Lost Civilizations & Ruins: How to Use Fallen Empires for TTRPG Worldbuilding

Lost Civilizations & Ruins: How to Use Fallen Empires for TTRPG Worldbuilding

Author: Josh Varty and Kristoffer Hansen August 15, 2025 Duration: 37:13

Lost Civilizations

One of my least favorite tropes. 

What is a lost civilization? Not just Atlantis. Think of Eberron's giant ruins of Xen'drik, Skyrim's Dwemer, or Dark Souls' pile of forgotten kingdoms.


Why are they useful in fantasy?


  • Instantly adds history and depth
  • Allows the GM/author to worldbuild without explaining everything
  • Great excuse for dungeons, relics, and magic that no one understands

Storytelling functions:


  • Symbol of hubris
  • Cautionary tale
  • Blank canvas for player projection

What do survivors remember? Oral traditions? Sacred ruins? Cursed bloodlines?


Are they really gone?


  • Sleeper gods or AI still running background processes
  • Interdimensional echoes (like Shadow of the Colossus meets Echo Night)
  • The civilization lives on… just not physically (digital ghosts, psychic imprints, inherited trauma)

D&D examples: The Netherese Empire, the Sulat League (fiendish magic-scientists), or the ruins in Chult—each has different “flavor” of forgotten-ness

What happens when modern civilizations try to revive or claim these ruins?


  • Colonial critique: Who has the right to explore or excavate the past?
  • Techno-magic horror: The past isn’t just misunderstood—it’s wrong
  • Factions and relics: Everyone wants the magic battery that powers a floating city. Nobody knows how to stop it once it wakes up

Fun Hooks:


  • A city that grew up inside a dead god’s ribcage (lol)
  • A forgotten language that causes madness when spoken aloud
  • A vault that only opens if you betray someone you love


In No Plot, Only Lore, hosts Josh Varty and Kristoffer Hansen settle in for a conversation that feels like pulling up a chair at a familiar table. Their focus is the intricate, often messy, and deeply rewarding world of collaborative storytelling games, examining them not as rulebooks to be won but as frameworks for shared imagination. Each episode digs into the craft behind these experiences-how a setting’s history shapes a character’s decision, why a particular game mechanic fosters better stories, or what it means to build a narrative together without a predetermined endpoint. You’ll hear two seasoned practitioners reflect on the subtle art of being a player and a guide, discussing the tools and philosophies that transform a simple game night into a memorable saga. This podcast is for anyone who has ever gotten lost in a character’s backstory or spent more time discussing a campaign’s lore than actually rolling dice. It’s a thoughtful, meandering, and personal look at the stories we tell when we play, offering insights that resonate long after the session ends. Join Josh and Kristoffer for a deep, comfortable dive into the heart of why we gather to imagine together.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 93

No Plot, Only Lore
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