A dojo for players of fantasy role-playing games
This article is a sequel to Wallace Cleaves’ discussion of medieval warfare, in which the medievalist applies a scholar’s understanding of period warfare to his own fantasy world setting, the Vault. Warfare in the Vault...
Although many fantasy games contain military elements, large-scale campaigns, wars, and sieges, few games seem to reflect how medieval armies really operated. When a military unit appears in a game, its structure is often simply a...
From time to time, we will be publishing quick stat blocks. Some will be original. Others, like this one, are tweaks of existing stat blocks. What you do with them is up to you....
When we think of ruins from our modern perspective, we often think of the relics of the medieval world. Decaying castles, ruined monasteries, and the remnants of city walls feature prominently in our pantheon...
“Now father, you’re living in the past. This is the fourteenth century. Nowadays …” – Walt Disney animated feature Sleeping Beauty (1959) The “Get Medieval” series of articles we have been releasing are designed to...
It used to be that a writer or game-master who wanted to shore up his or her creativity with some research would have to visit a library. Libraries are still awesome, of course. They...
If “Fantasy geography is that of the American West,” then what should that setting look like? Answer: It should have American Geography– and European History Aproper fantasy setting should be big–really big. Imagination-capturing big....
This is the second installment in the “Get Medieval” series, exploring the historical world of the Middle Ages in Europe, particularly in the 13th and 14th centuries in England, as a potential source for...
Previously in this column, Wallace outlined four “First Principles” for game world design, four things that many would-be world creators don’t get right when they think about how to create a setting for the Dungeons ...
Introductory Note: The “Get Medieval” series explores the historical world of the middle ages in Europe, particularly in the 13th and 14th centuries in England, as a potential source for inspiration in D&D and...
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…
