I’ve always been a fan of Greek mythology when it comes to RPGs – especially with new gamers and kids. The reasons are simple:
- It’s a world everyone understands. “Zeus is angry at us? Got it.”
- There are plenty of opportunities for adventure, including monsters, gods, and epic quests.
- Mythology doesn’t demand a complicated ruleset. You don’t need tons of classes, spells, sanity rules, or detailed combat options to make this genre work.
It’s also a very customizable genre. Want to play up horror? Easy, welcome to the underworld. Want to tilt into politics? So many opportunities with city-states. Like grittier combat? No problem… bronze swords and spears were nasty.
I bet the mass appeal of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey probably comes from many of those same strengths. It’s familiar, it’s epic, and has its own style. Not to mention a great director that gives me a feeling Nolan would be a phenomenal GM… sign me up as a player!
So here’s two loosely-connected Greek myth adventures you can find for FREE on this site, available in multiple game systems (D&D, OSR, GURPS, etc.). If you’re a fan of The Odyssey, Ray Harryhausen, or just epic legends you may want to check these out:
The Honey Tree of Pelion
In The Honey Tree of Pelion, a king’s pride brings disaster upon his people, forcing the heroes on a perilous quest to the legendary slopes of Mount Pelion, where divine honey, impossible labors, and the gods themselves stand between them and salvation. Learn more and download it here.
The Scourge of Triton
In The Scourge of Triton an insult to the god of the sea has condemned Argos to destruction. With only three days to stop a monstrous boar, the heroes race through bustling cities, across storm-tossed seas, and into the Underworld itself in search of the only weapons capable of saving the kingdom. Learn more and download it here.
Together, these adventures evoke the feel of classic Greek mythology: proud kings whose hubris invites divine wrath, impossible quests, memorable monsters, and heroic deeds worthy of an epic poem. They’re written to capture the spirit of The Odyssey and Jason and the Argonauts while remaining fast-paced, easy to run, and full of meaningful choices for the players.
Interestingly, these two make up a trilogy, but I haven’t gotten around to finishing it. If you’ve played in these adventures, let me know in the comments below what you’re experience was. Also, do you have a favorite Greek mythology-set adventure? Let me know in the comments below!
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