The European OSR: Magyar Horde

[a short interlude from the ASC judgments...]

The Hungarian contingent has been a stable and consistent power block at Cauldron since the beginning, and the 2026 season looks to see their numbers swell as Hangyi is schedule to join the ranks of Premier, Chomy, Melan, Iudex, and "VorpalMace" (Tom). Time to talk about this loud, proud bunch.

Not that I really know them...I don't know their lives outside of gaming, don't know anything about their families, their politics, their jobs, not even their real names (other than half of them being named "Gabor"). Still, not knowing them doesn't mean I don't enjoy the hell out of them...they are to the Germans what German tourists are to the rest of Europe: fun, rambunctious, and a tad intimidating. 

If I still played, Vampire the Masquerade, they'd make a great model for a Sabbat pack.

I don't think it's inaccurate to say Hungary has an outsized impact on the OSR scene given its relative size. As a country it has barely more than 11% of Germany's population (9.5M compared to 83M) and less than 8% its GDP; in comparison to the USA, those percentages drop to 2.7% and 1.5%. And yet the quality of gaming material being created by the Magyars is impressive.

Melan is, of course, the most prominent of these creators. Castle Xyntillan is perhaps his most well-known adventure, but his Echoes from Fomalhaut fanzine (13 issues and counting) enjoys a strong reputation, while his Helvéczia RPG is magnificent...I own the deluxe boxed set, and it is a thing of beauty. Melan has been featured on multiple podcasts (Zockbock Radio and CAG for sure), his Melan diagram and discussion of adventure design has been highly influential, and his adventure reviews on his blog are highly respected.  He is an accomplished Dungeon Master, running multiple sessions in multiple systems  in each of the last three Cauldron conventions, and his tables fill quickly; as for his performance as a player, I can attest he is knowledgeable, cautious without being cowardly, and a respected (if reserved) voice of reason. 

Having interacted with him now on multiple occasions, I find Melan to be warm and unassuming, self-confident yet humble, a solid presence that obviously holds the esteem of his peers. Sharp-witted without being mean-spirited...I want to call him "kindly," but this is not an appropriate adjective to describe veteran, hard-nosed Dungeon Masters that have zero problem making "death" a consequence of mission failure. I will say that I have never heard a single negative word about Melan from anyone who's actually met the man.

Chomy, on the other hand, is as boisterous and fiery as Melan is solid. Not that he's not sharp as a knife with serious design chops...Chomy's placed in the top for two out of three NAP contests (winning one) and has published multiple well-reviewed adventures (in different editions). But I know Chomy as a player (and drinking buddy), not as a Dungeon Master. I wouldn't call him the "heart" of the Magyar horde...maybe the fire or, more accurately, the "balls." In any group, there's someone who needs to be the first to sticking their face into the potential danger...there has to be someone pushing, spurring the action. Someone's got to be willing to use the wand of wonder when shit gets hairball. Coupled with his native cunning, it makes him quite the rapscallion in the convention setting...but when it comes to design, that courage and push makes for some excellent adventure writing.

[I am publishing this now before I review his adventure for the ASC3 contest]

But neither Chomy, nor Melan were my impetus for writing about the Hungarian OSR (nor Premier, nor Tamas)...rather, it was what's going on with Iudex.

Iudex is a Hungarian living in the outskirts of Munich, who drives seven hours to Budapest on a monthly basis as part of his profession. While there, he's been working an on-going project called HOOT...the Hungarian Oldschool Open Table, a monthly get-together of rotating cast members at his local gaming club. He's been doing this for the last thirteen months...basically since Cauldron II...relentlessly encouraging "old style" play in his hobby community. Most of this has been with the OD&D rule system, but in November...

"...I decided to level up from cozy OD&D and tackle a proper AD&D first edition game..."

...mainly so that he could run the Cauldron '25 tournament module for the group. 

Not as easy as it sounds (as Iudex details in the five page "after action" report he sent me). However, he also writes:

"Frankly, I was astonished, how quick and how great the system worked during play (although I had to work a lot to arrive at a point where I did not need to open the book during play - well, most of the time)."

I think it's safe to say that most AD&D Dungeon Masters find themselves needing to open their books during actual game play. I certainly do (and I've been doing this AD&D thing for a long time)...if anything distinguishes the veteran from the novice, it is just that I can find a reference quicker, and thus the momentary distraction is nothing but that: momentary.

The important takeaway here...for Iudex and for any DM jumping into 1E for the first time...is to not be daunted or intimidated. The AD&D system works...and allows for some excellent gameplay at the table. The interaction of the various procedures makes for a type of experience that forces the players to engage with and attend to what's going on; this, in turn, makes the immersion process easier.

Knowing there was a desire and curiosity for 1E gameplay (not to mention interest in the Cauldron tournament adventure), in December Iudex deviated from his usual practice and introduced a 'pre-registration' process to the normally "open"call of HOOT...and had ten players show up, some driving from outside Budapest to attend. This is a solid table. Only two of them had actual 1E experience (having played in the 1990s); the others were either new or only familiar with 1E retroclones, like OSRIC.  

Hungarians in their typical subterranean gaming
environment. Note that most of these guys ride motorcycles
and can benchpress a Buick. All own sabres.

All but one was reported to have an excellent time in the four hour session, despite 70% being slain in the usual AD&D fashion. I'm not sure the reason for the single disgruntlement, though I'd hazard to guess it was the halfling thief who was fed (by the party) to a pack of winter wolves in order to make good their escape. Par for the course when it comes to rough justice in the Nagy Alföld...

But I'm digressing (as usual).

This is what I call growing the hobby. There is an appetite for AD&D that is not being tapped...despite the books again being available for purchase...partly due to misconceptions and intimidation but MOSTLY due to a lack of DMs running the game. And the reason for the lack of DMs (in addition to misconceptions and intimidation) is the lack of support for those willing to take up the mantle.

This, however, is changing. Folks like Iudex shows what's possible. Some of these players, no doubt, have their own home games going on. When they leave HOOT, they take their knowledge and experience back with them. Just demonstrating that AD&D is a playable, vibrant game can be the small flame that sets off a conflagration. In Hungary no less (it's already happening in Germany and Belgium). 

Remember that most of Europe was introduced to D&D through the Mentzer Basic set. So far as I'm aware, the first (and only) D&D edition translated into Hungarian was 3rd edition. And yet the old game, the good game, is alive...it is a spark that is being fanned. 

I think that's pretty neat. 

Anyway. I've decided that I will, indeed, be going back to Cauldron in 2026...this time with my son in tow. Entrance fees have been paid; I now have a handful of months to put together plane fare and prep my adventures. I look forward to seeing all these guys...Iudex, Tamas, Chomy, Premier, Melan...once again, clinking glasses and rolling dice. May their kardok stay sharp.

; )