I have tried this before, but why not try again?
I’m considering running a very lightweight, old-school BX/OSE dungeon-delving game - something intentionally small-scope, deadly, and straightforward. Think classic exploration at least for starters (it may evolve later), no sweeping AP plots, no epic character arcs, no multi-page monologues. Just you, a torch, a 10-foot pole, and something in the dark that definitely wants to eat you.
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I want to start extremely simple, with very “on the nose” adventure hooks such as:
“You’ve been hired by Lord X to clear out the abandoned moathouse. It’s noon. You stand before the rotting drawbridge. What do you do?”
“For years you’ve heard rumors of the haunted caves. Today you finally found the entrance - and it’s staring back at you.”
The idea is to run short, focused expeditions. When one wraps, you resupply, gossip in town, hire help, maybe roll up a new character if yours met an untimely end - and then head right back into whatever’s next. Loose connective tissue, episodic structure, and no novel-length backstories.
System & Rules
BX/OSE, rules-as-written, no optional rules and no houserules (at least at start).
Minimal narrative overhead - some flavor is great, but the goal is to keep the tempo brisk and focus on player choices, resource management, exploration, and survival.
Tone & Expectations
This is old-school play.
- Death is on the table. Low-level characters are fragile; torches matter; combat isn’t always the best option.
- Player skill > character skill. Observation, caution, clever approaches, and mapping matter.
- Treasure = XP. Finding loot is more valuable than killing things.
Posting Rate
I’d ask for players who can check in at least once a day, or at minimum keep up a consistent posting rhythm. If life happens, just communicate.
Where the Game Will Actually Run
Although I'm posting the interest check here, I won’t be running the game on the Paizo forums. Nothing against the place (I have been playing here for ages, and many great games happen here) - but the tools I prefer (non-previewable dice rolls, integrated maps, better formatting) aren’t supported.
If this ever becomes a thing, I’ll share the link with selected players via PM before we begin.
So… Interested?
Let me know if there would be a quorum for this kind of game, and how tied down are you to the Paizo forums.
I am interested. I think I heard something similar pitched somewhere else as well. You can't preview rolls there either.
EDIT: This is it after doing some digging :)
You might have :)
I am interested. I think I heard something similar pitched somewhere else as well. You can't preview rolls there either.
EDIT: This is it after doing some digging :)
You can’t preview rolls… but nothing stops you from rolling a hundred dice rolls, and deleting all but 6.
Interesting...
Sounds like fun
Could be cool.
It seems we eventually managed some interest, but alas I have unfortunately moved on from the Paizo forums for now. They do not seem currently conducive to the kind of games I am interested in.
So I will grab this opportunity to wish you all a Happy 2026 and many great games!