OSR Stand‑In Fellows

Inspired by the “Fellows” system from Japan’s Sword World RPG, OSR Stand-In Fellows adapts the concept for classic dungeon crawls and old-school campaigns.

This short, system-agnostic guide is for groups who don’t want to cancel—or sideline a character—when a player misses game night. It shows you how to turn any existing PC into a lightweight “Stand-In Fellow” that the GM or party can run on autopilot, keeping the story moving and the party lineup intact.

The document is presented as a one-page PDF plus a fillable character sheet. With minimal prep, you’ll have a streamlined action table and personality prompt that let the stand-in act, speak, and earn rewards without slowing play. Drop it into campaigns built on B/X, OSE, Swords & Wizardry, or your favorite OSR rules hack—no rules surgery required.