Initially, I bought this game to support the creator, whose YouTube channel I enjoyed, never expecting to actually play it. However, it's become my go-to system for Lovecraftian one-shots and short campaigns. The game's strength lies in its Nu-OSR approach, distilling complex concepts into a streamlined, abstract framework. The PDF is well-organized, concise, and features a clean, semi-professional layout. While the included images are functional rather than flashy, they effectively enhance the thematic atmosphere. My only real complaint is the dark color scheme, which makes printing difficult for those who prefer physical copies.

Is there a non trifold version of Deathbringer available. I only intend to use this digitally, I never print anything out anymore, and, in its current format, it’s almost impossible to use. Thanks.

Masterclass in design. Fantastic way to make the world's most popular game simple and GrimDark. Money well spent

THIS IS THE HACK YOU WANT! BUY IT NOW! This will be the best 3 dollars you have ever spent for an RPG. Use it with 2024, 5e, OSE, Shadowdark, B/X, BECMI and any OSR version of the game! You get a FUN - FAST hack that makes every session exciting! Plus great new classes! For 3 dollars!

The Eldritch Hack is great for gamers who want cosmic horror and are most comfortable with d20 mechanics in an engaging, playable package.

I did a review of Deathbringer for Independent RPG Month (2023), which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oea5RK7kzu0

I have run this game twice, once at a convention, and once with my home group when two of the regulars couldn't make it so we wanted a one-shot. I have seen all five character classes used, so I figured I can give a (somewhat) experienced review of the game. As it says in the description, this is a rules kit. Everything you need to play is definitely NOT included in here. But let's be honest, if you are rolling around this website you have lots of fantasy RPGs already, right? So all this little booklet gives you are what to CHANGE from your chosen rules set. This game gives you character creation rules, character advancement rules, basic combat rules, and rules for casting spells, which are not automatic in this game. The real "change" from other flavors of D&D-style fantasy RPGs is the use of "Deathbringer" dice to allow you to push your character, at a player's choice, to do cool things. How you use them, and when you use them, are up to the players. Other than that classes have a handful of special abilities but that's it. You don't gain new abilities as you level up, you just get more Deathbringer dice to do more cool things.

While the game has a default "low magic" setting (which will naturally appeal to some more than others), I can see the Deathbringer dice being the real dividing line with this game. If you like the concept, you'll like this game. If you don't, you probably won't. Personally, I am not sure I like them. If I was playing a PC, I think a would want more concrete abilities to define my character. Some of the players in may games really took to the idea, though, and found it easier to play with the Deathbringer dice as opposed to trying to remember the 17 special abilities their character had (in, say, 5e) and trying to select the optimum ability to use. One player at my convention game told me that he couldn't play 5e because it was too complex and overwhelming for him with options, but this was totally his speed and was very excited to introduce his friends to the game. So, your mileage will vary.

The game says that you can "import monsters and spells you like from 5e/OSR games" and provides some extremely brief guidelines for doing so. I have used both methods. For my convention game, I used monster stats and spells from the Basic Fantasy RPG. For my home group, I used 5e monster stats and spells. Both worked, though I feel like the hit dice that the character classes have map better to 5e stat blocks, so if you are using OSR or Classic D&D monsters the PCs might have a bit more hit points than expected for the monsters. Most players won't be bothered by that, though. a note on spells: Classic D&D spells that are direct attack spells either auto hit or require the target to make a save. Some 5e direct attack spells require an attack roll. Because Deathbringer requires a caster to roll to successfully cast a spell in the first place, using this kind of 5e spell requires you to make a successful spell roll AND THEN make a successful attack roll to hit the target. This was frustrating to the player that ran a caster in my 5e-based game. So players should probably avoid those kinds of spells and just spam magic missile all day long or something along those lines.

So, I mostly like these rules. Whether relying on 5e or Classic B/X D&D as a base, I would probably just use equipment from those rules and ignore the equipment here (which is so barebones I find it unusable for anything other than a one-shot game). I'm not sold on the Deathbringer die mechanic, but I have seen people really take to it and have lots of fun with it, so maybe I need to run a PC and not be a GM to really understand it. Plague Doctors are fantastic, probably my favorite class. Specifically plague doctors with bombs, those guys are no joke.

