: Adventure Suggestions for Those New to the OSR


While many assume the OSR is dead, you would not know it from the discussion on Bluesky generated by Yochai’s OSR starter packs feeding into the OSR Feed. Among the discourses that have cropped up in recent weeks, one was very useful in triggering responses that act as a measure for the current state of the non-AD&D focused, BX-leaning, and OD&D-inquisitive post-OSR (?) portion of the OSR. That question was: What’s a good starting module for players new to OSR play (and I don’t like Keep on the Borderlands)?

What followed were several suggestions. Given that social media is ephemeral, I wanted to solidify this list in the petrifying gaze of a blog for ease of reference and sharing. This would also constitute a Christmas post as it's a list of things you can buy in the month of December. [edit] I've expanded the list to a even 20 so if you can't decide what to run/buy just roll a 1d20 and consult the table below:

  1. Tomb Robbers of the Crystal Frontier by Gus L.
  2. Through Ultan’s Door by Ben L.
  3. Lair of the Lamb by Arnold K. (free)
  4. Hole in the Oak by Gavin Norman
  5. Tomb of the Iron God by Matt Finch
  6. Waking of Willowby Hall by Ben Milton
  7. Sinister Secret of Peacock Point by Brad Kerr
  8. Black Wyrm of Brandonsford by Chance Dudinack
  9. Hideous Daylight by Brad Kerr
  10. Demon Driven to the Maw by Brad Kerr
  11. Winter’s Daughter by Gavin Norman
  12. Barrow of the Elf King by Nate Treme (free)
  13. Sleeping Place of the Feathered Swine by Logan
  14. Rot King’s Sanctum by Emiel Boven
  15. Tomb of the Serpent Kings by Skerples (free)
  16. Prison of the Hated Pretender by Gus L.
  17. Rise of the Blood Olms by Yochai Gal (free)
  18. Nightmare Over Ragged Hollow by Joseph R. Lewis
  19. Goblin With A Raygun by Goblins Don't Wear Shirts (free)
  20. The Smoking Pillar of Lan Yu by Kevin Crawford

Have a suggestion on an adventure you think should be added? Feel free to drop it in the comments.


3 comments:

  1. Falkrest Abbey by Axian Spice is a fantastic little module which is a perfect starting point for new Refs and/or players, and it's short enough it can be finished in a single session. Highly recommend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I’ll vouch for KH1 The Blackapple Brugh by Kyle Hettinger (Basic Fantasy RPG). It’s free/gratis, and plays nicely alongside several of the other starter modules you have listed.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow.. ive run 9 of those, and they are all very worthy of being on this list :)
    1,2,3,6,8,11,15,16

    I think you should add "The Sky Blind Spire" by Michael Prescott - run it a few times and every time its been a winner!

    ReplyDelete