Dinosaurs for Your Roleplaying Campaign
I’ve been fascinated by dinosaurs since an eighth grade science class introduced us to these amazing animals. Dinosaurs, large reptiles, and ancient birds inhabited the land, the skies, and the oceans. The potential for roleplaying adventure is limitless. Use these resources to include dinosaurs in your next roleplaying campaign.
Dinosaur Stories for a Full Campaign
Long before my interest in dinosaurs was ignited, others found the ancient world to be fertile grounds for their imaginations. There are several novels on Project Gutenberg and Librivox that today’s famous authors have cited as their inspiration.
The Lost World
From Project Gutenberg, “The story revolves around the ambitious Edward Malone, who seeks to prove himself worthy of love from Gladys, a woman who craves a partner capable of grand adventures. His quest for heroism leads him to an encounter with Professor Challenger, who claims to have discovered a prehistoric land filled with extraordinary creatures.”
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Join Professor Von Hardwigg, his nephew Harry, and their trusted guide Hans as they journey through a way-portal to a vast sea deep underground land. Their adventures across the subterranean sea include marine reptiles, dinosaurs, and ancestors of early mankind.
Dinosaurs on Television and Dinosaurs in the Movies
With novels like The Lost World and Journey to the Center of the Earth as a base, it was only a matter of time before dinosaurs made their way to television and to the movies. The visuals make dinosaurs perfect for the movies and for your next scene.
Dinosaurs in the Movies
- The Lost World (1925)
- King Kong (1933)
- The Valley of Gwangi (1969) by legendary Ray Harryhausen
- When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)
- The Land That Time Forgot (1974)
- Jurassic Park (1993)
The king of dinosaur movies has to be the Jurassic Park franchise. With six movies, dozens of characters, and the Tyrannosaurus rex, the Jurassic Park books and movies have raised billions of dollars over thirty years. - The Lost World (2001)
- Dinotopia (2002)
- King Kong (2005)
The Peter Jackson King Kong movie from 2005 was filled with all manner of dinosaurs and giant creatures. The mythology of Kong was enhanced to make the great apes protectors of Skull Island. - Journey to the Center of the Earth (2007)
Starring superstar Brendan Fraser, the movie followed the general plot of the novel with a Jurassic Park type twist. It is light on dinosaurs, but it is big on 3d glasses adventure.
If you are searching for ideas for your next dinosaur themed roleplaying adventure, consider the plots from these movies for hours of dinosaur fun.
Dinosaur Adventure Modules for Roleplaying
The Untrodden Ways is based on the Ironsworn game-engine. If you don’t mind playing with another system, there are plenty of dinosaur games, dinosaur adventure modules, and dinosaur bestiaries available on DriveThruRPG.
Dinosaurs of the Lost Valley
Dinosaurs in Urban Fantasy
Does including dinosaurs work in an Urban Fantasy setting? Readers of the Dresden Files would say ‘absolutely’. Cryptozoologists would say Nessie is a plesiosaurus.
We can easily imagine an ancient world where Forest Folk road dinosaurs of all sizes from Tyrannosaurs to Pteranodons instead of horses and dragons. Maybe there were ancient Fae kingdoms that were destroyed when the asteroid hit the Earth. The Fae fled to the Untrodden Ways leaving the dinosaurs to their fate.
