🔱 Lithomachy – When Olympus Became a Board Game

There are board games you play, laugh, have fun with, and then put back on the shelf until next time. And there are others that carry an identity with them. Something more personal, something that stays with you. Lithomachy belong to the latter category: a Greek roll & write game, inspired by Mount Olympus, complete with 12 missions and 48 chapters, that takes you on a journey of gods and trials with nothing more than a pencil and two dice.

The game was created by Lazaros Reppas, inspired by his hometown Litochoro, the village located at the foot of Mount Olympus. A place where myth and everyday life intertwine, and so it’s no coincidence that Lithomachy manage to capture this blend of tradition and imagination.

From Litochoro to the world of board games

The idea didn’t start in a studio filled with expensive miniatures. It began with a simple thought: “What if we could bring Greek mythology into a board game that can be played anywhere?” A game that doesn’t require boxes and plastic, but arrives on your table as a PDF.

And that’s how Lithomachies were born. Print & play is in its DNA: all you need is to download the sheet, print it out, and pick up a pencil. The simplicity doesn’t make it “poor.” On the contrary, it’s the foundation upon which the entire experience is built.

Roll & write – a short look back

The roll & write genre is by no means new. It started with classics like Yahtzee and has seen a huge resurgence in recent years with beloved titles.

What makes it stand out is the simplicity: few components, fast rules, yet plenty of strategic decisions.

Lithomachies join this tradition while bringing something different: a strong thematic framework rooted in Greek mythology. Each sheet isn’t just a page with numbers, but a “chapter” in a larger story, where the player’s choices carry mythological weight. The game manages to combine the classic feel of a roll & write with storytelling and thematic depth.

Structure and content

The game includes 12 thematic missions. Each mission consists of 4 chapters, so in total we are talking about 48 chapters of gameplay. Each chapter takes between 20 and 40 minutes to play, making it ideal for an evening when you don’t want to commit to a full campaign but still want something substantial.

The themes are directly linked to Greek mythology:

• The Temple of Zeus

• The Papyrus of Athena

• Artemis’ Moon Shrine

• The Heart of Hephaestus

• The Sowing of Demeter

• The Mirror of Aphrodite

• The Harmony of Apollo

• The Flame of Hestia

• The Wrath of Ares

• The Trial of Hera

• The Flight of Hermes

• The Trident of Poseidon

Each mission is different, with new patterns and fresh strategies. That means you’re not just repeating the same thing – every chapter feels like a mini-adventure.

The player’s experience – a story from the Gate of Thunderbolts

To make this clearer, let’s look at the first chapter: The Gate of Thunderbolts. It’s the free chapter anyone can download.

Imagine: you sit at the table, roll two dice, and your eyes fall on the grid. The numbers are no longer just numbers. They’re thunderbolts you must place correctly to channel the energy of the Gate. If you harness them, you pass through. If not, the thunderbolts strike you down.

Suddenly the pencil on the paper feels heavy. Every decision is a small battle. And when you finally manage to complete the chapter, you feel like you’ve passed a trial. That is exactly what Lithomachies are: a way to make something as simple as writing numbers feel like an adventure.

Behind the scenes of creation

No creation starts by accident. In the case of Lithomachies, the idea was born out of love for place and tradition. We spoke with the creator, Lazaros Reppas, who explained what led him to design a complete roll & write inspired by Greek mythology.

– How did the idea for Lithomachies come about?“I come from Litochoro, at the foot of Mount Olympus. For us, myth is part of daily life. I wanted to find a way to transfer it into something interactive and accessible to everyone. A game that could travel easily, just like stories do.”

– Why did you choose the print & play format?“Because it’s the most direct way to reach anyone. You don’t need big boxes or expensive productions. A PDF file, two dice, and a pencil are enough to live the experience.”

– What was the hardest part of creating it?“Balancing strategy and theme. I didn’t want a game that just ‘wears’ mythology as decoration. I wanted every chapter to have a reason to exist, to carry something of the character of the god it refers to.”

– And what would you like players to take away after a session?“That they played something Greek, something authentic. That Olympus can fit onto a single sheet of paper, and that through the game you can feel a bit of the awe and magic of our tradition.”

Community and online play

Another interesting aspect is that Lithomachies don’t have to be confined to your living room. They can be played online. A group of friends in different cities can download the same chapter, play it over a video call, and compare scores.

Or even better: small tournaments can be set up. Each mission can serve as a round. Players send photos of their sheets, and a winner is declared. In this way, Lithomachies have the potential to build community. And it’s a beautiful thing that a game inspired by Olympus can bring people together, even if they live far apart.

Who is this game for?

Here lies the magic: Lithomachies don’t have a narrow audience. They are accessible to families, because the rules are simple. They appeal to casual gamers, because the sessions are short and thematic. And they can interest even hardcore players, because with 48 chapters there is depth and variety.

In short, it’s one of those games you can bring to the table with anyone and be sure they’ll enjoy it.

From Olympus to tourism

Another beautiful element is the connection of the game with its place of origin. If you ever visit Litochoro or climb Mount Olympus, you can see the source of inspiration in real life. Until then, though, you can bring Olympus into your home with a single sheet of paper and two dice. And that is magical.

Conclusion

Lithomachies are not just a game. They are a complete creation that bridges Greek mythology with modern board game design. They are friendly, accessible, creative, and full of content.

With 12 missions and 48 chapters, they offer material for countless hours of gameplay. And all this at a cost equal to a coffee and a stroll.

If you want to experience it, start with The Gate of Thunderbolts, the first chapter available for free. Download it and see for yourself if you can prove your worth to Zeus.

📌 Find out more at litochoro.info/lithomachies.