This game is awesome! I ran the Cloque House one shot for my players and they LOVED it! The rules were very user friendly and lightweight, and made for a great game! I highly recommend.

Sure would be great if there was a version of this that didn't involve needing to find some way to flip my display to read half of it with ease. There are also a couple confusing spelling errors. Otherwise, great product!

Played it couple nights ago. Very fun, unintrustive system to the story. Had a few stunned first turns. Had a doctors brain melt down until after 4 months of hospitalisation, quickly rolled up a reporter was introduced next sceen. Just what I was hoping for in feel. Would be cool to have a print off dm screen or fold out with all the rules simplified (basic what to roll for character creation, actions, when to roll sanity, suggestions for sanity loss). Would make referencing that much easyer during play.

My go to RPG. Use these rules to mod your favourite game. They make things quick and cinimatic, while still keeping some tactical crunch!

Packed with a lot of modern inovations in an old school package.

I found that after a few Deathbringer games, i wanted to create my own RPG using Deathbringer as the core. Not hard to do, and its been very fun to play.

Highly recommended.

This is a kit to be used alongside another rules set, both 5e D&D or and OSR system are reccomended. The rules takes the basics of D&D and simpify them in a way that makes a lot of sense.

The bad:

• The layout requires you to print out and fold the rules are suggested to make a pamflet. The second page of the rules (actually page 3 as the first page is the cover and instructions) is upside down for 2 sided printing. Duplex printers allow you to choose to flip ont he long or short edge so this upside down layout isn't required (if you have a non-duplex printer you can put in the page any way up you like to get the correct layout). Even without the uside down issue the rules won't be in the right order unless you print and fold. I would like to see the layout modified so it's all the right way up. I'd also like a vlternative download for use on a screen / tablet (everything in the right order without folding).
• The game assumes the DM is experianced enough to understand the concepts of the game. It's a short document and there's not a lot of space to explain things for new DMs or players. I think this could be fleshed out into a full OSR game that was more beginner friendly, but that would be a whole new project.

The good:

• The abilities at profitionancy system is fantastic, it's simple, makes perfect sense and allows players to choose how their characters grow as thy level.
• The unified mechanic are a huge improvement over OSR multiple mechanics. Again easier to use and new player friendly.
• The game makes great use of advantage / disavantage dice to add class custionmisation with the simplest mechanic.

What I would change / add

• Seperate the mechanics from the grim dark setting This system is excellent and it would be awesome if it was designed in a way that allowed it's use in multiple campaign styles. Of course an experianced DM can do this themselves, but making the system accessable to newer DMs would be fantastic.
• I love how combat is simplified. I would take the additional step of linking weapon damage to hit dice, with a bonus for 2-handed weapons (+2 to hit / damage).

Over all this is a great base for a simpler, and in many ways superiour RPG system. You will probably want to build on the rules to fit them for your own game and as an experianced DM you'll have no problem doing so. Newer DMs will have a harder time, and I'd love if that problem was solved.

Simple mechanics, great advice and cool scenarios. Love it!

IMO this is one of the best OSR/5e games out there. The rules are clear, it is easy to modify for your group. The deathbringer dice are a great idea. I do allow my players to recharge a dice if they roll a natural 1, but if you want to run a game and already know your setting, This hack is wonderful. I cannot wait to see the newer version Professor DM has been working on.

Ok first I should say I played,and GM'd, the game this is based on all through Highschool and college. While I do not care for the writer of that book the stories were ground breaking. I have since played various games that were based of the origional material. Now at this point in my life I really enjoy these rules light games. Ones that give us a quick play session. Lets face it, if your group is the age of the people I play with, most are old hands and know exactly what they want to play. They care less about gaining the system and want to spend time playing with friends and telling a story. This game is not only going to get use for CoC but will also likely be used for games like All for One and other Van Helsing ideas. Professor DungeonMaster made a great game for quick groups. If you need a game for those days when someone was not able to make it. This one has one of the fastest character creations systems I have ever seen. If you like this game as much as I do, you will also like Deathbringer. Professor DungeonMaster has some great videos that show these games, if you are worried this is not for you I encourage you to check them out. Thank you again Professor DungeonMaster.