OSR D&D, B/X Dungeons and Dragons, and old-school tabletop RPG coverage from Tenkar's Tavern — honest, no-corporate-spin analysis of the hobby since 2009.
Hosted by Tenkar, a retired NYPD investigative sergeant and gamer since 1980. No corporate gloss — just straight, unfiltered OSR news and RPG investigations into the hobby we love.
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Join the Minions for a relentless content stream:
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THE AESTHETIC
Thumbnails on this channel are generated using AI, prompted specifically to replicate the illustration style of TSR-era Dungeons and Dragons products from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The aesthetic is intentional — it reflects the creative tradition this channel is part of.
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Tenkar's Tavern
I've been mining my blog for 15+ years of OSR content - again, Claude is organizing it all from material I created years ago. Some need minor tweaking, as much of what I was creating was for Swords & Wizardry ;)
The aim is to produce a monthly 8-12 page PDF zine, released to the Minions first, and then released to free subscribers of The Tavern's Substack a month later. tenkarstavern.substack.com/
It will be CC0, just like The Tavern's Handbook (so you can freely share it with all if you so desire - there is no paywall). tenkars-tavern.games/TavernGuide
Hopefully it's ready by the end of the month :)
1 week ago | [YT] | 197
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Tenkar's Tavern
A few quick updates:
The Tavern's Handbook has surpassed 3,100 downloads over the last 7+ days. I'm simply floored. You can grab the latest version here: tenkars-tavern.games/TavernGuide
We are closing in on 15K subscribers. 14,761 as I type this. I was hoping to get to 15k by my birthday on the 30th, but it may have to wait until after Gen Con. Doesn't mean I'm not stunned by the growth of this channel and its community. Thank you all.
I've been experimenting with some longer- 20-minute plus - videos, and they appear to be getting a good response. I'll have some polls coming up over the next few days for feedback. Here's yesterday's longer video: https://youtu.be/zvAQmoXS40o
August 5th, on Talking Crit Live, we will have Dan Masters "Professor DM" on to talk DeathBringer and Gen Con. Mark your calendars :)
Again, everyone, thank you for your support!
Tenkar
1 week ago | [YT] | 161
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Tenkar's Tavern
Gamers' Health Live @ 8PM ET
youtube.com/live/N4yTq_XKcDM?feature=share
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 36
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Tenkar's Tavern
The Tavern's Handbook version 1.0.1 is now live. New layout, proper chapter titles, page numbers, index, and minor edits. Content remains the same.
tenkars-tavern.games/TavernGuide
2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 135
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Tenkar's Tavern
Quick Update! An updated version of The Tavern's Handbook will go live tomorrow. Version 1.0.1 - Improved Layout, Chapter Titles, and an Index :)
edit - and page numbers
2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 177
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Tenkar's Tavern
It's Christmas in July over at DTRPG. The entire TSR era catalog looks to be 30% off in PDF :)
www.drivethrurpg.com//product/110274/d-d-basic-set… (yep, it's an affiliate link - painless way to support The Tavern if you were going to make a purchase regardless)
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 151
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Tenkar's Tavern
The Tavern's Handbook is now live. The linked video will tell you all you need to know :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYZd...
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 180
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Tenkar's Tavern
There are TWO Minions early releases live right now. Gary's ouster from TSR is shared with Expert Minions and above - goes live for all tomorrow morning.
The Tavern's Handbook announcement video also went live, with a download link. That went out to all Minion, Basic, and above. This one will go live on Wednesday morning for all viewers.
I'm beat. I'd take a nap, but it's too close to bedtime ;)
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 53
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Tenkar's Tavern
Working with James Spahn to get an at-cost version up on Lulu. I'll also be looking into using Amazon POD.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 187
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