Black Pudding Games is not your typical high-fantasy, epic adventure role-playing game. Instead, it’s a delve into the weird, the wacky, and often the downright disgusting corners of fantasy worlds, heavily inspired by the Old School Renaissance (OSR) movement. It’s a zine, a collection of ideas, monsters, items, ok9 and settings designed to inject a dose of the bizarre into your tabletop RPG sessions.
What is Black Pudding Games?
Primarily designed for use with OSR systems like Labyrinth Lord, Old School Essentials, and Basic Fantasy RPG (games reminiscent of the early days of Dungeons & Dragons), Black Pudding Games offers a treasure trove of content that can be adapted to almost any tabletop role-playing game. It’s a zine created by James V. West, and each issue is packed with unique and often absurd content.
Key Features and Themes:
- OSR Spirit: At its core, Black Pudding Games embraces the spirit of old-school gaming. This means a focus on player ingenuity, exploration, and the ever-present threat of character death. It’s about challenging players to think creatively and resourcefully to overcome obstacles, rather than relying on pre-determined paths or balanced encounters.
- Weird and Wacky Content: Black Pudding Games isn’t afraid to embrace the bizarre. Expect to encounter monsters that shoot gold coins, magic swords with unpredictable side effects, and settings that defy conventional fantasy tropes. This emphasis on the strange and unusual makes every session unpredictable and exciting.
- Emphasis on Fun: Above all, Black Pudding Games is about having fun. It’s not about taking things too seriously. The emphasis is on creating memorable and often hilarious moments around the table. It encourages Game Masters (GMs) and players to embrace the absurdity and let the stories unfold organically.
- Variety of Content: Each issue of Black Pudding Games offers a diverse mix of content, including:
- New Monsters: From oozes with unusual properties to bizarre creatures with strange abilities, Black Pudding Games provides a plethora of new adversaries to challenge your players.
- Magic Items: Forget your standard +1 swords. Black Pudding Games’s magic items are often cursed, unpredictable, or have strange and unexpected effects.
- New Classes and Character Options: Expand your character options with unique and often unconventional classes and abilities.
- One-Page Dungeons and Adventures: Ready-to-run adventures designed to be quick and easy to drop into your existing campaigns.
- NPCs: Interesting and memorable non-player characters that can be used to populate your world.
Why Play Black Pudding Games?
If you’re looking for a dose of the unusual in your tabletop RPGs, Black Pudding Games is definitely worth checking out. It’s perfect for:
- GMs Looking for Inspiration: If you’re a GM looking for new ideas for your campaigns, Black Pudding Games provides a wealth of inspiration. The monsters, items, and settings can be easily adapted to fit your own world.
- Players Who Enjoy Creative Problem Solving: Black Pudding Games’s emphasis on player ingenuity makes it a great choice for players who enjoy thinking outside the box.
- Groups Looking for a Lighthearted Game: If you’re looking for a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Black Pudding Games is a great option. The emphasis on fun and absurdity makes it perfect for a lighthearted gaming session.
- Fans of OSR Games: If you’re a fan of old-school role-playing games, Black Pudding Games is a must-have. It captures the spirit of the early days of the hobby while adding its own unique twist.
Where to Find Black Pudding Games:
You can find Black Pudding Games on various online platforms, including itch.io and DriveThruRPG.
In conclusion
Black Pudding Games offers a refreshing and often hilarious take on the fantasy genre. Its focus on weird and wacky content, combined with its OSR sensibilities, makes it a unique and enjoyable addition to any tabletop gamer’s collection. So, if you’re ready to delve into the ooze-soaked world of Black Pudding Games, grab a copy and prepare for a gaming experience unlike any other.
