The Haves and Have Nots: A Roundup of November’s RPG Blog Carnival
During November 2024 I hosted the RPG Blog Carnival and chose the theme of the Haves and Have Nots: Writing Social Classes in Fantasy Worlds. It explored the fault lines of power—who has it, who wants it, and who suffers in its absence. From revolutions in the streets to noble houses built on magic and blood, these contributions examined the structures that shape society and the people who push against them.
Some focused on the struggles of the overlooked, those left to scrape by in the margins while lords and wizards tighten their grip. Others explored systems of control, where magic, wealth, or ancestry define a person’s fate. And some told stories of change in motion—the fires of rebellion, the shifting tides of power, and the slow, inevitable upheaval of tradition.
Each post offers a glimpse into these dynamics, whether through worldbuilding, mechanics, or storytelling. Let’s take a look at how different creators tackled this theme and what we can take from their insights.
PS: I would like to apologize for the lateness; I've been struggling with mental health issues and am just barelt climbing back from the abyss.
The Fallen in Tribes in the Dark - Crafting a Nuanced Narrative of Oppression and Resilience
by Aggregate Cognizance
🔗 Read it here!
The world isn’t built for everyone. Some people own the land, control the laws, shape the stories, while others are forgotten, discarded, or erased. This post is a stark look at those who live in the margins, the ones who never had a chance but still find ways to survive. It offers a grounded, often sobering perspective on what it means to exist outside the structures of power—perfect for GMs crafting settings where inequality isn’t just an aesthetic choice, but a fundamental reality.
Social Class and Conflict in the Sea of Stars – Who Holds the Reins?
by Sea of Stars RPG
🔗 Read it here!
Power is not just a crown or a title—it’s control over resources, knowledge, and opportunity. This post explores how social class shapes conflict, from the struggles of commoners to the infighting of the elite. It’s an insightful look at how social structures drive adventure and a great guide for GMs looking to make class divisions feel like a living part of their world rather than just background detail.
In Which We Revolt – The Spark Before the Fire
by DM’s Escritoire
🔗 Read it here!
No system lasts forever. Every empire, every kingdom, every noble house has a breaking point—a moment when the people at the bottom decide they’ve had enough. This post explores the mechanics of revolution, showing how discontent grows, how rebellion spreads, and how the powerful react when the ground starts shifting beneath them. Whether you’re designing a setting on the brink of collapse or running a campaign where players can shape the course of history, this is a fantastic resource.
Arcane Practitioners of the Sunset Isles – Magic as Privilege
by The Rob Goblin
🔗 Read it here!
Not all power is political—some of it is written into the fabric of reality. In the Sunset Isles, magic isn’t just a skill, it’s a symbol of status, a tool of control, and a gatekeeping mechanism. Who has access to magic? Who decides how it’s used? And what happens to those who try to wield it without permission? This post digs into these questions, making it a must-read for worldbuilders who want to explore the intersection of magic and class.
The Lord’s Funeral – The Power Vacuum
by Seed of Worlds
🔗 Read it here!
A noble dies. The world does not stop—it shifts, it stirs, it waits to see who will rise next. This post explores what happens when power is suddenly up for grabs, focusing on succession struggles, political intrigue, and the hidden forces that shape history. If you want to run a campaign of shifting allegiances and quiet battles fought in back rooms, this post will give you plenty of inspiration.
Hirelings Reprise – The Ones Who Do the Work
by A Swamp in Space
🔗 Read it here!
Adventurers go down into dungeons, but they don’t do it alone. There’s always someone carrying the torches, packing the supplies, holding the horses. This post is a reminder that hirelings and workers exist in every world, and their struggles can be just as compelling as those of heroes and villains. If you want to tell stories where the background figures step into the spotlight, this post is an excellent starting point.
Mini-Campaign Setting: Gunpowder in Anglia – When Innovation Shakes the World
by Elemental Reductions
🔗 Read it here!
What happens when old power meets new technology? This three-hex mini-campaign setting explores a world where gunpowder has arrived, but feudal traditions still hold strong. It’s a setting of shifting power, military upheaval, and social change, perfect for games that focus on the tension between old and new, stability and progress, control and chaos.
Final Thoughts – The Shifting Scales of Power
This month’s RPG Blog Carnival has been an exploration of the worlds we build and the structures that shape them. Some focused on the machinery of control, the forces that keep the powerful in place. Others looked at what happens when that power is challenged, whether by revolution, ambition, or simple survival.
No society is static. Power moves, changes, is lost and taken, fought for and stolen. These posts remind us that the best worlds feel alive, that the best stories come from the cracks in the system, the people caught between, the ones who struggle, fail, rise, and fall.
A huge thanks to all the contributors—your insights have made this month’s theme richer, more complex, and more compelling. Now go forth, build your worlds, and let power shift as it always does.
