Ludus Magnus Studio

What Ludus Magnus Studio does

Ludus Magnus Studio is an Italian board game publisher (legal entity: Ludus Magnus S.r.l.) founded in 2014 and headquartered in Rome, with a small operating team of 11-50 employees. The company designs, develops, and publishes premium tabletop board games, with a particular emphasis on highly detailed 3D-sculpted miniatures and original game mechanics. Its portfolio spans 20+ published titles, anchored by the Black Rose Wars franchise (Original, Rebirth, Revised Edition, and Duel variants) and the cohesive Nova Aetas Chronicles universe (Nova Aetas Renaissance, Runar, Trial of the Gods), alongside original IPs such as The Breach, Blood, Sine Tempore, DEI: Divide et Impera, and Dungeonology, plus a licensed adaptation of the Blasphemous video game. The studio's stated differentiators are miniature quality, premium manufacturing partnerships, and innovative mechanics, supported by multilingual product editions.

The business operates on a hybrid direct-to-consumer model combining crowdfunding launches (primarily via Kickstarter and Gamefound, with PledgeManager for fulfillment) and a proprietary e-commerce store (shop.ludusmagnusstudio.com). Pricing is unit-based, with core games at €60-€129, expansions at €9-€69, and premium miniature-inclusive editions commanding higher price points. The company is founder-controlled: Vincenzo Piscitelli is identified as founder, while Bernardini Luca serves as Sole Director (Amministratore Unico) and Mirizio Michele as General Administration Manager. There is no disclosed institutional funding; ownership is consistent with a self-financed independent studio. Distribution is executed through three regional third-party fulfillment partners covering the EU, USA/Canada, and Australia, enabling global reach from a single Italian base.

The GTM motion is event-driven, anchored by crowdfunding campaign launches that generate top-of-funnel awareness, with email newsletters, social media, and a companion WebApp (app.ludusmagnusstudio.com) providing ongoing community engagement. Customer segment is a single horizontal persona: tabletop gaming hobbyists seeking collector-quality, miniature-heavy games. Post-purchase engagement is reinforced through the Ashes Magazine, digital freebies (STL files, card PDFs), and a fan-made content program. No AI/ML, API, or platform-software offerings are disclosed; the technology stack is concentrated in 3D sculpting, miniature design, and a content-delivery WebApp rather than algorithmic products.

Name

Ludus Magnus Studio

Legal name

Ludus Magnus S.r.l.

Website

https://ludusmagnusstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ludus Magnus Studio is an Italian tabletop board game publisher (Rome, founded 2014) specializing in premium miniature-heavy games and original mechanics, serving hobbyist consumers globally through Kickstarter, Gamefound, and direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tabletop Board Games

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930), Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Wargaming Miniatures (Tabletop Armies) (CRALAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Miniature Gaming Accessories (Dice, Mats, Tokens, Measuring Tools) (CRALAKAL), Hobby Games & Miniatures Retail (Tabletop RPGs, Wargaming) (CRALAFAH), Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)

Keywords

• Tabletop board games
• Miniature games
• Crowdfunding game publishing
• Hobby game distribution
• Branded game merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through their own e-commerce platform (shop.ludusmagnusstudio.com) offering board games, expansions, miniatures, and accessories. Products are sold at various price points with periodic discounts.
2. Crowdfunding Campaigns: Game launches through Kickstarter and Gamefound platforms, with campaigns including stretch goals, exclusive items, and pledge manager fulfillment for backers.
3. Merchandising: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel and accessories under the Nova Aetas Chronicles line.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ludus Magnus Studio is an Italian board game publisher that designs, produces, and sells premium miniature-heavy tabletop games such as the Black Rose Wars franchise, the Nova Aetas Renaissance series, The Breach, Blood, Trial of the Gods, DEI: Divide et Impera, Sine Tempore, and Blasphemous – The Board Game. The studio pairs original game mechanics with detailed 3D-sculpted miniatures and premium components, launching new titles via Kickstarter and Gamefound crowdfunding before fulfilling through its own e-commerce shop and global fulfillment partners.

