Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells
Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells is a rules-lite OSR RPG designed specifically for sword-and-sorcery adventures in the tradition of Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter, and Karl Edward Wagner. Created by Diogo Nogueira of Old Skull Publishing and first released in 2016, it delivers fast-paced pulp action with minimal mechanical overhead while maintaining enough depth to support extended campaigns.
Theme and Setting
The game evokes a dying world of decadent city-states surrounded by savage wilderness and ancient ruins where great kingdoms once stood. This is humanocentric fantasy where brave adventurers seek glory, gold, and forbidden knowledge against a backdrop of corruption, dark sorcery, and treacherous intrigue. The tone emphasizes pulp action over high fantasy heroism—characters are rogues, barbarians, and ambitious spellcasters motivated by personal gain and survival rather than noble causes. Magic is dangerous and corrupting, monsters are deadly threats rather than experience point fodder, and civilization clings to existence in the face of encroaching chaos.
Core Mechanics
SS&SS uses a unified d20 roll-under mechanic that keeps play flowing quickly. Characters have four attributes—Physique, Agility, Intellect, and Willpower—determined by rolling 3d6 in order. To attempt any action, players roll d20 and aim to score equal to or under the relevant attribute. The system includes a Luck Die mechanic representing fortune that degrades when players roll poorly (1-2), eventually running out entirely and leaving characters at the mercy of fate.
Combat tests attributes directly—Physique for melee attacks and Agility for ranged combat. Armor reduces incoming damage rather than making characters harder to hit, creating tactical decisions about protection versus mobility. Initiative is determined by Hit Die size, with heavily armored Warriors acting before lighter combatants. Healing is intentionally limited with no magical restoration available; characters must find safe havens for Long Rests to recover hit dice, making wilderness exploration genuinely perilous.
Character Creation
Players choose from three Archetypes that define their approach to adventure. Warriors receive d10 Hit Dice and excel at combat, wielding any weapon and wearing any armor. Specialists use d8 Hit Dice and focus on skills, stealth, and precision, making them ideal for thieves, scouts, and assassins. Magic Users have d6 Hit Dice but command sorcerous power, though at great personal risk.
Each character selects a Vocation representing their background and concept—a Warrior might be a Berserker or Gladiator, while a Specialist could be an Artificer or Spy. Players also roll for a Complication that adds narrative hooks: perhaps the character is addicted to lotus powder, hunted by a chaos cult, or owes debts to a corrupt noble. These elements create immediate story potential and distinguish characters beyond their statistics.
Magic System
Magic in SS&SS is powerful but perilous, drawing inspiration from Dungeon Crawl Classics. Spellcasters test Willpower to successfully cast; failure risks losing the spell for the day or accepting a Referee-imposed complication such as corruption, mutation, or attracting unwanted supernatural attention. Unlike traditional Vancian systems, all fifty spells are available from the beginning with no level restrictions.
Casters choose Power Level when casting, with higher power creating more spectacular effects but making success more difficult. This creates meaningful tactical tension between magical ambition and survival. The spell list includes classic sword-and-sorcery effects like conjuration, transmutation, and enthrallment, all described briefly to encourage creative interpretation by players and Referees.
Target Audience
Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells is ideal for players seeking lightweight OSR play with authentic sword-and-sorcery flavor. The game suits groups wanting quick character creation, fast combat resolution, and dangerous magic without complex rules or extensive preparation. Pay-what-you-want pricing makes it highly accessible for curious players and gaming groups on a budget.
The system works best for Referees comfortable with making rulings rather than consulting detailed rules, and for players who enjoy pulp action, moral ambiguity, and high-stakes adventure over tactical combat depth. Groups that appreciate the aesthetic of Conan, Elric, or Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser will find the tone perfectly calibrated to those classics. The included adventure generator provides immediate tools for creating scenarios, making this a complete package for getting swords-and-sorcery campaigns started quickly.
