It’s 40,000 years ago! Small bands of humans, primarily Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon cave people, survive off the hunt in southern Europe. The planet is into another ice age, with cool summers, frigid winters, and massive glaciers. Much of Europe is a wide-open steppe of grass, sedge, and ferns. The land supports massive megafauna, like the mammoth and woolly rhino, as well as dangerous predators like the cave lion, dire wolf, and hyena. Every day is a struggle for survival. The heroes of the Pleistocene have to contend with environmental challenges, rival clans, vicious beasts, and mercurial spirits. Come out for adventure– but don’t leave your spear behind! 

Clans & Cave Lions is a traditional roleplaying game set in the stone-age prehistory of our world. It is designed explicitly to be played using the 5th Edition SRD rules of the best-selling fantasy roleplaying game, but can be used as a resource for any roleplaying system that supports adventuring in the Pleistocene world.

Four new races: the Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, Denisovan, and Half-Breed.

Three new classes: Pleistocene Hunter, Pleistocene Artisan, and Shaman.

Rules for Shamanistic magic, hunting, survival, and managing the spirit world.

Complete stat blocks for dozens of real and fantasy Pleistocene creatures.

Clans & Cave Lions was discussed on the RandomWorld Discord Chatroom on 10/21/2025:

https://discord.com/channels/603053805507969085/780948065367490590/1430372177101979689

Note: Clans & Cave Lions is written explicitly for SRD 5.1, but is compatible with SRD 5.2 as well.