Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How to run bugbears in Old School Essentials without losing the first round: the B/X bugbear surprises on a 1-3 and it's the only humanoid in Moldvay Basic that gets any bonus at all — most dungeon master tips miss why. This old school essentials breakdown covers the surprise procedure on page B25, what the Expert Set says a surprise round actually buys, and the Keep on the Borderlands guard room where the number is written straight into the fiction.
The B/X bugbear surprises on a 1, 2 or 3, and it is the only humanoid in Moldvay Basic that gets any surprise bonus at all — one number that costs your party the first round, the corridor, and usually a character (2026).
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Ten creatures in the Basic Set beat the standard 1-2 surprise roll. Nine earn it by being invisible, transparent, incorporeal or the same colour as the rock. The bugbear earns it while walking at you in the open with a mace. This one goes through the full list, the surprise procedure on page B25, what the Expert Set says a surprise round actually buys, and the bugbear guard room in Keep on the Borderlands where Gygax wrote the number straight into the fiction.
Books referenced: D&D Basic Set (Moldvay, 1981), D&D Expert Set (Cook/Marsh, 1981), B2 Keep on the Borderlands (Gygax), the Rules Cyclopedia, and Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy.
The Tavern Rules: We're here for B/X and OSR gaming. I use AI as a tool to help organize and format my notes, but every ruling and opinion is 100% Tenkar. Keep it civil, keep it old-school, or the bouncer will show you the door.
Basic Rules (Moldvay) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110274/d-d-basic-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?src=newest_print&affiliate_id=1446
Expert Rules (Marsh/Cook) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110792/d-d-expert-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?affiliate_id=1446
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Companion Minions: Andrey Zharinov, Brett C, Spode Racing, Tacoloco787, Adam Lovell, Plush Cthulhu, DM_Sahrenyth, Gabe Guerrero, Chris Charlton, Chris Blatnick, Nicodemus ShadowCaster, Christopher Beattie, No one, Stephen Klow, Mark the Shark, Eupolemos, Jay, Martin Penny, tim cafferty, Rubens Barrichello, Curt Gould, Estaban Vasquez, Glen K. Amo
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How to run bugbears in Old School Essentials without losing the first round: the B/X bugbear surprises on a 1-3 and it's the only humanoid in Moldvay Basic that gets any bonus at all — most dungeon master tips miss why. This old school essentials breakdown covers the surprise procedure on page B25, what the Expert Set says a surprise round actually buys, and the Keep on the Borderlands guard room where the number is written straight into the fiction.
The B/X bugbear surprises on a 1, 2 or 3, and it is the only humanoid in Moldvay Basic that gets any surprise bonus at all — one number that costs your party the first round, the corridor, and usually a character (2026).
🔥 JOIN THE MINIONS: youtube.com/@TenkarsTavern/join
Ten creatures in the Basic Set beat the standard 1-2 surprise roll. Nine earn it by being invisible, transparent, incorporeal or the same colour as the rock. The bugbear earns it while walking at you in the open with a mace. This one goes through the full list, the surprise procedure on page B25, what the Expert Set says a surprise round actually buys, and the bugbear guard room in Keep on the Borderlands where Gygax wrote the number straight into the fiction.
Books referenced: D&D Basic Set (Moldvay, 1981), D&D Expert Set (Cook/Marsh, 1981), B2 Keep on the Borderlands (Gygax), the Rules Cyclopedia, and Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy.
The Tavern Rules: We're here for B/X and OSR gaming. I use AI as a tool to help organize and format my notes, but every ruling and opinion is 100% Tenkar. Keep it civil, keep it old-school, or the bouncer will show you the door.
Basic Rules (Moldvay) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110274/d-d-basic-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?src=newest_print&affiliate_id=1446
Expert Rules (Marsh/Cook) PDF & Print - drivethrurpg.com/en/product/110792/d-d-expert-set-rulebook-b-x-ed-basic?affiliate_id=1446
Join The Tavern's Discord Server (It's Free):
discord.gg/fReGmuD
Buy me a Beer!
ko-fi.com/tenkar
The Tavern uses affiliate links - using our affiliate links supports the channel without costing you anything extra.
Humble Bundle: humblebundleinc.sjv.io/da4WJ2
The Tavern's Amazon Storefront: amzn.to/41Jm0oG
DriveThruRPG: drivethrurpg.com/en/?affiliate_id=1446
Fantasy Grounds VTT: affiliates.fantasygrounds.com/388855/15958
The Tavern uses Restream for its livestreams and its long-form videos. You can too! restream.io/join/g5Qpgr
The Tavern also uses VidIQ: vidiq.com/TenkarsTavern
Master Minion: mortgagemike77, Randt Chrockett, Eric Fox, The Veteran DM, Cathulhu17, Don Bakke, DoubleDeuce, skink, Kore44, Louis Feurino, Craig Aylward, Anthon Kron, Ijimisan, Terry Taylor, blahlbinoa, Arbiter's Archive, Dean Salsberry, DM Angelo, Douglas Pearson, James Spahn, Mathew Sherman, Agile Monk
Companion Minions: Andrey Zharinov, Brett C, Spode Racing, Tacoloco787, Adam Lovell, Plush Cthulhu, DM_Sahrenyth, Gabe Guerrero, Chris Charlton, Chris Blatnick, Nicodemus ShadowCaster, Christopher Beattie, No one, Stephen Klow, Mark the Shark, Eupolemos, Jay, Martin Penny, tim cafferty, Rubens Barrichello, Curt Gould, Estaban Vasquez, Glen K. Amo
youtube.com/channel/UCIdpAASpAI7vu-bZx6pP_mQ
OSR #DnD #BXDnD #TTRPG #TenkarsTavern #Bugbear
