LitRPG Reads: RPG + DnD + Books = LitRPG

How to Start a Grimdark RPG the RIGHT Way (5 Brutal Opening Hooks)

A warrior clad in tattered armor stands amidst a battlefield strewn with bones and swords, an ideal setting to start a grimdark RPG. A desolate building looms behind, while a tattered flag waves in the wind. The gritty scene exudes both despair and resilience, perfect for brutal opening hooks.

Imagine stepping into a world where shadows hold secrets too terrifying to comprehend, where every decision teeters on the edge of moral ambiguity, and where heroes aren’t always the ones wearing gleaming armor. Welcome to the realm of grimdark campaigns—a setting uniquely …

Top 7 Worldbuilding Mistakes That Will Destroy Your TTRPG Campaign

by Kenny Kings

In a crumbling, arched ruin, a mystical elf with glowing red eyes and pointed ears clutches an ancient map marked by an enigmatic eye symbol. Her hooded cloak whispers secrets of worldbuilding for the ultimate TTRPG campaign, while a sword stands partly hidden in the surrounding rubble.

…(And How Smart DMs Avoid Them) Building a killer world for your tabletop campaign? Hell yeah. But even the most epic realms can fall flat if you’re not careful. Maybe you’ve dumped a lore book on your players and watched their eyes …

Crafting the Cosmos: A Board Game with Real Physics?

by Ana Libanski

Two people with colorful hair sit at a table playing a board game titled Crafting the Cosmos. The room features a large space-themed mural on the wall, depicting planets and stars. The setting is cozy with modern decor, including a plant and a soft couch.

Office Dog Games, under the banner of Asmodee NA, has unfurled an innovative addition to the board game universe: Crafting the Cosmos. This interstellar strategy game steps beyond traditional boundaries by intricately weaving real-world physics, such as gravity and time manipulation, into …

Runelords Return! Pathfinder’s Massive New Megacampaign Will Blow You Away

by Paul Fellow Mellow

A warrior stands defiantly on a stone platform, sword drawn and facing a massive, ethereal hooded figure holding a large sword. Enigmatic symbols adorn the ancient stone columns surrounding them, bathed in dramatic light.

In an exciting development for Pathfinder aficionados, Paizo has revealed their latest undertaking: Revenge of the Runelords, a mythic-themed, high-level Adventure Path set to launch in the final quarter of 2025. Split in three distinct parts, this megacampaign is designed for characters …

Underworld Breach Banned! Here’s Why MTG Modern Will Never Be the Same

by Ken Chan

In the ever-evolving world of Magic: The Gathering, the banning of a single card can drastically reshape the landscape of the Modern format, particularly when that card serves as a cornerstone for top-tier strategies. Such bans are pivotal, often addressing issues of …

Live-Action D&D TV Show: Why Fans Keep Hoping (& Studios Keep Struggling)

by Kathy Stone

A woman in armor studies a script on the film set of a live-action D&D TV show. She stands before a large camera, surrounded by crew members and medieval-style props, capturing the imagination of fans with its historical or fantasy flair.

If you haven’t noticed, Dungeons & Dragons has experienced a significant surge in popularity, especially in the wake of the movie “Honor Among Thieves.” This renewed interest has sparked excitement around expanding D&D into more diverse forms of media, notably a live-action …

5E Evolves Beyond DND: Inside Epic Tales of the Valiant from Kobold Press

by Heidi Jiang

A warrior draped in a red cape stands before a massive stone portal inscribed with symbols, reminiscent of an adventure from Epic Tales of the Valiant. Four soldiers flank him amid the mountainous terrain, their flags fluttering as light streams through, creating a dramatic DND 5E scene.

In early 2023, the tabletop role-playing community faced a seismic shift when Wizards of the Coast, stewards of Dungeons & Dragons, wavered in their stewardship of the Open Game License (OGL), which had long been a bastion of openness in the gaming …

D&D Starter Set 2025: Heroes of the Borderlands, Inside the Stunning Revival of a Classic!

by Kiera Mensah

An adventurer with long red hair stands on a rocky cliff, embodying the spirit of the Heroes of the Borderlands. With a bow in hand, they overlook a vast mountain valley at sunset. A billowing cape and pine trees frame the scene, evoking exploration and freedom.

The world of tabletop role-playing games is on the cusp of a thrilling evolution with the anticipated release of “Heroes of the Borderlands,” the new D&D Starter Set slated for September 16, 2025. This set deftly reimagines the legendary “The Keep on …

What is LitRPG Reads?

Simply put, LitRPG stories take place in a game (or gamelike) world with rpg-style progression. Basically, an RPG in narrative format. RPG + Books = LitRPG! The term LitRPG was originally coined by three Russian authors back around 2010. I cover a lot of Dungeons & Dragons and Tabletop RPG content here too!

About LitRPG Reads

Paul Bellow is a LitRPG author, decades-long gamer, RPG game developer, and publisher of several online communities. In other words, an old school webmaster.

He also developed and runs LitRPG Adventures, a set of advanced RPG generators powered by GPT-3 AI. Here at LitRPG Reads, he publishes articles about LitRPG books, tabletop RPG books, and all sorts of DND content that's free to use in your personal tabletop campaign - i.e. non-commercial use.

Enjoy your stay and reach out on Twitter or Discord if you want to make contact.