Legends of Lang'Kor

 If you're here, you might already know that I'm working on a table-top role playing game called Legends of Lang'Kor, but for the benefit of the lucky few who've stumbled upon this blog, here's an introduction to the game.

Realism

In Legends of Lang'Kor, you’ll step into the shoes of an adventurer rooted in a defined medieval society. If you're coming from other RPGs, you’ll notice a shift in priorities when it comes to playing and creating your adventurer. Unlike other systems, your adventurer's appearance and social rank play a significant role in how NPC interactions unfold, adding layers of realism and immersion.

Character Creation

Character creation is free from traditional classes and tropes. You aren’t pigeon-holed into predefined roles. Your adventurer could be an archer who also dabbles in alchemy or a thief whose parents are still alive. Since the game is skill-based, you have the freedom to mix and match any skills to create your ideal adventurer. This flexibility allows you to craft unique characters and strategies to overcome the challenges ahead.

Game System

The majority of gameplay revolves around testing skills, even in combat. With a broad range of skills available, some covering many situations and others being highly specialized, you’ll find that progression requires more than just adventuring—it requires dedication. Improving your skills means taking time away from adventuring to find a teacher, enroll in a training venue, or teaching yourself through practice. This is one way Legends of Lang'Kor dips into the simulation genre, creating a realistic experience where your adventurer doesn’t simply wake up stronger after gaining a certain number of experience points.

Resource management is another key aspect of the game. You won’t just be managing hit points—you’ll need to ensure your adventurer has enough food, water, and money to survive. Thankfully, the system simplifies these needs into daily requirements: 1 food unit and 1 drink unit. This element adds depth to the game, making decisions about resources as important as combat strategies.

Trainiding Days are used to progress your adventurer’s skills. You accrue training days by adventuring—whether exploring dungeons, battling monsters, or trekking through the wilderness. This system takes the focus away from combat encounters alone, rewarding all aspects of adventuring equally. It encourages creativity and exploration, giving you the freedom to engage with the world beyond just fighting.

Running the Game

Legends of Lang'Kor can be described as a sandbox-style game, though it doesn’t limit you to just that approach. The game world presented in the rules provides an open-ended play style, where travelling and interacting with NPCs is an intrinsic part of the experience. Your party’s journeys, even on paved roads, are as much a part of the adventure as the destinations. Random encounters along the way—whether they involve travellers, monsters, or unique landmarks—help make every journey unpredictable and exciting.

You don’t have to "cut to the chase." The journey itself should be part of the fun, filled with challenges and discoveries. But if your group prefers narrative-driven adventures or campaigns, the rules also support that. The key is balancing narrative with the game's simulation aspects, respecting resource management and the perils of adventuring. Adventuring in Legends of Lang'Kor is a dangerous business—every step of the journey should make adventurers feel the mounting peril as they traverse dangerous areas. Resource depletion is an ever-present challenge, not just during combat but throughout the entire adventure.

The rules as written are designed to take some weight off the GM’s shoulders, providing ample references for typical scenarios involving skills. The flexible skill system is capable of handling most situations that arise during gameplay. If an adventurer wants to perform an action that corresponds to a skill, they roll dice to determine the outcome. If there isn’t a skill associated with it, they can simply do it.
For example, if an adventurer asks what the weather is like while exploring the ruins of an old castle, you don’t need to call for a Weather Lore test. That would be unnecessary. But if they want to climb a crumbling wall to get a better view of the clouds overhead, that would require a Climbing skill test. This flexibility encourages creative problem-solving and makes every session feel dynamic and player-driven.

Current Status

Legends of Lang'Kor has been in development for about 2 years, going through many changes since its inception. As it stands, it will be released first on itch.io as a print-at-home game. Once it is released, it will be available here. Eventually, a softcover book will be made available.