# Vagabond // Pulp Fantasy RPG

Taron Pounds' pulp fantasy TTRPG from Land of the Blind, which pairs B/X-compatible old-school play with modern character builds. Players use a d20 roll-over system with Favor and Hinder, choose from 18 classes and 7 ancestries, cast freeform Mana spells and fight 200+ monsters that run themselves, in group, solo or GM-less co-op play.

## At a Glance

Pulp fantasy OSR with modern builds • d20 roll-over checks with Favor and Hinder • 18 classes, 7 ancestries, freeform Mana spells • 200+ monsters with Action Gambits • Solo, co-op or GM-guided • 1–6 players

## Why It Fits

Choose Vagabond when your group wants old-school fantasy adventure that still lets players build the hero they picture. Checks are a single d20 roll-over with one Favor or Hinder die, enemies never roll, and every monster's statblock says what it does, so play stays fast at the table. Meanwhile 18 classes, perks and freeform Mana spells give players real build choices. It also runs solo or co-op without a GM and works with B/X-compatible adventures.

## Fit Facts

- Players: 1-6 players + GM
- Prep: Medium
- Price: Paid

## Facets

- Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery
- Systems: Old-School Renaissance (OSR)
- Mechanics: Campaign, Character Customization, Class-Based, Dungeon Crawl, Solo Play
- Decision tags: One-Shot Friendly, Rules Medium

## Scores

- Complexity: 3/5
- New GM Fit: 3/5
- Roleplay Focus: 3/5
- Combat Focus: 4/5
- Tactical Depth: 3/5
- Campaign Depth: 4/5

## Best For

- Groups that want old-school dungeon crawling with real character builds and fast d20 checks
- GMs who want monsters that run themselves and B/X-compatible adventures
- Solo players or GM-less co-op groups who still want a full fantasy campaign game

## Avoid If

- You want classic OSR lethality, where low-level characters die easily
- Your table wants rules support for social conflict and intrigue
- You need a stable print edition or official VTT support right now

## Explorer Notes

Vagabond is the TTRPG for groups who want old-school dungeon delving with modern character builds: fast d20 checks, short and punchy fights, and heroes who feel capable from the first session. It mixes ideas from B/X Dungeons & Dragons, Shadowdark, Dragonbane, Knave and Shadow of the Demon Lord into one 204-page core book. You get 18 classes, 7 ancestries, a flexible spell system, more than 200 monsters with built-in combat behavior, and rules for playing solo, co-op without a GM, or with a GM in the usual way.

It is not a rules-lite, roll-and-pray OSR game, and it is not a heavy tactical game either. Characters make real build choices, combat uses statuses and positioning, and the book leaves social scenes to plain roleplay. Choose it if your table wants something between Shadowdark's speed and the options of a bigger d20 game. Look elsewhere if you want very lethal zero-to-hero play, narrative mechanics for social conflict, or a rulebook that will not change after you buy it.

## What the game is

Vagabond // Pulp Fantasy RPG is a standalone fantasy tabletop roleplaying game designed, written and laid out by Taron Pounds and published by his company, [Land of the Blind](https://landoftheblind.myshopify.com/products/vagabond-pulp-fantasy-rpg-core-rulebook). The publisher calls it a hybrid of "modern character expression" and old-school fast play, with a rulings-over-rules attitude. It is also built to be compatible with B/X-style monsters and adventures, so classic TSR modules, Old-School Essentials adventures and system-neutral material can be run with it.

"Pulp fantasy" here means sword and sorcery: action-heavy adventure in the tradition of Conan and Elric rather than Tolkien-style journeys. The book has no default setting or canon. Its ancestries come with optional lore, and its touchstones range from Berserk and Elden Ring to Army of Darkness. The publisher lists the game for 1 to 6 players, with sessions of two hours or more.

