This week, we go deep into the Old School Revolution with Old School Essentials creator Gavin Norman and Josh McCrowell of His Majesty the Worm!
Gavin Norman is the mind behind some of the most exciting work in the modern OSR scene. He is best known for Old-School Essentials, the gold standard for clean, accessible retro-gaming rules that have brought thousands of new players into old-school play. His work doesn’t just celebrate the roots of tabletop RPGs—it refines them, making them sing with clarity and style. If you’ve ever cracked open an OSE book, you know exactly what I mean: sharp design, killer layout, and an unwavering love for the game. Gavin Norman is, simply put, one of the defining voices of today’s old-school revolution.
Josh McCrowell is the creator of His Majesty the Worm—a deeply weird, beautiful, and melancholy dungeon crawler that uses tarot cards as its core mechanic. It’s also up for an ENNIE this year! Josh is also one of the brains behind Knock Magazine, that gloriously chaotic love letter to the DIY RPG scene, packed with ideas, art, and inspiration. His work blends creativity with a genuine sense of wonder. Josh McCrowell is a designer who reminds us that the dungeon isn’t just for killing monsters—it’s for exploring what it means to be alive.
Find Gavin's work on OSE here! https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/pages/old-school-essentials
Acquire Josh's brilliant game here:
https://www.hismajestytheworm.games/#h.mvmqxy70j0s9
Ben's Gen Con seminar this year is entitled "Solving the Mysteries of the D&B Business." He's interviewed dozens of former and current WotC employees, and has real answers to questions we all have about the game.
Why do extensive promotion of a virtual tabletop for D&D, Sigil, and then give it no marketing at rollout and kill it a month later?
Why has there been an exodus of staff from the company?
Why, after a golden age during the game’s 5th edition, has Wizards struggled to find traction since the debut of 2025 D&D?
These questions and more Ben will attempt to answer in his sold-out Gen Con seminar!
Given demand, Ben is going to livestream a rehearsal of the show on Zoom on Tuesday, July 29th, at 9 PM EST/ 6 PM PST. But the only way you can listen is by being a Patreon subscriber! It's only $3 a month. Click here to join now!