LitRPG Reads: RPG + DnD + Books = LitRPG

100 Ordinary Objects with Extraordinary Properties (DND Random Tables)

A warrior with braided red hair and fur-lined armor holds a colorful knitted mitten in a magical glow, reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons artifact. She stands in a snowy forest with two other warriors wielding bows and arrows. The background is pastel purple and blue.

In a world of fantasy, where heroes and villains clash amidst a backdrop of magic and wonder, it’s easy to overlook the everyday objects that surround us. Yet, even the most mundane items can possess unexpected powers, transforming ordinary experiences into adventures …

How to Create Engaging and Curated DND Plot Twists on the Fly for Any Campaign

by Rich Hunterson

A surprised female knight in ornate armor, perhaps a hero from a Pathfinder RPG adventure, holds her hand to her mouth, radiating light. A green-skinned goblin yells SHOCKING! in a speech bubble. Various armored characters inside the medieval tent complete this tabletop RPG scene.

Imagine this: a group of adventurers poised on the brink of a great discovery, only to have the ground shift beneath their expectations with a twist they never saw coming. Plot twists are the lifeblood of any engaging Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) …

How to Use Supply, Demand, and Trade Routes to Create a Living D&D Economy

by Kenny Kings

In an ornate apothecary, a woman in elaborate fantasy attire angrily points at a seated man across a potion-filled table. The room, akin to a DND setting, boasts large arched windows and shelves of colorful bottles amidst various alchemical items.

Imagine stepping into a world where every shop brims with character, every market hums with life, and the choices players make ripple through the fabric of a complex economy. That’s the magic of a well-structured economy in a D&D campaign. It’s more …

100 Magical Maps That Lead to Surprisingly Uninteresting DND Places

by Heidi Jiang

In a vibrant fantasy landscape, a figure in armor and a teal hood holds an intricate map, reminiscent of Pathfinder RPG quests. They stand amidst trees, flowers, and a barn under a starlit sky glowing with a colorful sunset.

In a world steeped in fantasy, where adventures lurk around every corner and treasure awaits under every unturned stone, there’s always room for a laugh at the unexpected. Among the relics and artifacts that promise secrets of great power, magical maps hold …

How This Timeless D&D Trap Still Outsmarts Players in Every Edition

by Emily Thorne

A hooded adventurer cautiously crosses a narrow bridge over a spiked pit inside a stone dungeon, reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons quest. They hold a torch and a staff as a mysterious figure stands in a glowing archway across from them, adding to the suspense.

When it comes to Dungeons & Dragons, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of a well-timed, expertly placed trap to keep players on their toes. Traps in D&D don’t just serve as obstacles; they’re a vital tool for Dungeon Masters to crank …

How to Incorporate Physical Coins into Your D&D Sessions for More Immersion

by Amir Barakat

In this fantasy scene, a mysterious character with pointed ears and a hooded cloak smirks while holding a gold coin. Chests of treasure surround them in a rustic room reminiscent of a DND adventure. Coins float in the warm, atmospheric lighting.

Imagine this: You and your adventuring party gather around the table, the air thick with excitement. You’re about to enter the bustling bazaar of a fantastical city, where merchants shout over each other to sell their wares. Your Dungeon Master slides a …

Top 5 Non-DND Tabletop RPGs and How They Compare to Dungeons & Dragons

by Ajay Patel

An astronaut in a detailed space suit floats in a colorful galaxy, reminiscent of a tabletop RPG universe. Asteroids surround a distant planet with rings. Nearby, a spacecraft and satellite traverse the glowing starry expanse, as if part of an epic Dungeons & Dragons quest.

Dungeons & Dragons, the granddaddy of all tabletop role-playing games, is the undeniable titan of the genre. It’s the name that pops up most often when someone mentions RPGs. But here’s the thing—D&D is just scratching the surface of what’s out there …

How to Write a Great LitRPG Book: Essential Elements Every Author Needs

by Paul Bellow

A person sits cross-legged, delving into a fantasy book by candlelight. They wear a scarf and have a bun. A cup is beside them. The background features digital icons, geometric shapes, and floating papers, crafting a magical atmosphere reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons adventures.

Imagine stepping into a world where the lines between storytelling and immersive gameplay blur, creating a genre as captivating as it is interactive. This is the realm of LitRPG, or Literary Role-Playing Game, a genre that seamlessly weaves together narrative fiction with …

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.