## Publication history and editions

Vagabond was developed in public. Pounds livestreamed design and play sessions from 2023 to mid 2024, and a free [Vagabond Quickstart](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/481528?affiliate_id=1659151) was on DriveThruRPG by mid 2024. The physical book was crowdfunded through a [Gamefound campaign](https://gamefound.com/en/projects/land-of-the-blind/vagabond--pulp-fantasy-roleplaying-game): 444 backers and about $29,000, with the game already written and the money going toward art, printing and fulfillment. The full core rulebook PDF was added to DriveThruRPG on February 12, 2025. Tariffs and shipping problems delayed the books, and Gamefound backers' copies shipped in waves starting in October 2025.

The rules keep changing between printings. The PDF is updated over time (the DriveThruRPG listing was last updated October 7, 2026), and as of October 2026 the publisher's store was taking preorders for a third print wave. The first expansion, Spellbook, raised $169,865 from 1,837 backers on [Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/landoftheblind/spellbook-zines-vagabond-and-shadowdark) (June 5–29, 2026). Its campaign promised new ancestries and classes, optional character rules and magic-system variants, with physical delivery planned for late 2026. Expect small rules differences between older and newer copies.

## What you need to play

- Core Rulebook (204 pages): all the rules, ancestries, classes, perks, spells, relics, gear, a bestiary, quest procedures and the solo dungeon Ruinous League. The publisher sells the PDF for $19.95 and print for $39.95, and the PDF comes with a printer-friendly version, a blank and a fillable Hero Record, pregenerated heroes, a starter adventure (Caustic Cave of Quasmoidon), GM screen inserts and a creator kit for third-party publishers. It is also on [DriveThruRPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/512122?affiliate_id=1659151).

- Quickstart: free, pay what you want, on DriveThruRPG. It is an older, shorter preview of the rules.

- Basic Hero's Handbook: a cut-down zine with four ancestries (Human, Dwarf, Elf, Halfling), six classes (Bard, Fighter, Luminary, Pugilist, Rogue, Wizard) and 36 lower-complexity spells. Good for new players.

- Dice: a standard polyhedral set (d4 to d20) with an extra d6 for Favor and Hinder. The book also has paper dice.

## Supplements and accessories

Besides Spellbook, Land of the Blind sells a four-panel GM screen with rules, statuses, travel, inspiration tables and a loot table, plus a dice set and short adventure zines such as Ghost Crest Peak and The Rook & the Crook. The core book includes a third-party license and compatibility logo, so anyone can publish compatible material if they carry the required notice.

## Digital tools and VTT support

There is no official VTT module. In a [December 2025 update](https://gamefound.com/en/projects/land-of-the-blind/vagabond--pulp-fantasy-roleplaying-game/updates/33), Pounds offered refunds to backers who had paid for a Foundry module, explaining that Land of the Blind could not fund one. He pointed instead to free fan work and said an Alchemy VTT version was in development. The fan-made [Vagabond system for Foundry VTT](https://foundryvtt.com/packages/vagabond) is actively maintained and published under the third-party license. Its compendium content unlocks with a password printed in the book. The same update also mentions a fan-made Owlbear Rodeo extension and a Roll20 character sheet.

## Core rules and play structure

Heroes have six stats from 2 to 7: Might, Dexterity, Awareness, Reason, Presence and Luck. To make a check, you roll a d20 and need to meet a Difficulty equal to 20 minus the relevant stat. If you are Trained in the skill, the stat counts double. A natural 20 is a Crit and grants an extra benefit. Circumstances can add Favor (+d6) or Hinder (−d6). Favor and Hinder cancel out and never stack, so there is only ever one bonus or penalty die to handle. Saves (Endure, Reflex and Will) work the same way, using one stat doubled or two stats added together.

Only players roll. The GM's enemies are assumed to succeed unless a hero's check or save stops them, so attacks against you turn into Block or Dodge saves. A successful save ignores the attack's highest damage die. In combat, the heroes act first as a group and the enemies then act as a group, with one Action and one Move each. Distances are just Close, Near and Far. Statuses such as Vulnerable, Dazed and Frightened do most of the tactical work. Crawl and Travel use progress clocks, random-encounter checks, Fatigue and inventory slots, much as in other OSR games.

