Troll Lord Games
Troll Lord Games is a privately held tabletop RPG publisher (founded 1999, Little Rock, AR) selling print and digital role-playing games built on its proprietary SIEGE Engine, with Castles & Crusades as its flagship, licensed Gygax and Burroughs content, and direct e-commerce plus wholesale distribution to hobbyists, schools, and game stores.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersArkansas City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Troll Lord Games does
Troll Lord Games is a privately held tabletop role-playing game publisher operating as a subsidiary of Chenault & Gray Publishing, LLC, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1999 by brothers Stephen and Davis Chenault along with Mac Golden, the company publishes fantasy and multi-genre RPGs built on its proprietary SIEGE Engine attribute-check system, with Castles & Crusades (launched 2004, currently in its 11th printing) as the flagship product and Amazing Adventures, Victorious, StarSiege, and Harvesters as compatible extensions. Its catalog also includes the long-running World of Aihrde campaign setting, an exclusive licensing relationship with the Estate of E. Gary Gygax (regained in 2025), an upcoming Edgar Rice Burroughs-licensed Barsoom RPG, and accompanying fiction/art and merchandise lines. Distribution is multi-channel: direct e-commerce on trolllord.com, wholesale through ACD in the US, GMS Tabletop Games in the UK and Europe, and Universal Dist in Canada, plus a 255+ retail store locator and digital presence on Foundry VTT and Fantasy Grounds.
The company operates an in-house softbound print facility in Little Rock and is constructing a second warehouse in Beebe, Arkansas to expand capacity. Revenue is generated primarily through unit-priced one-time purchases of physical books (priced $6.99-$199.99), lower-priced PDFs, and merchandise, supplemented by a high-cadence crowdfunding model: the company has completed 43 Kickstarter campaigns plus BackerKit projects, raising more than $2 million cumulatively, with individual 2024 campaigns of approximately $169,613 and $302,556 and a 2025 World Builders Archive campaign hitting a $300,000 stretch goal. Disclosed annual revenue is "well over $1 million." A free third-party publishing license and the Endless Worlds Organized Play program (with a GM Rewards structure) supplement direct sales by building a content and community ecosystem.
Go-to-market combines product-led growth (direct e-commerce, self-serve PDF downloads), channel partnerships (three regional wholesale distributors and 255+ independent retailers), community-led engagement (Endless Worlds OP program, Discord, Patreon, Summer of Siege streaming), and event-driven presence at gaming conventions (Gary Con, GenCon, GameHole Con, Origins, and the company's own Troll Con). Free School Game Club Bundles extend reach into education and youth organization segments, and a 50% military discount anchors veteran community ties, supported by the founder CEO's stated veteran status.
Troll Lord Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Troll Lord Games
- Legal name
- Chenault & Gray Publishing, LLC
- Website
- https://trolllord.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Troll Lord Games is a privately held tabletop RPG publisher (founded 1999, Little Rock, AR) selling print and digital role-playing games built on its proprietary SIEGE Engine, with Castles & Crusades as its flagship, licensed Gygax and Burroughs content, and direct e-commerce plus wholesale distribution to hobbyists, schools, and game stores.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Troll Lord Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tabletop Role-Playing Games
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hobby Games & Miniatures Retail (Tabletop RPGs, Wargaming) (CRALAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tabletop RPG Miniatures & Terrain (CRALAKAD)
Keywords
Where Troll Lord Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arkansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Troll Lord Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Physical Book Sales: Sale of printed RPG core books, adventures, and merchandise through direct e-commerce and retail distribution. Products include Castles & Crusades Complete Bundle ($68.99-$179.99), Aihrde expansions ($6.99-$12.99), and merchandise like C&C Canvas Backpack ($199.99)
- Digital/PDF Sales: PDF versions of all products sold through e-commerce store at lower price points than physical versions
- Crowdfunding Campaigns: Product launches and special editions through Kickstarter and BackerKit platforms. Company has raised over $2 million through 43 Kickstarter campaigns and BackerKit projects
- School/Club Outreach Program: Free Castles & Crusades Club Bundles provided to qualifying schools and youth organizations for community building
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Castles & Crusades Complete Bundle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Aihrde Expansion Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | C&C Canvas Backpack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Crusader Journal #30 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Military Discount |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels9 records
Troll Lord Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Troll Lord Games publishes tabletop role-playing games, supplements, adventures, campaign settings, fiction, and gaming accessories under its flagship Castles & Crusades line built on the proprietary SIEGE Engine rules system. The company produces both physical books (via its in-house print facility in Little Rock, AR) and digital products, distributing through direct e-commerce, wholesale distributors, brick-and-mortar retailers, and crowdfunding campaigns.
