{"id":85,"date":"2026-02-09T21:59:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T21:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deathstarinc.com\/?p=85"},"modified":"2026-02-09T21:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T21:59:17","slug":"beyond-conan-a-dms-guide-to-modern-sword-sorcery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deathstarinc.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/09\/beyond-conan-a-dms-guide-to-modern-sword-sorcery\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Conan: A DM’s Guide to Modern Sword & Sorcery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A brief departure from our regularly scheduled Imperial programming…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a longtime Dungeon Master, I’m always hunting for fresh source material. Sure, I’ve read Conan, Elric, and Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser more times than I can count, but running campaigns year after year demands new inspiration\u2014new characters, new conflicts, new ways heroes can solve problems with steel and wit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news? The pulp tradition isn’t dead. There’s a thriving community of sword and sorcery writers keeping heroic fantasy alive in magazines that would feel right at home next to Weird Tales<\/em> on a newsstand circa 1930.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently came across this excellent guide<\/a> from The Literary Fantasy Magazine<\/em>, and it’s opened up a whole new world of reading material. Here are the highlights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Active Magazines Worth Your Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Savage Realms Monthly<\/strong> – Published monthly (just like the old pulps!) and available on Kindle Unlimited. This is where modern S&S authors cut their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sword & Sorcery Magazine<\/strong> – Free, monthly web publication with over 160 issues in their archives. That’s years<\/em> of material. They run on Patreon support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tales From the Magician’s Skull<\/strong> – Now published by Outland Entertainment, this one nails the classic pulp aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Edge Sword & Sorcery<\/strong> – Takes the classic formula but pushes boundaries with inclusive storytelling. Issue 0 is free, and their physical editions have gorgeous interior design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battleborn Magazine<\/strong> – Brand new to the scene (first issue drops February 2026) and already building a strong community. They ran a successful IndieGoGo campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goblins and Galaxies<\/strong> – Another newcomer that launched with an $18,000 Kickstarter. Two issues available now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Worth Checking Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n