Epic

Epic

Think of council fires, sieges, starfields, ancient prophecies, and maps spread across the table. Your party makes oaths, forges alliances, and rides from chapter to chapter as the seasons change. A session might leap from a desperate last stand to a quiet moment where a crown is offered. Or from a comet sighting to a treaty signed years later. You pursue artefacts, rally kingdoms, and name your banners. Every choice can shift a continent, a fleet, or a faith. The scale continues to grow until the final decision.

Epic works because group goals are clear and shared. Everyone has a role to play: front-line heroes, diplomats, scouts, sages. Long arcs reward teamwork and table talk. It is ideal for ongoing campaigns, and a one-shot can highlight a pivotal chapter. Beginners appreciate clear stakes if a professional Game Master guides the rules and pacing. Families enjoy fairy-tale grandeur. Teams use it to practise planning and communication. Veterans love slow-burn payoffs, layered politics, and battles that feel earned.

Our Game Masters run epic stories in Dungeons & Dragons 5E, Pathfinder 2e, The One Ring, Fate Core, Ironsworn, and many space opera or mythic variants. The tone is yours: noble and hopeful, tragic and harsh, or grounded and political. We can zoom in on character vows, or out to command wars and councils. Expect time jumps, travel montages, and milestones that mark eras. Visit the game systems overview.

Common questions

How does Epic differ from high fantasy or adventure?

In Epic games, the scope is broader and the clock runs longer. Choices impact individuals, nations, and even eras. Scenes often shift from personal vows to statecraft, from journeys to pivotal councils. Expect time jumps that reveal consequences and new fronts emerging. Combat remains important, but logistics, diplomacy, and symbolism hold equal significance. High fantasy or adventure typically follows a party through a series of locations or quests. Epic weaves those quests into history. It can be fantasy, sci-fi, or mythic. The distinction lies in scale and legacy.

Which game systems are best suited for Epic play?

For Epic play, select rules that cater to both character drama and overarching moves. Popular choices include Dungeons and Dragons 5E, Pathfinder 2e, The One Ring, Fate Core, Ironsworn, and various space opera or mythic toolkits. More complex systems provide detailed battles and travel mechanics, while narrative systems facilitate smooth time skips and alliances. Communicate your desired balance to a professional Game Master, whether it’s mass combat, intrigue, or exploration. They will recommend a suitable system. If you wish to explore options, check the game systems overview.

What does an Epic one-shot entail?

A single session revolves around a pivotal event. You might begin in a war room, at a coronation, or on the final bridge before an invasion. The table receives a quick overview of factions and stakes. Play dives straight into tough decisions, with brief flashbacks or montages to illustrate how you arrived at this point. It typically concludes with an epilogue that clarifies the aftermath. Our Game Masters utilise prebuilt characters or rapid creation with shared objectives. This format is ideal for newcomers, teams, and mixed groups.

Do we need to manage kingdoms or lead armies?

Only if you want to. Epic can include commands, supplies, maps, and units, but it can also keep wars offscreen while your heroes tackle key missions. Many tables mix both, zooming out for strategy and then zooming in for scenes on the ground. A professional Game Master will set up simple tools for large-scale outcomes or run detailed operations if you enjoy that depth. Let your Game Master know your comfort level with bookkeeping and tactics. For styles that emphasise story, tactics, or balance, see GM playstyles.

Booking Form


Click to select dates

0/1500
Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Sent!

Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Nat 1, give it another go!

Please try again or email info@storyforgers.ie

Game systems for Epic

  • Daggerheart

    • High Fantasy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Daggerheart is a high-fantasy RPG where every roll involves Hope and Fear d12s. Grand heroics intertwine with significant consequences in quick, narrative-driven gameplay.

    View system: Daggerheart
  • Fabula Ultima

    • Anime +5
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Fabula Ultima brings classic JRPG drama to your table. Join forces for grand battles, daring magic, and deep connections in a tale reminiscent of Final Fantasy. Ideal for those seeking vibrant heroes, intense emotions, and high fantasy stakes with an anime flair.

    View system: Fabula Ultima
  • The One Ring

    • High Fantasy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Traverse the paths of Middle-earth in The One Ring, the official tabletop RPG inspired by Tolkien. With low magic, deep lore, and hard-won hope, every journey is shaped. Assemble a Company and face the wilderness, councils, and battles in tales that resonate with The Lord of the Rings.

    View system: The One Ring
  • 13th Age

    • High Fantasy +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    13th Age is a fast-paced, story-driven fantasy game based on the classic d20 system. You play as daring heroes connected to influential Icons, whose rivalries influence your adventures, politics, and conflicts. Imagine The Lord of the Rings with grander actions and cinematic battles, ideal for groups seeking excitement and intrigue.

    View system: 13th Age
  • Exalted

    • Mythological +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • In-depth rules

    Play as legendary heroes and demigods in a fantastical realm of ancient empires, ravenous spirits, and fierce martial arts. Imagine Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon intertwined with myth. Make daring decisions, overthrow tyrants, and transform the landscape with swordplay, sorcery, and miracles.

    View system: Exalted
  • RuneQuest

    • Mythological +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • In-depth rules

    RuneQuest offers a mythic Bronze Age adventure set in Glorantha, where gods, spirits, and clans influence every decision. Imagine The Iliad infused with runes and spears. With percentile skills, intense hit location combat, and cult-specific magic, each victory feels hard-won and unforgettable.

    View system: RuneQuest
  • Pendragon

    • Arthurian +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Pendragon places you in King Arthur’s Britain as a noble or flawed knight defined by honour, love, and duty. Think The Once and Future King. Embark on quests through battles and courtly intrigue, swear oaths, and witness your household flourish across generations.

    View system: Pendragon
  • Scion

    • Mythological +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Scion allows you to embody contemporary heroes with divine lineage, navigating the balance between ordinary life and myth. Imagine Percy Jackson as an adult. Confront monsters, deal with the favour or wrath of the gods, and make difficult decisions regarding power and destiny, all under the guidance of a professional Game Master.

    View system: Scion
  • Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Soulbound

    • High Fantasy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Stand as legendary heroes entwined by destiny in Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Soulbound. Embark on quests across the Mortal Realms, confronting Chaos, creatures, and deranged deities. If you appreciate the epic scale of God of War, you will relish this swift, heroic team play with a skilled Game Master.

    View system: Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Soulbound

What players have to say

  • Tom was brilliant! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did an excellent job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a significant portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't fully understand how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his deep knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided a brilliant experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was really engaging. I got a game as a present for my boyfriend, who is very keen on it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was an excellent GM who adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided, as they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left the game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another session with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players fully immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A nice and clear first experience with D&D. Amber was able to explain and guide the game effectively, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack routes was an enjoyable activity and provided great insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

Related genres

Black diagonal cross icon, commonly used to close popups or dismiss notifications on websites.

We’re Looking for Dungeon Masters!

StoryForgers is seeking enthusiastic and imaginative Dungeon Masters to become part of our team.
Are you interested?