Episode 37: Life and Traditions Under the Sun Dome

Our Guests

For this episode we welcome Malin and CJ, which Ludo met in person at ChaosiumCon UK 2025.

The book we’re talking about is “Life and Traditions under the Sun Dome”

Ludo also took so long to edit this episode that Malin and CJ’s next books are already out: “Three Doors to Your Heart” and “Uleria Loves You”

Malin is on Bluesky and has a Patreon

CJ is also on Bluesky

Show Notes

Things we discussed in this episode:

Malin and CJ published a book about Life and Traditions of the Sun Dome because they’ve been playing there for a while.

Malin got into Glorantha via CJ, and became fascinated by stuff in Cults of Terror.

CJ got into Glorantha via some people talking about RuneQuest and its cultures, religions, weird spells, and “walking tapirs”.

After playing in Pavis and the Big Rubble, CJ bought RQ3 and some RQ2.

The Dragon Pass board game

Playing near Sun County in HeroQuest, with the Cradle scenario.

CJ bought the RQ3 Sun County book, reading it directly in the post office.

It was hard to get a group going.

The “Life and Traditions” book is a “more detailed” Sun County, compatible with previous official material (Sun County) and JC material (Black Spear, Sandheart).

Many people have written stuff in that area, it’s important to honour that.

Back in the day, it felt like Sun County was more “bronze age” and exotic than Sartar, which felt more “celtic” and common.

Research for the book included a lot of Bronze Age history.

Big spears, shield walls, and hoplites!

Back in the day, there wasn’t much material on Sartar. A lot of books were out of print, and in piracy was the only way to access them.

Very trusting people who mail their copy of Griffin Mountain to strangers to read and send back!

Sun County was a “standalone” book and setting, easier to grasp than other places in Glorantha.

To secular Sweden, religious fanaticism is exotic!

The reason for the “Life and Traditions” book is that many players have questions… sometimes weird questions…

Malin wanted to emulate the “Daily Life in <place>” children books about ancient Egypt or Greece: what is it to live in these places and times? Also, a desire to answer questions to the players who didn’t know Glorantha.

Malin loves making house rules and handouts!

A character wants to get married? Write a handout about property rights! “It escalates so fast!”

Between different regions of Genertela there are different rules and cultures. Sun County should feel different from Sartar.

“RuneQuest is a game for over-thinkers”

CJ is a sociologist, so how does the class system work!?

“Life and Traditions” has a bibliography! It’s serious work!

It’s a xenophobic and misogynistic place but they have nice beaches.

CJ looks at other countries with the same problems for reference, in addition to historical Bronze Age and Iron Age, and previous Gloranthan material.

People are still people, and it’s interesting to see how people would react and behave in a place like Sun County.

How to use this book? As an academic description of Sun County, or as a collection of articles to be skimmed and picked from as needed?

“It should be read but not memorized”.

“It’s a confidence builder”.

Instead of adding more history and names and places, the book tries to just add more context to one already established place.

Joerg likes the tables to “look around the house”.

Ludo likes the random event table.

Players can read the book, there is not much “secret information”.

The bad stuff in Sun County: patriarchy, xenophobia, etc. How is that fun to play? Depends on the group… it can be treated as background vibe, or as the main theme.

The book also shows how to play other types of characters.

CJ tried to lean into the set parameters of the place, as established by prior material: Yelmalio is patriarchal, Ernalda is made into a subservient wife, and Zola Fel provides a good part of the fertility magic that Ernalda usually provides elsewhere, etc.

Still had to “address the e