Product overview
Troll Lord Games is a tabletop role-playing game publisher that operates as a multi-product platform with Castles & Crusades (C&C) as its flagship OGL-compatible fantasy RPG using the proprietary SIEGE Engine attribute-check system, alongside Amazing Adventures as a multi-genre 100% C&C-compatible system. The company maintains proprietary campaign settings including the World of Aihrde/After Winter Dark with numerous expansion territories, licensed Gary Gygax properties (Castle Zagyg series), and upcoming Barsoom planetary romance. TLG publishes supplements, adventures, merchandise (canvas backpacks, accessories), periodicals (The Crusader Journal), and fiction/art chronologies (Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs). The company offers digital content for Fantasy Grounds and Foundry VTT, runs the Endless Worlds organized play program with GM rewards, operates a free third-party publishing license program, and provides school outreach bundles. Revenue exceeds $1 million annually with 43 Kickstarter campaigns and over $2 million raised through crowdfunding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Castles & Crusades: The company's flagship fantasy role-playing game system using the SIEGE Engine, launched in 2004 and currently in its 11th printing.
- Amazing Adventures
- Victorious
- Harvesters
- World of Aihrde
- StarSiege
- SIEGE Engine
- Endless Worlds Organized Play
- Troll Con
- Barsoom
Products and services
- Castles & Crusades (C&C) Flagship fantasy tabletop RPG using the proprietary SIEGE Engine attribute-check system, with 13 archetypal character classes and 7 races, designed for fast gameplay and d20 compatibility. Targeted at tabletop RPG enthusiasts.
- Amazing Adventures Multi-genre SIEGE Engine RPG system 100% compatible with Castles & Crusades, covering pulp era 1920s-50s, modern urban fantasy/horror, and futuristic space opera. Includes Fate Points, vehicle combat, and firearms rules.
- Victorious SIEGE Engine RPG system available under third-party publishing license, a multi-genre tabletop role-playing game published by TLG.
- Harvesters RPG designed for young players, part of TLG's product line targeting younger audiences.
- StarSiege Sci-fi themed RPG available under third-party publishing license via the SIEGE Engine system.
- World of Aihrde / After Winter Dark Campaign Setting Proprietary fantasy world campaign setting with 15,000+ years of detailed history. 256-page Codex of Aihrde as core book with expansion territories, monsters, and adventures. Features zero metaplot allowing player-driven narratives.
- Castle Zagyg Gary Gygax dungeon/setting series including Yggsburg city, East Mark setting, The Manse, Mouths of Madness, and 17-level dungeon. TLG serving as primary Gygax publisher from 2000-2008 and now regaining licenses.
- Barsoom RPG Planetary romance RPG set on Mars based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' works, officially licensed by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.
- The Marmoreal Tomb Campaign Starter 700+ page campaign starter with 26 full color maps, characters progress 1st-10th level. Gary Gygax legacy product.
- Castles & Crusades Complete Bundle Comprehensive starter package including Players Handbook, Monsters & Treasure, Castle Keepers Guide, Castle Keeper Screen, The Hallowed Ring adventure, and Darlene character reference sheets PDF.
- World of Aihrde Bundle Bundled campaign setting products for the World of Aihrde including Codex of Aihrde and related expansion materials.
- The Crusader Journal Magazine of Intrepid Adventure featuring gaming philosophy, humor, tips, community content, new spells, rules, and adventure hooks. Published periodically as the community magazine.
- Aihrde Expansion Series System-neutral expansion books for World of Aihrde including Saerian Heath, Umbrian Flats, Voralberg Basin, Saline Watershed, Evaline Sea Lanes, Dolgan Fells, Reaver's Fairway, Northern Waste and more. Terrain descriptions, history, and adventure hooks.
- Castles & Crusades Adventurers Companion Reference companion book for Castles & Crusades players and Castle Keepers.
- Castles & Crusades Rune Lore Supplement for Castles & Crusades covering magic runic lore and rules.
- Castles & Crusades Gods & Legends Supplement covering deities, legends, and religious/mythological content for the C&C setting.
- Castles & Crusades Codex Infernum Supplement for Castles & Crusades featuring infernal/demonic content.
- Fiction / Art Chronologies (REH/ERB) Robert E. Howard Conan Weird Tales Collection, Edgar Rice Burroughs 100 Year Art Chronology, Robert E Howard Art Chronology, and Waters of Dunhollow fiction series. Literary fantasy fiction publications.
- C&C Canvas Backpack Heavy-duty waxed canvas backpack with C&C logo, premium leather accents, brass buckles. Made in USA merchandise item for RPG enthusiasts.
- Castles & Crusades Adventurers Backpack Rolled canvas backpack product for carrying RPG materials and books.
- Fantasy Grounds Digital Content Digital conversion guidelines and content for importing C&C Legacy Campaigns into Fantasy Grounds virtual tabletop platform.
- Foundry VTT Compatible Content Reforged C&C Player's Handbook and supporting content available on Foundry VTT platform.
- Endless Worlds Organized Play Official worldwide organized play program connecting GMs and players with events calendar, exclusive tournaments, newsletter, gaming resources library, Discord community, GM rewards program, and store credit perks for running events.
- Third-Party Publishing Program Free licensing program allowing third-party publishers to create content for Castles & Crusades, Amazing Adventures, Victorious, StarSiege and other TLG systems. Includes style guides and writer guidelines.
