Picking the bones of OSR clean Create four lvl 0 characters

and crushing them underfoot. per player. For each, roll a d4

to determine the starting die
OSSUARY is a fierce, for the stats Spine (strength),
minimal delving system Femur (dexterity) and Skull
optimised for speed and play- (willpower) like so:
by-post. In this game a Bone
1: d4 2: d6 3: d8 4: d10
Collector (BC) guides a group of
players through a game of traps, Roll a d12 once on tables i, ii and
terror and treasure, where iii. Finally, players should decide
creative problem-solving is key. on their names and pronouns.
Actions + Checks
The BC narrates situations,
the players describe their
characters’ actions. When
an action or circumstance is
uncertain, the BC rolls with a
character’s most relevant die
(Spine, Femur or Skull). On a
result of 1–3 (after modifiers) the
Check fails and the BC describes
the consequence.
Difficulty + Problem-solving Health + Death
Characters may sometimes find Failing a Check when there’s
themselves in prize conditions. a dangerous consequence
The BC should add 1 to the result downgrades the character’s die:
of a Check for each applicable
d4 — d6 — d8 —
­ d10 — d12
boon: relevant experience
/ equipment / situational The size of the stat dice
advantage. For disadvantageous represent a character’s level
conditions, 1–3 points should of health. If a creature or a lvl
be subtracted depending on the 0 character fails a dangerous
difficulty of the situation. Check with a d4, they perish.
Combat
An attack requires a dangerous
Check for the target. In combat
Spine, Femur and Skull
represent body parts: upper
body, lower body and head. A
character or creature that makes
an attack targets a specific body
part, and the corresponding die
is used for the Check.

Equipment Upgrading Dice

Some items give specified A short rest allows a character
bonuses to Checks, others have to upgrade a previously
value that can only be discovered downgraded die. A long rest
through play. Weapons can have allows all downgraded dice
a modifier that is subtracted to be reset. If the BC deems
from a target’s Check. Armour a character has significantly
can have a modifier that is added grown by dint of experience they
to a target’s Check. A character may level up after a long rest.
can carry on their person only A player chooses a stat die to
what is sensible. upgrade anew (up to max. d12).
by Alfred Valley
a i. A...
Build a character
ii. ...with... iii. ...who wants to...

spe 2
professional mourner a deathwish elope with their sweetheart
1 (dagger [-1]) (ostentatious hat) (lock of hair)

ck 3
charcoal burner fleas clear their name
(club [0]) (mangy cat) (flask of oil)
gravedigger a price on their head settle a dispute
(shovel [-1]) (broken chain) (net)

of 4 candle maker
(awl [0])
strange ideas
(grimoire)
betray someone powerful
(stained sack)

*remove/destroy after use

herder an empty promise eliminate a nemesis
5
gold 6
(staff [0]) (goose) (vial of weak poison)
vagrant huge debt run away from home
(stick [0]) (silver ring) (moth-eaten cloak)
rat catcher a recurring dream settle down
7 (cleaver [-1]) (braided rope) (lute)

gli 9
woodcutter jitters see the world
8 (handaxe [-1]) (mail coif [+1 Skull]) (compass)

nt 10 muck raker
(rake [0])
a superior attitude
(gauntlet [+1 Spine])
make their family proud
(hand-me-down suit)

ing peddler emotional baggage

(sling & 1d6 stones [0]) (hand mirror)
scribe a dark secret
survive doomsday
(shield [cancel 1 downgrade])*
be a hero
11
in 12
(1d6 darts [-1]) (parchment, quill and ink) (steel-toe boots [+1 Femur])
water carrier scarred knuckles touch the void

a
(ladle [0]) (balm [heal once as short rest])* (dice)

Beyond lvl 0... Tips for Bone Collectors

If characters survive their first adventure they level ×× Make rules up as you

cra
Drop Dangle Reward

up. Players each choose one character to take into go

the next trial that awaits them and invent a Class for ×× Determine the value of
cool

ck
them. items on the fly
×× Decide the distinction
underlined = micro adventure

ed
A Class should be Spine-, Femur- or Skull-based. between a short and
Players devise a special ability involving their Class long rest
type and agree it with the BC (for Skull this could be a ×× Give creatures Spine,
spell). Using this ability downgrades the related die. Femur & Skull stats
loot

Every level a character gains another special ability. ×× Give big foes motives,

jaw A lvl 1+ character who fails a dangerous Check

special abilities and
weak points

bo
with a d4 does not die but falls unconscious. They ×× Roll Checks multiple
receive a scar and the relevant stat’s max. die times in really deadly

ne
gets downgraded (e.g. their d12 max. becomes a situations
hints

d10 again). If they are revived by another character ×× Convert adventures to

before a creature stomps on them they can come to Ossuary
at d4. If they can’t downgrade the die, they die. ×× Build your own realms