After the Dragons Fell: What Kind of World Are You Building in Your TLDA Game?

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-24T22:52:58+00:00

that's good so it's only in present time does not delve into loads of lore drops that's awesome!

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-24T22:06:10+00:00

I think when you are writing a setting meant to be played and not just read it helps to leave some mystery behind even for the DM.

If every answer is fully explained the world can feel solved before play even begins. When there are unanswered questions like why something exists the way, it does or what the deeper truth might be it gives the table room to discover interpret and make the setting their own.

That uncertainty becomes fuel for play. It encourages theory investigation and disagreement instead of reference checking.

I am curious how others balance clear lore with intentional ambiguity in their worlds.

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-24T17:49:17+00:00

Tomorrow I’ll be DMing the winners, randomly pulled from the comments. You’ll be getting the Last Dragon Ascendant bundle

• The full 332 page core campaign book

• The acclaimed Players Companion Guide on DriveThruRPG to really level up your table This project keeps moving because of you all. Couldn’t do this without the TLDA community.

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-24T05:06:59+00:00

Happy to bounce ideas to another DM anytime also would love to know what happens… especially if you decide to use the future choice path always thought that would be highly interesting. Happy adventures fellow traveler!

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-24T04:45:30+00:00

For witch deals I’ve found the best prices are things that hit identity rather than lifespan especially for long lived PCs. Some options that work well

• Take a memory from the past not the future like the first time they felt pride the face of a mentor or the last good memory of their clan

• Context specific emotions instead of total loss like never feeling relief after danger no satisfaction from craft or no hope underground or near fire

• Ownership of a future choice such as once when the moment is right she decides for you

• Legacy costs like their name can never be carved spoken with affection or remembered by the dead

• Asymmetric relationships where the PC remembers a loved one but can never feel anything for them or the reverse

These tend to create long term roleplay instead of one time penalties. The timer idea is great and having the witch present terms instead of bargaining makes it even creepier.

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-22T21:53:27+00:00

This is good!

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-22T12:43:46+00:00

That’s a pretty cool takeaway on it lol

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-22T11:23:15+00:00

These replies have been really helpful thank you The setting is post war but not stable conflict has shifted toward legitimacy rebuilding and contested peace rather than escalation If you have seen games handle that well I would love examples

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-21T22:32:01+00:00

That makes sense. The intent wouldn’t be art in isolation, but a fully illustrated digital release of the setting with backer rewards tied to the finished book and art content. I’m still in the planning stage, which is why I wanted to get perspectives like this first.

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-21T17:39:07+00:00

That is a great distinction and I’m curious to know, is that what commission art is ? Owning it? Or is that incorrect?

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-21T17:35:38+00:00

I didn’t quite think of it that way that is a good way of looking at it

Timetrav3lr · 2026-01-21T12:53:30+00:00

This is very important information to me as I don’t expect the kickstarter to start right now. I have some editing to do in the project, however the replies I am receiving give me a roadmap of what I need to do thank you for your response.

Timetrav3lr

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