## Characters, classes and advancement

You make a hero in four steps (ancestry, class, stats, gear), and every step can be rolled at random. The 18 classes run from familiar roles (Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, Barbarian) to more unusual ones such as the Alchemist, Dancer, Gunslinger, Merchant, Pugilist, Revelator and Vanguard. Each class page lists a suggested battlefield position and a complexity rating. Perks are taken at odd levels, and stats go up at even ones. Play is expected to run from level 1 to 10, though classes keep improving after that. Levels come either from an end-of-session XP questionnaire or from a GM-written Destiny of nine milestones. You can also start at level 0 as a lowly vagabond.

## Signature mechanics

- Freeform spellcasting with Mana. Casters know a few broad spells and shape each casting on the spot. A spell can do 1d6 damage or apply its effect for free, or both for 1 Mana. Extra Mana buys more damage dice, and you choose a delivery such as touch, remote, line, cone, sphere, aura, glyph, or imbuing an ally's weapon. Spells only need a Cast check when an unwilling target is involved.

- Action Gambits for monsters. Every statblock lists its actions in priority order and gives the monster a Zone (Frontline, Midline or Backline) plus a Morale score. This makes enemies easy to run and is what lets the game run solo or co-op without a GM.

- Luck as a spendable pool. Spend Luck for Favor or to reroll a die. In solo or GM-less play, an optional Plot Armor rule lets you spend Luck to get back up from 0 HP.

- Relics and alchemy. Magic items are built from Relic powers, and alchemical items can be crafted and thrown. The Alchemist class is built around them.

## What play feels like

A typical session swings between room-by-room crawling and short, decisive fights. Players talk about positioning, call for Favor, and decide whether to Block or Dodge an incoming hit, while the GM mostly reads monster priorities and describes what happens. The book wants fights to be brief: some foes die in one blow, and clever plans can beat a boss outright. Reviewers often say the system is learned in under an hour and that rolls stay fast because only players roll. Since the game does not put social scenes on dice, negotiation and intrigue depend on your table's roleplay plus a simple 2d6 reaction roll.

## Running the game

The GM workload is lighter than in most d20 games of similar depth. Enemies never roll, statblocks say what monsters do, and the quest chapter helps structure adventures through preparation, travel, crawl, confrontation and aftermath. Prep still matters: you need a site to explore, and the game expects you to bring a setting or use B/X-compatible modules, for which an appendix gives conversion guidance. Expect to make rulings about distances and edge cases. The book says outright to rule in the heroes' favor and keep play moving.

## Campaign fit

Vagabond works for one-shots, since it includes pregenerated heroes and a starter adventure, but it is built mainly for campaigns. Its leveling-pace table runs from a quick 2–5 month campaign to multi-year sagas with weekly sessions. Characters are sturdier than in traditional OSR games, so long-running heroes are normal. When a hero does die, the book says to make a new one and rejoin quickly. Solo players get a procedurally generated dungeon (Ruinous League) and guidance for solo and co-op play.

## Reception

Vagabond has spread mostly by word of mouth and indie reviewers rather than a big launch. As of October 2026, its DriveThruRPG listing showed a mithral Best Seller badge, an average of 4.7 out of 5 from 39 ratings, and 20 written reviews. A January 2026 [r/rpg thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/1q3nhv6/vagabond_living_on_drivethru_rpg_best_seller_list/) asked why it kept appearing in the DriveThruRPG top ten. Replies pointed to word of mouth, its class builds, its tactical-but-fast combat, and how easily it converts other material. [Stargazer's World](https://stargazersworld.com/2025/04/03/three-osr-ttrpg-recommendations-and-a-bonus-one/) called it a current favorite, praising the roll-over resolution, the non-Vancian magic and the large bestiary. Video reviewers have placed it between Shadowdark and heavier games such as D&D 5e or Draw Steel. The most common complaint is about versions: a 2026 DriveThruRPG reviewer warned that print copies can be overtaken by rules updates and recommended buying the PDF.