- School Game Club Program Free Castles & Crusades Club Bundle program for qualifying schools and organizations including 3 Player Handbooks, Castle Keepers Guide, Monsters & Treasure, Castle Keeper Screen, starter adventure, and character sheets (physical for US, digital for international).
Quantifiable outcome
- Castles & Crusades RPG on 11th printing since 2004 launch
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Troll Lord Games
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Troll Lord Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature4 records
Troll Lord Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- ACDcorePrimary US distributor for wholesale fulfillment of TLG products to brick-and-mortar game stores across the United States
- GMS Tabletop GamescoreUK and European distributor handling retail distribution across the UK and European markets
- Universal Dist (Canada)coreCanadian distributor for retail distribution throughout Canada
- Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA)minorProud member of GAMA, the trade association for game manufacturers
- The Estate of E. Gary GygaxflagshipExclusive licensing partnership for Gary Gygax's works including Castle Zagyg, World Builders Archive, Gygaxian Fantasy World series, The Hermit, and Hall of Many Panes. TLG served as Gary's primary publisher from 2000-2008 and has recently regained licenses for his works.
- KickstartercorePrimary crowdfunding platform. Company has completed 43 Kickstarter campaigns raising over $2 million
- BackerKitcoreCrowdfunding platform used for major product launches including Castle Zagyg campaign launching February 2026
- Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.coreLicensing partner for Barsoom planetary romance RPG, officially licensed adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Troll Lord Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Goodman Games: Publisher of Dungeon Crawl Classics and classic D&D adventure reprints. Comparable niche RPG publisher with a retro/OSR focus, Kickstarter-heavy product launches, and a strong convention presence.
- Chaosium: Publisher of Call of Cthulhu, RuneQuest, and other classic RPGs. Comparable as an independent RPG publisher with proprietary systems, organized play programs, and a multi-decade catalog.
- Green Ronin Publishing: Independent RPG publisher of the AGE system, Mutants & Masterminds, and Dragon Age. Comparable as a private independent RPG publisher with multiple proprietary systems and supplements.
- Paizo: Publisher of Pathfinder, the leading direct competitor to Dungeons & Dragons in the tabletop RPG space. Comparable as a tabletop RPG publisher with proprietary system, organized play program, and crowdfunding-driven product launches.
- Kobold Press: Independent tabletop RPG publisher known for Tales of the Valiant (post-OGL) and D&D-compatible content. Directly comparable as a mid-sized independent RPG publisher with a proprietary system, crowdfunding track record, and a core fantasy offering.
- Pinnacle Entertainment Group: Publisher of the Savage Worlds system. Comparable as an independent RPG publisher with a multi-genre proprietary system and a third-party publishing license program.
- Frog God Games: Independent tabletop RPG publisher of Pathfinder adventures, Swords & Wizardry, and other OSR systems. Directly comparable as a small independent publisher with multiple system lines and adventure-heavy catalogs.
Broad incumbents
- Fantasy Flight Games: Asmodee subsidiary publishing board games, card games, and licensed RPGs (Star Wars, Legend of the Five Rings). Comparable as a tabletop RPG publisher with licensed-IP and system-based product lines, though operating at a much larger scale.
Emerging players
- Cubicle 7 Games: Independent RPG publisher of Doctor Who, Warhammer Fantasy, and The One Ring 2e. Comparable as a small independent publisher specializing in licensed-IP tabletop RPGs alongside proprietary systems.
- Free League Publishing: Swedish publisher of Mörk Borg, Vaesen, and Alien RPG. Comparable as an independent, design-forward tabletop RPG publisher with a strong crowdfunding track record and multi-genre portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Troll Lord Games social profiles
Digital presenceTroll Lord Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Troll Lord Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Troll Lord Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Troll Lord Games M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Troll Lord Games
What does Troll Lord Games do?
Troll Lord Games publishes tabletop role-playing games, supplements, adventures, campaign settings, fiction, and gaming accessories under its flagship Castles & Crusades line built on the proprietary SIEGE Engine rules system. The company produces both physical books (via its in-house print facility in Little Rock, AR) and digital products, distributing through direct e-commerce, wholesale distributors, brick-and-mortar retailers, and crowdfunding campaigns.
Is Troll Lord Games a public or private company?
Troll Lord Games is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Troll Lord Games founded?
Troll Lord Games was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Troll Lord Games based?
Troll Lord Games is headquartered in Arkansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Troll Lord Games make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Physical Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital/PDF Sales, crowdfunding Campaigns and school/Club Outreach Program.
Who are Troll Lord Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Goodman Games, Chaosium, Green Ronin Publishing, Paizo, Kobold Press, Pinnacle Entertainment Group and Frog God Games. Fantasy Flight Games is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Cubicle 7 Games and Free League Publishing.
Does Troll Lord Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Troll Lord Games.
What industry is Troll Lord Games in?
Troll Lord Games's product category is Tabletop Role-Playing Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAFAH, Hobby Games & Miniatures Retail (Tabletop RPGs, Wargaming), with a secondary code of CRALAKAD, Tabletop RPG Miniatures & Terrain. Its NAICS code is 33993 and its SIC code is 3944.