OSC · Old-School Chronicle

Old-School Chronicle

Modern tools for old-school RPGs.

You step off the last step of the endless stair, leagues below the mountainside. The walls and ceiling fall away around you as you enter a vast chamber of unknowable size. Something in the distant darkness catches the light, glimmering — Shit, I forgot, everyone needs to eat a ration. And also I missed like 3 wandering-monster checks… bear with me. Aurelia, what's your movement speed again?

Get lost in the game, not the procedures.

Old-School Chronicle locks down fiddly parts of old-school play — the turn clock, the wandering monsters, the torches and rations burning down — so your eyes stay on the table, not the rulebook. It writes the session's record as you go, and gives your whole world and campaign a home. Never miss a check, forget to log a session, or let your players skimp on rations ever again! 😈

Old-school games run on procedure.

The dungeon turn, the wandering-monster checks, encounter rolls, torches and rations burning down, encumbrance setting how fast you can run — that's not bookkeeping for its own sake. It's what makes the dark dangerous and the choices deadly. It's also a LOT to hold by hand, and the moment it slips, the tension slips with it.

DMs have to improvise constantly, making the game-world and its denizens come to life, delivering descriptions that keep the vibe locked-in, transporting the table wholesale into another reality — all the while keeping up with the turn mechanics and sub-routines. Running games is an immense challenge, to say the least — and we haven't even discussed record-keeping!

Old-School Chronicle is a set of tools that keep those procedures honest — so the clock still ticks, the torch still gutters, the check still lands — without pulling you out of the game. Carry the clerical weight, not the decisions. Support what makes the game good; don't automate away the fun.

I'm Aerundir aka Tim Sandberg. Among other things, I'm a lifelong fantasy and RPG addict. I'm hoping to build this tool to make amazing old-school TTRPG gameplay more accessible for nerds like me who have lofty game visions but struggle to stay organized.

I'm continually humbled and inspired by the OSR community and its army of amazing creators. If you're reading this — thank you! \m/