## Where it is strongest

- Deep character building (18 classes, perks, freeform magic) on a light, quick core resolution

- Monsters that are easy for a GM to run, plus real solo and co-op play

- Works with B/X and Old-School Essentials adventures with little conversion

- Low cost to try, thanks to a free Quickstart and an inexpensive PDF

## Where it can frustrate groups

- The rules are updated between print waves, so print books can fall out of date

- No rules support for social conflict, so intrigue-heavy tables lean on roleplay alone

- No official VTT module yet; online play relies on fan-made tools

- Heroes are more durable than in classic OSR games, which disappoints groups who want brutal lethality

## Content and safety notes

The book says plainly that power-fantasy violence and killing monsters are core to the game. It warns against using fantasy ancestries to echo real-world bigotry, recommends a Session Zero, and includes lines and veils with a list of common sensitive topics. Gore and body horror depend on the GM's descriptions. The publisher's store lists ages 12 and up.

## Best starting path

Download the free Quickstart or pick up the Basic Hero's Handbook to see whether the d20 roll-over and Favor/Hinder system suits your table. Then get the [Core Rulebook PDF](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/512122?affiliate_id=1659151), which receives updates, and run the bundled Caustic Cave of Quasmoidon with the pregenerated heroes. Solo players can start with Ruinous League. If you play on Foundry, install the free fan system and unlock it with the password from your book.

## Research notes

Last checked October 27, 2026. Sources:

- [Land of the Blind: Vagabond Core Rulebook store page](https://landoftheblind.myshopify.com/products/vagabond-pulp-fantasy-rpg-core-rulebook) (contents, formats, prices, included extras)

- [DriveThruRPG: Vagabond // Pulp Fantasy RPG Core Rulebook](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/512122?affiliate_id=1659151) (204 pages, added February 12, 2025, ratings and reviews)

- [DriveThruRPG: Vagabond Quickstart](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/481528?affiliate_id=1659151) (pay what you want)

- [DriveThruRPG: Basic Hero's Handbook](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/516648?affiliate_id=1659151)

- [Gamefound: Vagabond campaign page](https://gamefound.com/en/projects/land-of-the-blind/vagabond--pulp-fantasy-roleplaying-game), [October 2025 shipping update](https://gamefound.com/en/projects/land-of-the-blind/vagabond--pulp-fantasy-roleplaying-game/updates/27) and [December 2025 VTT update](https://gamefound.com/en/projects/land-of-the-blind/vagabond--pulp-fantasy-roleplaying-game/updates/33)

- [Kickstarter: Vagabond RPG Spellbook](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/landoftheblind/spellbook-zines-vagabond-and-shadowdark) (June 5–29, 2026)

- [Foundry VTT: Vagabond system (unofficial)](https://foundryvtt.com/packages/vagabond)

- [Stargazer's World: Three OSR TTRPG recommendations](https://stargazersworld.com/2025/04/03/three-osr-ttrpg-recommendations-and-a-bonus-one/) (April 2025)

- [r/rpg: Vagabond on the DriveThruRPG best seller list](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/1q3nhv6/vagabond_living_on_drivethru_rpg_best_seller_list/) (January 2026)

- [EN World: Vagabond TTRPG, opinions?](https://www.enworld.org/threads/vagabond-ttrpg-opinions.707152/)

## Links

- Explorer page: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/vagabond
- Agent JSON: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/api/games/vagabond.json
- Publisher or official site: https://landoftheblind.myshopify.com/products/vagabond-pulp-fantasy-rpg-core-rulebook
- Reviews or retailer page: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/512122?affiliate_id=1659151