Other Dust

Other Dust is a rules-lite post-apocalyptic RPG set on the Tomb World of Earth, centuries after civilization's collapse. Using familiar OSR mechanics compatible with Stars Without Number, it emphasizes sandbox exploration, enclave building, and survival in a world of mutants and ancient ruins. Class-based and GM-driven, it provides extensive tools for emergent wasteland campaigns.

At-a-glance

Post-Apocalyptic/OSR • d20-based • 3-5 + GM • Low prep • Rules-lite • 2-4h sessions

Other Dust

Other Dust takes place on the Tomb World of Earth, centuries after the collapse of human civilization. The world is an open grave—green glass plains and trinitite pearls necklace the throats of torn cities.

Theme and Setting

Prismatic jungles heave with nanite-infested life, thick with twisted bodies and fever-hot madness. The ancient towers of Old Terra are cast down into the mire, and the stars above no longer send their ships of steel and burning light.

How Play Feels

Humanity survives in struggling enclaves and fugitive tribes, scavenging the bones of former glory while fighting the New Earth with steel, salvage, and burning defiance. Other Dust uses familiar OSR mechanics fully compatible with Stars Without Number.

What Makes It Distinct

Character creation offers class-based heroes including Wasteland Warriors and fierce avengers adapted to survival in the ruins. The d20-based resolution system emphasizes player ingenuity over complex rules, with combat that is deadly and best avoided when possible.

Where It May Not Fit

You want a very light rules load You mainly want short standalone sessions with minimal carryover.

Decision guide

What this game is about

Key facts
Players
3-5 players + GM
Session
120-240 minutes
Prep
Low
Play profile
Complexity
4/5
New GM Fit
3/5
Roleplay Focus
3/5
Combat Focus
3/5
Tactical Depth
2/5
Campaign Depth
5/5
Who it suits
Best for
Groups that want life after collapse to drive the tone and choicesTables that want quick onboarding and low mechanical dragPlayers who enjoy danger, discovery, and player-driven problem-solving
Avoid if
You want a very light rules loadYou mainly want short standalone sessions with minimal carryoverYou want a cleaner, less pressured world state

A strong fit for groups that want life after collapse to drive the tone and choices, with rules Lite helping define the experience.

Agent data

Structured data and an explicit decision profile JSON document are available for remote agents.

Open agent JSON