(Header image by DC Stow)

Seasons greetings! As we approach the final days of 2025, it's time to take a look at what lies ahead for Necrotic Gnome in the coming year. All told, despite the manifold challenges of 2025, we're fighting fit and have big plans for OSE and Dolmenwood!

Major Releases Coming in 2026

2025 saw the retail release of the complete Dolmenwood RPG, including the 3 core books, 4 adventure scenarios, 1 supplement, the referee's screen, a soundtrack album, and loads of accessories — a major milestone in the history of Necrotic Gnome!

While Dolmenwood was crossing the final threshold into physical manifestation, we've been hard at work on three major Old-School Essentials projects, which are now readying for release in 2026.

OSE Starter Set: Dungeons of the Undermoon

Our Old-School Essentials introductory set and campaign starter is now in the final stages of development. Following a second round of playtesting, we'll be fine-tuning the included adventure before moving into editing, layout, and illustration. We've already revealed the cover of the first book in the set, but expect to see more exciting art previews in our newsletter in the coming months!

Estimated publication date: Q3 2026.

OSE Demonic Grimoire

The first major rules supplement for OSE, our book on devils, demons, and dark magic, is also nearing completion. Writing and playtesting are almost finished, and illustration is underway, with art from a cadre of old-school favourites beginning to stream in.

The Demonic Grimoire will be launched as part of OSE Month 2026, alongside a dozen plus sister projects from other renowned creators in the OSE community. Expect fiendish adventures, supplements, and art books!

Estimated publication date: Q4 2026.

OSE 2026 Update Player's + Referee's Books

Work on the 2026 Update of the OSE core books is complete. The updated books include over 200 new illustrations, dozens of new examples of play, and completely re-edited OGL-free text, making this the most attractive and easiest to play version of OSE ever! We don't have the manufacturing schedule for the new printings finalised yet, but keep an eye on our newsletter for updates.

Estimated publication date: Q3/4 2026.

2026 Smaller Releases

In 2025, we published issues 5 and 6 of the OSE Carcass Crawler zine, along with the first two OSE Quick Delve short adventures (Milk and The Grotesques' Grotto). Our development team has more of both brewing, along with a number of other smaller delights.

Carcass Crawler Issues 7 and 8

We plan to continue a twice-yearly release cadence for Carcass Crawler. Issue 7 (with a theme of necromancy and arcane magic) is half written, and we're compiling ideas for issue 8.

Estimated publication date: Issue 7 Q2 2026, issue 8 Q4 2026.

OSE Quick Delves

We announced the new OSE Quick Delves short adventures line in July this year and published the first two installments in July and November. Our aim is to publish around 3 or 4 of these short adventures annually, with the next — Brad Kerr's Against the Horselord — scheduled for publication early 2026.

Estimated publication date: #3 Q1 2026, #4+ ongoing through 2026.

Beneath the Radiant Dome

Andrew Walter is hard at work on the interior art (over 30 new colour illustrations!) for this full-length, science-fantasy adventure by Gavin Norman. Once the art is finished, we'll send this off to the printer to be manifested in full hardcover glory.

Estimated publication date: Q2/3 2026.

Wormskin Vol. 2, Issue 1

Our first support product for the newly released Dolmenwood RPG will be a revival of the Wormskin zine in which Dolmenwood was originally birthed (back in 2015). The first issue of what we're calling "Wormskin Volume 2" is currently in development. We aim to publish 1 or 2 issues of Wormskin a year, alongside other larger supplements for Dolmenwood.

Estimated publication date: Q2/3 2026.

New Projects in the Works

The Necrotic cauldron never stops bubbling, and work or planning is already underway for several exciting projects for 2026 and beyond! While some are currently classified as Highly Nebulous or Top Secret, we are sanctioned to discuss the following at this juncture...

Dolmenwood Book of Lairs

Work on this supplement — a hardcover collection of 20-30 short adventures tailor-made for Dolmenwood — is already in progress. We currently have around a dozen adventures from different writers in early draft stages. We'll be sending these out to playtesters soon, so make sure to sign up to our playtest mailing list if you'd like to be involved!

Estimated publication date: Late 2026 / early 2027.

The Next Big OSE Supplement

We have several ideas percolating for the next major OSE supplement. Once work on the Demonic Grimoire wraps up, we will consult the augurs of the elder gods to determine what to tackle next. Top contenders are:

• Necrotic Tome: A companion supplement to the Demonic Grimoire, expanding OSE with necromantic magic, death cults, tons of new undead monsters, and rules for traversing the perilous Land of the Dead.
• Post-Apocalypse: The long-rumoured book bringing mutants, wasteland survival, and weird technology to OSE!
• Megadungeon: An official OSE megadungeon and accompanying base town, brimming with deadly encounters and Mythic Underworld strangeness, and presented in our trademark easy-to-run style.

Estimated publication date: 2027.

Fight On!

A huge thank you to all players of OSE and Dolmenwood! We're super excited to keep adding fuel to the fire of old-school fantasy gaming, and your support makes this possible. For announcements, keep an eye on our Coming Soon page and our newsletter.

Wishing everyone a 2026 filled with fungus, fun, and adventure!