Beyond the Woods Quick Start is an atmospheric and mechanically intriguing entry into the 5th edition OGL landscape.
Written and designed by Emmet Byrne, with cartography and art by Jared Blando and a talented team, this release from Old Oak Games presents a dark fantasy setting deeply rooted in ancient Irish myth and legend. The free Quick Start provides a robust introduction to the world of Tír Nascath, offering modified hexcrawl rules and a complete adventure to get players started immediately.
It is clear that a great deal of love has gone into adapting the familiar 5e framework into something that feels genuinely perilous and distinct. The shift towards survival and resource management is handled with a smart, modern design philosophy that streamlines bookkeeping without sacrificing the tension of starving in a haunted forest.
System and Survival Mechanics
While built on the backbone of 5th edition, Beyond the Woods implements several clever deviations to enforce its themes of survival and horror. The most notable change is the inventory system. Moving away from tedious pound-for-pound weight tracking, the game utilises a slot-based system reminiscent of survival-horror games like Resident Evil. Your carrying capacity is determined by your Strength score, with items taking up between one and four slots depending on their size. This makes equipment management visual and intuitive rather than mathematical.
Equally effective is the use of Resource Dice to track food and water. Instead of counting individual rations, players possess a die (starting at 1d4 or 1d6), which degrades on a roll of 1 or 2 during a Long Rest. This adds a layer of unpredictable tension to the journey. Furthermore, in a bold move to maintain the horror atmosphere, Darkvision has been removed from all lineages, forcing players to rely on light sources that might attract unwanted attention.
The World of Tír Nascath
The setting is where Beyond the Woods truly shines. Tír Nascath is an ancient land scarred by a calamity known as bás an tsaoil, or the death of life. The survivors have huddled for centuries within Céad Darach, the last great city protected by the fading light of a Golden Oak. Outside this sanctuary lies the Cuilchemar, a twisted forest haunted by the Sluagh, a spectral legion of the dead, and the Marvach, soulless husks that wander the land.
The writing evokes a sombre, mythic tone. The influence of Irish folklore is not merely cosmetic; it is woven into the fabric of the world. The text notes that the world is old and filled with the bones of forgotten civilisations, creating a prime environment for the hexcrawl exploration gameplay that the system supports.
Lineages and Classes
The Quick Start introduces six pre-generated characters that showcase the new classes and lineages found in the upcoming Core Rulebook. The lineages are delightfully distinct from standard fantasy fare, including the Aos Sí (ethereal faerie folk), Changelings, and Balorans, who are descendants of the Fomorian warrior Balor.
The classes also receive a thematic overhaul. Of particular interest is the Storyteller class, inspired by the Irish seanchaí. Unlike a standard bard, the Storyteller weaves ‘Verses’ into a ‘Story’ to grant cumulative buffs to allies or penalties to enemies. This mechanic feels fresh and perfectly suited to the setting’s oral tradition roots. Other classes include the Channeller, Draoi (druidic spellcasters), Hunter, Mage, and Warrior, each tweaked to fit the grim aesthetic.
The Adventure: Dead Wood
The PDF includes Dead Wood, a short introductory adventure designed to teach the new exploration rules. It tasks the players with venturing into the haunted Cuilchemar forest to retrieve a magical acorn that might save their dying city. The adventure is structured in three acts, guiding the GM and players through the mechanics of hexcrawling, making camp, and combat encounters with the terrifying local undead.
The adventure serves as an excellent tutorial, introducing the “Scout” and “Lookout” roles during travel and the consequences of exploration mishaps. It culminates in a discovery at the ruins of Dún Dearcáin, providing a satisfying narrative arc that hints at the larger mysteries of Tír Nascath.
Quick Links
- Free Quickstart
- Kickstarter Pre-Order
