The Badlands of Uzul: Worldbuilding with Basic Fantasy RPG

Introduction

In the untamed continent of Uzul, survival is a dance of strength, wit, and luck. From the sun-scorched deserts of the south to the snow-draped mountains of the north, factions clash, alliances form and shatter, and the very earth whispers secrets long forgotten. This is the Badlands of Uzul—a harsh frontier where demigods walk among mortals, and even the shadows hold their breath. In this world of endless conflict and discovery, factions vie for power, and adventurers must rely on wit and strength to survive. Using the Basic Fantasy RPG system, I’ve crafted a solo RPG campaign that brings this untamed land to life.

Geography & Climate

Uzul, an isolated continent, is divided into four regions: North, South, East, and West. Each boasts its own geography, climates, and dangers:

• Northern Uzul: Verdant forests and temperate highlands under the watchful eye of the Divine Legion, home to the crystal-clear waters of Lake Netai.

• Southern Uzul: Arid deserts and dense jungles teeming with Dark Abyss factions and ancient ruins.

• Eastern and Western Uzul: Vast, untamed lands where resources abound, but dangers lurk in every shadow, such as the dreaded Broken Lands, shrouded in eternal fog.

The Three Factions

1. The Divine Legion

   1. “To walk in the light of Vumar is to carry the past as a beacon, not a burden.”

   2. “Light, truth, and order shall prevail,” say the knights of the Divine Legion, though their reach falters in the face of the unknown.

   3. History: Five separate factions were forced together for mutual survival and have been united since the last great war a century ago.

   4. Composed of humans, high elves, wood elves, dwarfs, gnomes and halflings, they seek to bring civilization and justice to Uzul.

   5. The Light Races worship Vumar God of Life, Ona Goddess of Nature, Nariko Goddess of the Astral Realm and Arcane Magic; as well as the 3 remaining gods.

2. The Dark Abyss

   1. “In shadow, there is strength,” Imus, death god of the Dark Abyss. “And in chaos, we thrive.”

   2. "A bad servant will not make a good master."

   3. Made up of orcs, mountain orcs, goblins, boglins, ,hobgoblins, trolls, and dark elves.

   4. Most follow Imus, God of Death, Khutu God of Duality, Sylthar Shadow of the Wild.
      

3. The Neutral Factions

   1. “We are the land,” whisper the shamans of Sylthar. “And the land is us.”

   2. “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

   3. Comprised of Anubians, Lizardfolk, Gnolls, Frogfolk, and the Karkai; they walk a delicate line between survival and self-preservation.

   4. Primarily worship Ona the Goddess of Nature, Sylthar Shadow of the Wild, Nariko Goddess of the Astral Realm and Arcane Magic

Acrylic on Paper by Brent Skillicorn

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explored how Basic Fantasy RPG is an ideal system for crafting custom campaigns and story settings. Its lightweight, old-school design appeals to my roots in Basic Dungeons & Dragons and AD&D, but it also offers flexibility for modern solo play.

Tools like The Solo Adventurer’s Toolbox were essential in the early stages, helping me balance the roles of player and GM while offering a great selection of magic, monsters and more for my custom setting, The Badlands of Uzul.

Whether you prefer physical books or digital PDFs, these resources make worldbuilding and solo RPGs accessible and rewarding. I grew up playing Basic Dungeons & Dragons, and AD&D so I am probably biased towards OSR - Old School Revival or Renaissance. What systems or tools have you used in your own campaigns? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!

Used the Basic Fantasy Morgansfort Map as Inspiration for my Sketch

About Basic Fantasy RPG and Customizations

Basic Fantasy RPG s an open-source tabletop role-playing game system inspired by old-school mechanics, blending simplicity with flexibility. Its lightweight design makes it ideal for solo play and worldbuilding projects like The Badlands of Uzul. While staying true to the core rules, I customized the system to fit Uzul’s unique tone and themes.

Key Resources I used/am currently using:

• Core Rules: The foundation of the game, providing streamlined mechanics, character creation, monsters, treasure, everything you need to run Basic Fantasy RPG.

• Field Guide: A treasure trove of addition creatures like the Moon Goblins and Mountain Orcs as well as the Ogre Magi added depth to my world.

• The Equipment Emporium: A detailed guide to additional weapons, gear, and mounts which I used to reflect the resourcefulness of adventurers in Uzul’s wild terrain.

• The Solo Adventurer’s Toolbox (by Paul Bimler): An invaluable resource for solo play, offering oracles, random tables, and tools that helped me overcome early challenges in balancing the dual role of player and GM. The Solo Adventurer’s Toolbox allowed me to create dynamic encounters for Sathu’s journey through the jungle ruins of Southern Uzul.

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The following is a comprehensive list of optional supplements I used to customize my campaign, all of which are available for free on the Basic Fantasy RPG website:

• Assassins: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 6by Eric C. Medders, Martín Serena, and Chris Gonnerman
  

• Barbarians: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 6

  by Luigi Castellani
  

• Druids: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 12
  

• Illusionists: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 9
  

• Necromancers: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 11

  by R. Kevin Smoot and Mike West
  

• Quasi Classes: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 8
  

• Rangers and Paladins: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 4by Chris Gonnerman and Wynter Sturtevant III
  

• Scouts: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 5by Jason Brentlinger
  

• Spellcrafters: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 11by Luigi Castellani and Mike West
  

• Gnomes: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 7by Chris Gonnerman
  

• New Races: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 3by Kevin Scott
  

• 0 Level Spells: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 5by Sidney Parham, Nazim Karaca, R. Kevin Smoot, Chris Kutalik, Steveman, Felipe Suárez, and Chris Gonnerman
  

• Background Skills: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 2by Omer Golan-Joel
  

• Combat Options: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 5by Chris Gonnerman
  

• New Spells: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 9

  New 7th level spells for Magic-Users and Clerics.
  

• Secondary Skills - A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 3by Ray Allen
  

• Thief Options: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 3by Luigi Castellani
  

• Magic-User Options: A Basic Fantasy Supplement - Release 3by Tom Hoyt and Chris Gonnerman
  

• BF1 Morgansfort: The Western Lands Campaign - Release 43 An Adventure Series For 2-8 Beginner Characters
  

• DC1 Tales From the Laughing Dragon - Release 27 by David Gerald - This is a starter module for a group of beginning player characters, presented as three sequential adventures set in the Dragonclaw Barony.

These are free and can be found at Basic Fantasy RPG.