Newsletter | Gaming

Happy Free RPG Day — June 27th

Did you know that Dungeons & Dragons isn’t the only tabletop roleplaying game in existence???

You remember Free Comic Book Day? Free RPG Day — which is this Friday — is the same thing. Except it’s tabletop roleplaying games.

By the way — in case you were unaware — Dungeons & Dragons is actually a bad game and the only reason you know about it and not Vampire: The Masquerade or Lancer or Daggerheart is because D&D has a monopoly hold on the TTRPG space.

But I’m not bitter or anything. Anyway, here are some of The Ugly Monster’s best stories on tabletop roleplaying games.

Credit: Stockholm Kartell

Artpunk Games Will Save Your Soul by Oscar

“Artpunk embraces joyous nihilism. These games made of shocking art, emotionally savage themes, and inventive mechanics scream at you to appreciate life right now, because it doesn’t last. Play today because everything could end tomorrow.”

Credit: The Merry Mushmen

Creating Monsters: The Three Ingredients of Great Bestiaries by The Far Window

“A monster is an art piece because it shows. Through graphic design and illustrations, the core concept and feeling of a monster spill onto the page, even without words.”

From our friends at Worldbuilding Wednesday…

Credit: Ace Books

What is LitRPG? by Daley W.

“There is a kind of meta-awareness among the characters within the story. They aren’t explicitly in a video game, but the rules of the world are very much like that of the average fantasy RPG game.

For anime and manga fans, this concept will sound extremely familiar.”

Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

Excalibur, Mjolnir, and Captain America’s Shield: Heirloom Items in Roleplaying Games by Brian Scott Horne

“The character-defining magic (or technology) item is a compelling idea in both mythology and modern media. Excalibur, Mjolnir, Eros’ bow, and Captain America’s shield are all good examples of this trope. Some tabletop roleplaying games build this option into their rules, but they’re also easy to incorporate in games that lack such mechanics.”

Credit: sean f. smith

Blimey, blemmyes! — A Shadowdark Adventure by sean f. smith / he, him

“The atmosphere in Kilt is one of distress and barely suppressed panic. The HEADLESS HORSEMAN has been attacking the village nightly for a good week now. Barricades are at breaking point and the arrival of some armed outsiders might be the perfect moment for us to strike!”

Roleplaying Games are the New Movie Nights by Oscar

Credit: Darrington Press

“Slaying monsters! Hunting treasure! Battling evil kings! This is the stuff of fantasy roleplaying games, and YOU are FINALLY going to be a part of it all!”