Just want to report the most insane combat encounter I’ve ever run - 4 level 2 PCs against a level 9 rakshasa, they killed it and I cannot believe that happened lol

I’m running Shadowdark which is a very lethal osr game with more modern streamlined mechanics. I’m new to OSR and recently watched Questing Beasts video on the topic of combat in modern ttrpg games like 5e that have combat as more of a fun thing rather than a tense and scary thing. WOW is it tense running an OSR combat encounter where any hit could drop a PC and probably kill them.

A mixture of desperate Holy Weapon spells and magic missiles with the rakshasa trying to escape and then the rakshasa getting a nat 20 and another hit on the fighter, dropping him to literally 1hp. To the fighter rolling exactly the target number to stabilize the wizard.

Just amazing, the most tense fight I’ve ever run, so many things had to go exactly right. They shouldn’t have won, but they were creative and brave and never ran. Just awesome.

I love osr style games