200 Word RPGs 2025
Each November, some people try to write a novel. Others would prefer to do as little writing as possible. For those who wish to challenge their ability to not write, we offer this alternative: producing a complete, playable roleplaying game in two hundred words or fewer.
This is the submission thread for the 2025 event, running from November 1st, 2025 through November 30th, 2025. Submission guidelines can be found in this blog's pinned post, here.
BLAZE OF GLORY
A game about building something beautiful, senseless violence, and the unfairness of it all.
Gather as many six-sided dice as you can, or care to, whichever is less.
You are a CIVILIZATION. Name yourself, and your first LEADER.
Your LEADER has a POPULATION of size three, represented by as many dice. During their reign, your POPULATION rolls their dice.
Any dice that match another are used for WAR. Total their values, and attribute it as GLORY to your LEADER.
Any remaining dice count their total towards PROSPERITY instead.
Determine your LEADER's legacy.
Replace your LEADER by another and name them. They do not yet have GLORY or PROSPERITY. Their POPULATION has a size equal to the last LEADER's PROSPERITY.
Repeat.
Play until PROSPERITY reaches zero, or until you get bored.
Your CIVILIZATION has collapsed. How many generations did it last? What will the survivors write about you? Who was your most GLORIOUS LEADER? Did they deserve it?
Optional: Multiplayer Everyone sits in a circle and controls their own CIVILIZATION. Play simultaneously. Any POPULATION used in WAR prevent dice with the same value from contributing PROSPERITY for the players to your left and right. The CIVILIZATION that outlasts the others wins.
