A Necrotic New Year Awaits: What’s Coming for OSE & Dolmenwood in 2026

Looking Ahead to a Necrotic New Year

It’s been a milestone year for Necrotic Gnome, with the print release of Dolmenwood and a growing first-party product line for Old-School Essentials—and none of it would have been possible without you, our brave fans who eagerly venture into these ever-expanding worlds of mystery and peril.

We thank you all for your patronage, your amazing third-party creations, and for making the world a happier place through shared moments at the gaming table.

As 2025 draws a close, we can look ahead to a packed 2026 slate: the Dungeons of the Undermoon Starter Set, the fiend-filled Demonic Grimoire (launching as part of OSE Month 2026), and the OSE 2026 Update Player’s and Referee’s Books—featuring 200+ new illustrations, clearer examples, and fully OGL-free text, all while remaining 100% compatible with existing material. 

Alongside these major releases, we plan to publish more Carcass Crawler issues, new Quick Delves, and Beneath the Radiant Dome for OSE. On the Dolmenwood side, we have the return of the Wormskin zine, plus new supplements in the works, including the Dolmenwood Book of Lairs.

For more details on all of these, be sure to read Gavin’s latest blog post, which goes into estimated dates and teases a few more possibilities, including a post-apoc—wait, just go read it! And, naturally, keep an eye on this newsletter for updates as these projects take shape! 

Happy New Year, adventurers! May your tables be filled with thrills and friendship.

Skullboy Joins OSE Month!

We’re thrilled to announce the latest collaborator for OSE Month, our demon-themed bonanza of RPG crowdfunding projects. Get ready for Skullboy's Illustrated Guide to Demons!

Some of you may already know Skullboy, a.k.a. Sam Mameli, from the Between Two Cairns podcast, where he reviews RPG modules with OSE party member Brad Kerr and Cairn creator Yochai Gal. You can also check out his work (art, games, comics) on betterlegends.com. If you like what you see, then hit the button below to stay up to date on his contribution to OSE Month!

Critical Acclaim for Dolmenwood

Dolmenwood was the product of many years of imagination, hard work, and, of course, fun experimentation at the gaming table. There were many twists and turns through the woods on this project, but it’s beyond gratifying to see it out in the world and being enjoyed by gamers everywhere.

So, I hope you’ll forgive us patting ourselves on the back and showing off some praise that OSR community critics and content creators have for Dolmenwood. If you’re still hesitant to enter the great fairy-haunted forests, don’t just take our word for it. Check out what these critics have to say:

• Ben from Questing Beast calls Dolmenwood the “Best Dnd Book of 2025” in a detailed analysis, and also reviews all our Dolmenwood adventures.
  
• Professor DM reviews Dolmenwood (and other RPGs) in his Dungeon Craft video D&D is dead, independent games are the future, calling it “fantastically grimdark”, “unsurpassed”, and “the most expansive hexcrawl I’ve ever seen”.
  
• The Gaming Gang reviews Dolmenwood and awards a perfect 10/10 score! Watch to find out why!
  
  

Adventures in the Mist Kickstarter

Adventures in the Mist is an upcoming companion to Land of Mist, expanding this third-party fantasy world for Old-School Essentials with a comprehensive regional gazetteer, detailed information on cults and magic, and a ready-to-run campaign designed to take characters from humble beginnings to world-shaking legends.

Kickstart Adventures in the Mist to get:

• A detailed guide to 13 varied regions, from coral archipelagos and fey forests to frozen mountains, toxic badlands, and the volcanic heart of Mount Dread.
• Expanded lore for 18 cults (lawful, neutral, and chaotic), each with unique divine spells.
• A flexible, epic adventure path that can be run end-to-end or broken into standalone scenarios, exploring the hidden lore of the setting in diverse locales.

Curious to venture through the mists? Check out the free 64-page preview on DriveThruRPG before backing this already-funded Kickstarter to snap it up at crowdfunding prices.

The latest third-party creations for Old-School Essentials and Dolmenwood:

• B/X Advanced Bestiary, Vol. 3, a Kickstarter for an OSE-compatible bestiary with over 75 monsters, 3 classes, and expanded encounter tables.
• Mayhem in the Market, an OSE adventure by Graeme Davis (of WFRP fame) for levels 1-5, offering multiple plot threads in a single location. 
• Illuminations of the Baleful Lantern, a zine with OSE-compatible adventures, items, and monsters.
• The Hund class and race, offering canine humanoid adventurers for Dolmenwood.
• RPG Overviews reviews Quick Delve #2 and Carcass Crawler #6.

Working on your own third-party products for OSE or Dolmenwood? Read our third-party licenses for resources and guidelines.

If you’d like your project considered for a future newsletter spotlight, send details (and a copy, if possible) to 3pp@necroticgnome.com.