A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Gregorius’ Notes: On the Weird OSR Fantasy Year 2016-17

Gregorius’ Notes: On the Weird OSR Fantasy Year 2016-17 is a role playing game supplement written and published by Kai Pütz a.k.a Gregorius21778 for use with Lamentations of the Flame Princess. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

The supplement is available as a nine page Pay What You Want PDF from DrivethruRPG. One page is the front cover, half the front matter, half is ads and one the Open Game License.

The opening paragraphs explain that this was the first selection of blog articles bundled into a supplement and is Pay What You Want as it’s substantially shorter than later releases.

The Lair of the Witch-Spider is a small cavern inhabited by the aforementioned witch-spider, which is statted. The creature will grant requests in exchange for a gift; the gift will always be something alive or from something recently killed.

Following this are two new creatures, Spider-Wretches and Fungal Slugs, each of which is described and statted.

The Forgotten Cloakroom is a small location with stuck doors which is, as the name suggests, a cloakroom that hasn’t been used in some time. It is inhabited by an undead and mummified lackey that will take coats.

Six Items from the Realms of the Elves has six elven items, some of which are of types that are found in other games and fiction.

The Seven Candles are blessed candles that provide a benefit to Lawful or Neutral creatures when lit.

Six Beneficial Encounters while Traveling are six encounters, both for on the road and in towns, that are, as it says, beneficial, so that players don’t start avoiding all encounters.

Rowry McCallan & Hr’rak Karr is an NPC who possesses a giant magical hammer and has tips on using him in-game.

Gregorius’ Notes: On the Weird OSR Fantasy Year 2016-17 in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and has enough sections that would, despite the length, have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a two-column colour format and appeared to be mostly free of errors. There are a number of colour and black and white pieces of stock art appropriate for their text. Presentation is okay.

With this being collected blog posts, there is a fair selection of different things; monsters, items, encounters, NPCs and a couple of locations. Most should be easy enough to drop into a game. Gregorius’ Notes: On the Weird OSR Fantasy Year 2016-17 is a useful and assorted selection and it can be found by clicking here.