Why Troll Lord Games Still Matters: A Champion of Tabletop Imagination

If you’ve been behind the DM screen as long as I have, you know certain names carry real weight in the world of tabletop roleplaying. Troll Lord Games is one of those names. They’ve been flying the flag for high-adventure fantasy and old-school spirit since the early 2000s, and their newest project—now live on Backerkit—is a love letter to everything that makes classic fantasy gaming unforgettable.

Whether you’re a seasoned Castle Keeper, a curious D&D player, or a lover of all things gritty, mythic, and magic-laced, Troll Lord’s upcoming release deserves your attention. This isn’t just a new book. It’s a celebration of story-driven design, evocative worldbuilding, and rules that serve the narrative—not the other way around.

The Heart of the Matter: Why Back This?

The new project offers a streamlined, updated presentation of Castles & Crusades—a game that blends the feel of first-edition D&D with modern mechanics. It’s intuitive, fast, and built for high-heroics. The system encourages rulings over rules, empowering GMs to make bold calls and let the story breathe.

But even more importantly? Troll Lord Games is doubling down on physical product excellence: hardcover tomes, beautiful layout, sharp illustrations, and layout choices that respect your table time. As someone who designs adventures and worlds for a living, I can’t overstate how refreshing that is.

What Makes Troll Lord Games Special?

Troll Lord Games has always valued:

• Narrative-driven gameplay – They know it’s the story that keeps players coming back.

• World-first design – Their settings feel lived in. From Aihrde to Haunted Highlands, these aren’t just backdrops; they’re characters in your campaign.

• DIY DNA – They encourage customization, kitbashing, and house-ruling. This is a toolbox, not a cage.

As a creator and adventure writer, I see Troll Lord’s work as part of the same movement many of us are fighting for: to keep roleplaying personal, imaginative, and table-driven—not corporate, algorithmic, or hollow.

Backing Means Building the Future

If you love:

• Sleek, classic fantasy rules that won’t tangle your session in red tape,

• Game books built to last and inspire,

• A company that actually listens to its players,

…then this is the time to show support.

Back the project. Signal boost it. Let’s keep the fire of high fantasy burning brightly—where heroes are forged in taverns, ruins, and long-forgotten gods’ temples. Troll Lord Games never stopped telling those stories. Let’s help them tell more.

Back it here: Troll Lord Games on Backerkit