When today’s #RPGaDay2024 prompt asks for a “roleplaying game with well-supported campaigns,” I can’t help but suspect they’re nudging us to think about settings that come with a library of sourcebooks and adventures. But I want to take a slightly different angle today. Let’s talk about published campaigns—the kind that aren’t just well-supported but are practically legendary in their scope and influence.

And yes, for a change, I’m going to talk about other people’s games. I know, shocker.

Masks of Nyarlathotep for Call of Cthulhu

If there’s a campaign that has set the bar for what a roleplaying experience should be, it’s Masks of Nyarlathotep for Call of Cthulhu. This isn’t just a campaign; it’s an endurance test for both players and gamemasters, a globe-trotting nightmare that stretches sanity and survival to their limits. The campaign is vast, sprawling across continents, cultures, and, if I’m honest, some truly horrifying mental landscapes.

Masks of Nyarlathotep isn’t for the faint of heart. It demands commitment, not just in terms of time but in emotional investment. You could run this thing for years and still find yourself discovering new ways to terrify your players. It’s the campaign that keeps on giving—nightmares, that is.

What makes Masks particularly inspiring to me is the level of detail and the sheer audacity of its design. Each location within the campaign feels meticulously crafted, with rich characters, intricate plot threads, and just enough eldritch horror to keep everyone on edge. It’s the kind of campaign that dares you to dig deeper, to unravel the mysteries at your own peril.

I have to admit, this campaign has influenced my own work in more ways than I can count. The way it weaves together storylines across different locales, and how it gives players a sense of agency while still keeping them on a predetermined path, is nothing short of brilliant. Masks doesn’t just throw you into the deep end; it ties a weight around your ankles and gives you a gentle shove.

The Great Pendragon Campaign for Pendragon

Then there’s The Great Pendragon Campaign for Pendragon, which is a different beast altogether. While Masks of Nyarlathotep is about survival and horror, Pendragon offers something grander—a multi-generational epic that spans decades of in-game time. This campaign is the definition of ambitious, and it’s one of the few that truly captures the idea of a living, breathing world (setting!) where your actions have long-lasting consequences.

The Great Pendragon Campaign takes you from the rise of King Arthur to the tragic fall of Camelot, with all the knightly deeds, courtly intrigue, and bloody battles you could ever want. And when I say it takes you there, I mean it. This isn’t a campaign you finish in a few sessions or even a few years. It’s designed to be played out over the entire lifespan of your characters, and then some. Your original character’s grandchildren could be the ones to see the story to its conclusion.

It’s not just the scale of Pendragon that’s impressive, though. It’s the emotional depth. The campaign forces you to confront the inevitability of time, the passage of generations, and the bittersweet nature of legacy. You’re not just playing out the rise and fall of a kingdom; you’re playing out the rise and fall of your own lineage, watching as the ideals and flaws of one generation influence the next.

As someone who’s spent a good chunk of my life thinking about roleplaying as a tool for storytelling, The Great Pendragon Campaign has always been a touchstone. It’s a masterclass in how to use the medium to tell stories that resonate on a personal level while still engaging with the epic scope of myth and history.

Why These Campaigns Matter

Both Masks of Nyarlathotep and The Great Pendragon Campaign show what’s possible when you go beyond the typical campaign format. They’re not just about running a few adventures in a shared world. They’re about creating experiences that linger, that challenge both the players and the gamemaster, and that leave a lasting impact long after the dice have been put away.

So, when I think about roleplaying games with well-supported campaigns, these are the ones that come to mind. Not just because they’re extensive or detailed, but because they’re inspiring. They’ve set a standard that I, and many others, continue to aspire to in our own work. They’re proof that a campaign can be more than just a series of adventures—it can be a journey, one that stays with you for a lifetime.