A dojo for players of fantasy role-playing games
In 2014, a novel titled Ancillary Justice swept the field, bagging the Nebula, the Arthur C. Clarke, and the Hugo. I have seen little discussion of it among fantasy RPG players, however. I can think...
I’ll admit it. I love magic items. I’m having a bit of trouble adapting to the 5th edition’s new lean and mean magic item ratio. I get the rationale for avoiding the item bloat...
For the campaign I’m running, I wanted to try something a little bit different from the combat-heavy adventures that had dominated the last few sessions. I knew that the party had to head back to...
With each new edition of a role-playing game, the hobby gains new players, and that’s a good thing. But each new crop breathes new life into old arguments. Since 5th edition, I’ve been seeing,...
The previous article in this series introduced the basic features of the Einolar Wood Elf culture. These elves are animistic–and potentially cannibalistic–individualists with a culture based on democratic consensus and reverence for the forests...
Gluttony is a rather peculiar sin, as it is arguably the most specific and least complicated of the lot. In simplest terms, gluttony traditionally relates to the over-consumption of food and drink, but it...
An excerpt from the journal of one Jacker Stump, age and origin unknown, as transcribed by Bennonois, clerk to the Court of Canes, City of Runerock. (A warning to brothers of the Order:...
Some skill checks answer simple, immediate, yes/no questions. Do I see that goblin hiding in the bushes? A 15 — why, yes, I do. A simple yes/no die roll is appropriate and satisfying for...
Congratulations to Aaron Potter, colleague and friend of the Ludus crew, for being one of the first place winners in the “One Page Dungeon” contest! You can view his award winning entry, “A Stolen...
An Experiment with Narrative Because character is best revealed through narrative, I thought I’d present most of this installment of Dice Unloaded in story form. It’s an experiment. Raicho the Recusant—fourth and most controversial in...
Game-Mastering Advice / Settings / The World of the Vault / World Building
November 10, 2019
City Adventuring / Game-Mastering Advice / Get Medieval
Get Medieval: The Village in the Middle Ages
October 28, 2014
City Adventuring / Settings / World Building
Introducing the Ludus Population Engine
October 21, 2014
Welcome to The Ludus, the School of Games We’re writing The Ludus for players and game-masters of tabletop fantasy role-playing… Read more…
