A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Dead Emperors

Dead Emperors by Matt Sanders is a role playing game supplement published by The Sealed Library. This is described as a history building game, either standalone or to use for worldbuilding.

The supplement is available as a 16-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $6 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers and one page is the front matter.

The first page of regular content is essentially prose. This is followed by In Life and In Death. For each a card is drawn which describes the monarch and their life and death.

How to Play explains that each monarch requires two draws, which ideally should be done by two people. Though it isn’t stated, it looks like this could also be done solo.

Draw One – In Life goes into more detail about the monarch. Draw Two – In Death gives more details about their death. Each requires a choice; a name for the first and a title for the second. The cards refer to tables.

When to Use Dead Emperors explains this is a solo worldbuilding exercise.

Codex of Legacies is the first table, about the monarch’s life. This has all 13 cards listed, followed by Theme & Idea, which has two sections, and then prompts.

Scroll of the Dead is the second table, about the monarch’s death, and is laid out the same.

Finally, there are two d36 (more normally called d66) tables, one of names the other of titles.

Dead Emperors in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, although not lengthy, these would have been appreciated. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a couple of what appear to be stock illustrations inside, together with more of the colours seen on the cover. Presentation is okay.

This is a fairly simple game, though one that requires a degree of journaling skill, and, as mentioned, could be used by one person during worldbuilding. At full price, though, this is quite an expensive game; there isn’t a lot of content for the included material. This is also a game type that won’t appear to everyone; those who don’t enjoy journaling games will likely not enjoy this. Dead Emperors is a rather expensive game to get at full price and it can be found by clicking here.