{"slug":"rivers-of-london","title":"Rivers of London: The Roleplaying Game","url":"https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/rivers-of-london","agentUrl":"https://www.ttrpg-games.com/api/games/rivers-of-london.json","summary":{"blurb":"A licensed urban-fantasy mystery TTRPG about new recruits in London's special magic branch solving crimes, learning Newtonian magic, and navigating the demi-monde through Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying lineage.","atAGlance":"Licensed urban-fantasy mystery - Chaosium BRP lineage - 2-5 players + Game Moderator - Folly case files, magic, and London police procedure - Best for approachable short arcs or campaigns","whyItFits":"Rivers of London fits tables that want mystery, modern magic, and a strong sense of place without the harshness of many adjacent horror-investigation games. It is especially useful for groups choosing between Call of Cthulhu-style skill play, urban fantasy, and lighter case-file campaigns."},"constraints":{"playerRange":"2-5 players + Game Moderator","sessionRange":"120-240 minutes","setupMinutes":20,"characterCreationMinutes":30,"prepLevel":"Medium","priceModel":"Paid"},"fit":{"beginnerFriendly":1,"newGmFriendly":3,"oneShotFriendly":1,"campaignFriendly":1,"soloFriendly":1,"improvBurden":"Medium","structureLevel":"Guided","contentIntensity":"Medium"},"scores":[{"key":"complexity","label":"Complexity","value":3},{"key":"new_gm","label":"New GM Fit","value":3},{"key":"roleplay","label":"Roleplay Focus","value":4},{"key":"combat","label":"Combat Focus","value":2},{"key":"tactical","label":"Tactical Depth","value":1},{"key":"campaign","label":"Campaign Depth","value":4}],"availability":{"quickstartAvailable":1,"pdfAvailable":1,"physicalBookAvailable":1,"vttReady":0},"recommendations":{"bestFor":["Groups that want magical police-procedural mysteries in a detailed modern London setting","Fans of Ben Aaronovitch's novels who want an official table adaptation with approachable rules","Players new to mystery TTRPGs who benefit from a forgiving BRP-derived system and solo intro"],"avoidIf":["You want lethal investigative horror, harsh sanity pressure, or bleak institutional collapse","Your table wants tactical combat, deep build optimization, or high-consequence magic","You do not want police-procedural play or setting homework tied to a licensed fiction series"]},"facets":{"genres":["Modern","Mystery","Supernatural","Urban Fantasy"],"systems":[],"mechanics":["Campaign","Investigation","Narrative-Driven","Skill-based","Streamlined","Team-Based"],"themes":["Cinematic","Social Intrigue"],"decisionTags":["Award Winning","Beginner-Friendly","Licensed","One-Shot Friendly","Rules Medium"]},"links":{"websiteUrl":"https://www.chaosium.com/rivers-of-london-the-roleplaying-game-hardcover/","reviewsUrl":"https://www.wargamer.com/rivers-of-london-rpg/review"}}