Product overview

Ludus Magnus Studio is an Italian board game publisher specializing in high-quality miniatures, competitive games with innovative mechanics, and detailed components. The product portfolio centers around their flagship titles including the Black Rose Wars franchise (Black Rose Wars, Black Rose Wars: Rebirth, Black Rose Wars: Duel variants), the Nova Aetas Chronicles universe (Nova Aetas Renaissance, Runar, Trial of the Gods), and original IPs (The Breach, Blood, DEI: Divide et Impera, Sine Tempore, Dungeonology, Haunted Lands, Chamber of Wonders). The company produces core board games as the primary offering, supported by expansion packs, standalone miniatures, artbooks, and the Ashes Magazine periodical. Products are distributed through crowdfunding platforms (Kickstarter, GameFound, Pledgemanager) and direct-to-consumer via their LMS Shop. The company emphasizes 3D sculpting, miniature quality, and original game mechanics as core differentiators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black Rose Wars Competitive fantasy deck-building board game set in the Nova Aetas universe where players control powerful mages competing to become the new Gran Maestro.
• Black Rose Wars: Rebirth Reboot of Black Rose Wars set 25 years later, featuring updated mechanics and the awakened Black Rose.
• Black Rose Wars: Duel Two-player competitive version of Black Rose Wars featuring duel formats like Kami, Lex, and Void.
• Black Rose Wars: Revised Edition Updated and revised version of the original Black Rose Wars with improved components and mechanics.
• Nova Aetas Renaissance Fantasy Italian Renaissance-themed board game featuring a mythical campaign based on historical events of the war between Rome and Venice in the early 1500s.
• The Breach Sci-fi themed board game featuring a massive centerpiece model and tactical gameplay.
• Runar Competitive Viking-themed board game for 1-4 players in the Nova Aetas Chronicles universe where players lead groups of Viking Heroes recovering mythical Runic Gems.
• Blasphemous – The Board Game Competitive board game for 1 to 4 players inspired by the award-winning video game, featuring dark gothic aesthetics.
• Blood Epic Boss Battler game for 1-4 players featuring innovative mechanics, tactical fights, and high-quality miniatures in a Dracula's Castle setting.
• Trial of the Gods Strategic board game where players recruit Argonauts and compete to be worthy of the Golden Fleece in Greek mythology setting.
• Sine Tempore Cooperative board game for 1-4 players featuring detailed miniatures and a campaign system for terraforming the planet Primaevus V.
• DEI: Divide et Impera Post-apocalyptic survival board game set in Old London where players control survivor factions competing for resources and Purebred favor.
• Dungeonology: The Expedition Board game featuring exploration mechanics and dungeon encounters.
• Haunted Lands Competitive euro-game for 2-4 players where Perceptors help the city of Kalena expand while dealing with haunting spirits.
• Chamber of Wonders Fast-paced board game for 1-4 players where players collect unique objects and build the best Chamber of Wonders in Victorian London.
• Sherwood Bandits Robin Hood-themed board game where players compete to steal gold and join the Merry Men.
• Requiem: Downfall of Magic Board game in the Requiem series featuring magical themes and strategic gameplay.
• Grifoni – Blades for Hire Tactical eurogame with story-driven gameplay for 1 to 4 players.
• Nova Aetas Chronicles Merchandise Official Ludus Magnus Studio merchandise collection including apparel and accessories featuring Nova Aetas Chronicles branding.
• Black Rose Wars Artbook 60-page hardcover artbook featuring illustrations, behind-the-scenes development info, character narratives, and artist presentations.
• Standalone Miniatures High-quality miniature figures available separately, featuring attention to detail and dynamism for various game systems.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BridgeDistminorOthersThird-party fulfillment center handling USA and Canada order fulfillment, shipping, and delivery operations.
• Aetherworks AustraliaminorOthersThird-party fulfillment center handling Australian order fulfillment, shipping, and delivery operations.
• KickstartercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrowdfunding platform used for launching new board game projects with stretch goals and exclusive backer rewards.
• GamefoundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrowdfunding platform used for launching board game projects, particularly for Italian and European market campaigns.
• PledgeManagercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPledge management platform handling post-campaign order fulfillment, surveys, and add-on sales for backers.
• Stefano CastelliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGame designer known for Potion Explosion, collaborated on Chamber of Wonders.
• Diego CerretiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGame designer known for GodZ, collaborated on Chamber of Wonders.
• Tommaso BattistaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGame designer known for Barrage, designed DEI: Divide et Impera published by Ludus Magnus Studio.
• Leonardo RomanominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGame designer of Haunted Lands, a competitive euro-game published by Ludus Magnus Studio.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Awaken Realms: Polish publisher of premium, miniature-driven board games (Tainted Grail, Nemesis, This War of Mine) using a similar crowdfunding-plus-DTC model and competing for the same hobbyist backer base as LMS.
• CMON Limited: Singapore-headquartered publisher of miniature-heavy tabletop games (Zombicide, Blood Rage, Marvel United, A Song of Ice & Fire) that competes head-to-head with LMS in the same Kickstarter-led, premium-miniature segment.
• Steamforged Games: UK-based publisher specializing in high-quality miniature tabletop games based on licensed video-game IPs (Dark Souls, Monster Hunter: World, Resident Evil, Guild Ball) — direct analogue to LMS's video-game-to-board-game licensing approach.
• Stonemaier Games: US publisher of premium strategy/Euro games with Kickstarter launches and miniature-quality components (Wingspan, Scythe, Tapestry), comparable in catalog breadth and crowdfunding-led GTM.

Broad incumbents

• Hasbro / Wizards of the Coast: Major incumbent in tabletop gaming (Magic: The Gathering, D&D, HeroQuest). Defines the broader miniatures and hobby-games market in which LMS competes.
• Asmodee: Global hobby games leader owning dozens of studios and distribution (Catan, Ticket to Ride, 7 Wonders). Sets the wholesale/retail context LMS operates against via its DTC and crowdfunding channels.

Regional players

• Amigo Spiel + Freizeit: German hobby games publisher with strong European retail and licensed-IP card/board games; comparable to LMS in European hobby-games distribution footprint, though lighter on miniatures.
• Asmodee Italia: Italian arm of Asmodee, the dominant hobby games distributor in Italy — a direct local-market peer and channel counterpart for LMS's home Italian market.
• HeidelBÄR Games: German publisher/distributor running localized Kickstarter editions of European miniature and hobby board games — comparable as a European crowdfunding-distribution peer to LMS's multilingual EU strategy.

Emerging players

• Modiphius Entertainment: UK publisher of licensed-IP miniature and tabletop games (Star Trek Adventures, Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, Achtung! Cthulhu) using a similar Kickstarter-led model and high-detail 3D miniatures approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ludusmagnus_s
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LudusMagnusStudioLMS
• Facebookfacebook.com/LudusMagnusStudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ludus-magnus-srl
• Instagraminstagram.com/ludusmagnus.studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ludus Magnus Studio