Scott Mortimer

The Dream-Quest of the Old School Renaissance Earlier this week, in the first entry of the ( temporarily? ) revived Pulp Fantasy Library series, I wrote about H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Silv...

If you have ever felt like you have misplaced that ability to access the fantasy dreamworlds of your youth, you are not alone.

This is why I continue play RPGs in search of that elusive Silver Key.

grognardia.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...

Dune, 1965

Started to tire of all of the Substack newsletters that I subscribed to flooding my email constantly.

What's the solution?

RSS

If you get tired, like me, just unsubscribe to the newsletter, add /feed to the Substack URL and add it to your favorite RSS feed reader.

As mentioned in my previous post, I have republished my ShadowDark House Rules for those who might be interested.

blog.wyrdingmedia.org/index.php/20...

I didn't like the feel of this rule and have decided to replace it with DCC-like spellburn rule. Spellcasters can burn points if STR, DEX or CON to add to failed spell checks. This will be limited to number of times based on ability bonus.

2/2

After running my first face-to-face ShadowDark game with the family, I came to the conclusion that I need to modify my house rules a bit, especially concerning spellcasters.
I was using the rule that first time casting a spell was automatically successful.

1/2

#shadowdark

Seriously this.

Tomorrow I run the first session of my ShadowDark campaign, "Descent into the Underdrake". Looking forward to getting it rolling after so much prep and anticipation.

#shadowdark

blog.wyrdingmedia.org/index.php/20...

Three New Battlezoo Secret Tomes for Shadowdark! Three Secret Tomes will transform your ShadowDark campaigns with hundreds of award-winning new monsters and new player options.

I just backed Three New Battlezoo Secret Tomes for Shadowdark! on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/rol...

#shadowdark

#BookSky

He is a scary looking fucker.

Watercolor picture of Pooh and Piglet walking in the snow. Two quotes in curly text adorn the upper-left and lower right portions of the image. "Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?" "As a matter of fact, it was clear the last time I saw you."

sorry, sorry, i'm trying to delete

Anybody have some recommendations for some excellent and hopeful heroic fantasy books and authors?

#repost #fiction

I get it. I love OSE and DCC too. I just feel like Shadowdark is the illicit child that the two of them had and ended up raising it on a steady diet of modern D20 concepts.

Adds some "magic" to your "missile".

When it's light and life is bright, it's fun to wallow in the dark.
But when it's dark and life is stark, we need to bathe in the light.

For the indefinite future I am done with grimdark fantasy.

Anybody have some recommendations for some excellent and hopeful heroic fantasy books and authors?

FINALLY had the chance to play Shadowdark.

Ran a playtest of a dungeon with a friend online using Owlbear Rodeo.

The rules-light and efficient nature of the game is absolutely perfect for online play.

#shadowdark #vtt #goodtimes

Sepulchre of Dusk - compatible with Shadowdark RPG - Cutter Mountain Simulations | DriveThruRPG Life is hard for the clans of the wold, a life of toil and sacrifice. But there is joy as well. A marriage festival is underway; kith and kin have gathered at the homestead. But harken! The bridegroom...

Haven't run it yet, but the Sepulchre of Dusk looks quite good.

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...

Someone asked me on discord why someone would play Shadowdark over Old School Essentials, what their group sees as the most "cleaned up" version of "the game," referring to AD&D. I am pleased enough with my own answer that I wanted to share it here too. 1/6

Agreed. Good quality adventure scenarios ans settings are what I am usually looking for.

YouTube video by Ozzy Osbourne Jack Black feat. Roman Morello, Revel Ian, Yoyoka Soma & Hugo Weiss - “Mr Crowley”

Excellent cover. Tom Morello's son Roman is someone to watch. 🎸

youtu.be/hm-M8GvgYws?...

I used to listen to his show on KROQ in L.A. in the '80s.
Great childhood memories.

+1

Why can’t I find the Kickstarter for this?

Hell, I would play this! 😃

The delvers going down into the dark are known as Muskrats. They navigate the dusty pleasure palaces of the plutocrats to plunder crypto coins from the hoards of the AI Overlords. #shadowdark

Wytchbane Magic Systems

I have begun codifying the magic systems for my Wytchbanc setting. It’s not much yet, but it’s a good start.

#shadowdark #osr

blog.wyrdingmedia.org/index.php/20...

Flickerwick

Been working some more on my setting for #shadowdark.

blog.wyrdingmedia.org/index.php/20...

SINNERS is really good. THIS is how you elevate "genre," folks.