Review: The Hole in the Oak Adventure

"The sea breeze carries the chirping of sleepy cicadas from afar. In the shade of desolate olive trees, you catch a glimpse of the ruins of an ancient bathhouse." The seemingly peaceful setting quickly gives way to a challenging dungeon crawl occupied by orc smugglers. Can you handle the dangers of The Hole in the Oak using the Old-School Essentials rules?

Classic Fantasy with a Mediterranean Twist

This adventure is a redesigned dungeon for the fantasy RPG Old-School Essentials (or other OSR games). The Hole in the Oak is set in a fantasy world reminiscent of the ancient or early medieval Mediterranean. It transports you among olive trees and rocky coasts, where adventurers enjoy a carafe of wine in a harbor tavern after a successful expedition, listening to the songs of street performers. The Hole in the Oak was once a famous bathhouse. Today, adventurers from the coastal town of Arak Brannia head into the ruins to drive out cunning orcs and plunder treasures.

What Awaits in the Catacombs?

The dungeon itself features around 50 locations and can be completed in three to four sessions (in my case, about 15 hours of gameplay). Beyond the aforementioned orcs, players can look forward to classic RPG monsters and a wide variety of obstacles—from flaming statues and delicate negotiations to difficult puzzles. The Game Master must read the entire module before playing to understand the various connections, secret passages, and monster tactics. Even though the booklet is only 20 pages long, it is packed with dense content. In return, it presents players with a solid challenge. Enemies will hide and use tactics, random encounters won't be friendly, and treasures will be hard-earned.

An Introductory Adventure

Gábor Lux, the author of The Hole in the Oak, has meticulously ensured that this adventure serves as a "gateway" into the world of old-school and OSR gaming. He created the module using random generators and carefully refined the results. It offers players a non-linear progression through the dungeon, providing meaningful choices. Another asset of this adventure is the high rewards for high-stakes challenges. Player characters can amass a significant fortune if they are clever and fearless enough.

Who Would I Recommend This Adventure To?

The Hole in the Oak might seem like just another "kill the goblins in a cave" scenario at first glance. However, compared to this RPG cliché, it offers a complex location with factions, magical and heavy treasures, and an honest exploration of an unknown environment.

This adventure is definitely suitable as an introduction to "old-school" and OSR gaming. I recommend the module to parties who want to experience a solid, uncompromised old-school adventure. It is also perfect for Game Masters looking to present their players with an interesting challenge.

author Vladimír Sattran