Potluck Bingo

As the year draws to a close, we gather with friends and share memories and gifts and, of course, a good meal. And there’s nothing like a potluck to make sure there’s something for everyone! 

For our last challenge of 2024, we’re offering Potluck Bingo. We hope to have a smorgasbord of bingo cards made by you prompting a delectable spread of fanworks, with something to suit all tastes. (The mods will contribute a few boards to get things started. But as with any potluck, the more, the merrier!)

Bingo

Play begins November 15, when all boards received up to that date will be available on the challenge page. After November 15, we will continue to add boards as they are submitted. You are free to play any board—you are not required to play your own. You may also play as many boards as you want. And of course, you’re free to combine prompts from different boards.

We will not be pulling numbers—there is no daily prompt. Pick your board, and see what prompt(s) on the board spark something.

Commenters, you’re not left out of the bingo fun. There will be a few comment challenge boards to play. (Possibly more than a few if our boardmakers decide to run with it …)

As there will be many different boards in play, both creators and commenters will need to notify the mods when stamps are needed for bingo (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or card blackout). You can reach us on Tumblr, DW, Discord, or using the contact form. We will have a special stamp for anyone who plays multiple boards. There will NOT be a stamp for playing all boards, as past experience suggests there could be quite a few.

This challenge opened in November 2024 .

Prompts

Choose your prompt from the collection below.

View Prompts

Colorful

Board by Grundy
Colorful prompts:

B1 - scarlet #FD0E35   
B2 - vermilion #E34234   
B3 - crimson #DC143C   
B4 - madder #CC3336   
B5 - ruby #9B111E

I1 - Goldenrod #DAA520   
I2 - Canary #FFFF99   
I3 - Lemon #FFF700   
I4 - Amber #FFBF00   
I5 - Mustard #FFDB58

N1 - Emerald #50C878   
N2 - Celadon #ACE1AF   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Olive #808000   
N5 - Pistachio #93C572

G1 - Teal #008080   
G2 - Aquamarine #7FFFD4   
G3 - Cerulean #007BA7   
G4 - Cornflower #6495ED   
G5 - Midnight #191970

O1 - Violet #8F00FF   
O2 - Wisteria #C9A0DC   
O3 - Lavender #B57EDC   
O4 - Mulberry #C54B8C   
O5 - Fuchsia #FF00FF

Comment Bingo (for commenters who want to play bingo too!)

Board by Grundy
Comment Bingo Prompts:

Be they...   
B1 - Men   
B2 - Dwarves   
B3 - Elves   
B4 - Ainur   
B5 - Orcs

It's a   
I1 - Rec List   
I2 - Podfic   
I3 - Playlist or Music   
I4 - Poem   
I5 - Fixed-length Fic

New to you   
N1 - Creator   
N2 - Genre   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Art   
N5 - Age or Location

Genre   
G1 - Fluff   
G2 - Crack   
G3 - AU   
G4 - Meta/Non-fiction   
G5 - Crossover

Older works   
O1 - a challenge response before 2023   
O2 - posted before 2017   
O3 - complete before 2024   
O4 - posted for the Jubilee   
O5 - creator hasn't posted in the past year

Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

Board by Grundy Eat, Drink, & Be Merry prompts:

(All prompts are mentioned in the legendarium.)

B1 - bread   
B2 - butter   
B3 - cheese   
B4 - eggs   
B5 - bacon

I1 - water   
I2 - milk   
I3 - tea   
I4 - coffee   
I5 - cream

N1 - salad   
N2 - potatoes   
N3 - FREE SPACE (photo of Merry Brandybuck)   
N4 - mushrooms   
N5 - green herbs

G1 - beer   
G2 - ale   
G3 - wine   
G4 - porter   
G5 - mead

O1 - seed-cake   
O2 - scones   
O3 - apple tart   
O4 - biscuits   
O5 - honey

Femslash & Lyrics

Board by Elleth   
Femslash & Lyrics prompts:

B1 - Say that the wind won't change on us   
B2 - If I was Atlantis and you were the sea   
B3 - I've left signs but you take no notice   
B4 - When we die we will die with our arms unbound   
B5 - Now three of us here lie

I1 - Towards your eyes, so full of paradise   
I2 - And should I stray in the dark night alone   
I3 - Hiding in the rose petals   
I4 - Grace and whisky on your breath   
I5 - On this harbor shore we hear the ocean call

N1 - We did not give up on love today   
N2 - I've done this many times before   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Look to the sky with care, my love   
N5 - And she unfastens all the fear

G1 - The cracks in the stained glass almost disappear   
G2 - We were always forget-me-nots   
G3 - I was filled with such a longing to be with you in the dark   
G4 - Your fingers tender find my secrets   
G5 - Be my asleep-at-last

O1 - Just don't waste it - this was not a mistake   
O2 - Feathers in their hair, dust on their tongue   
O3 - Lights hum in the grey like her breath will someday   
O4 - An old world made new on the same holy ground   
O5 - She's been played just like a song

Four Words (Drabble Bingo)

Board by Elleth   
Four Words prompts:

B1 - Riverbank, bone, silver, breath   
B2 - Defeated, jagged, icicle, close   
B3 - tree, origin, atmosphere, threaten   
B4 - reaction, excess, fossil, linger   
B5 - sweep, curtain, shadow, corruption

I1 - Crevice, enemy, pledge, restrain   
I2 - Vines, helmet, date, surprise   
I3 - Dominant, immune, awake, nebulous   
I4 - Lead, collar, chaos, grateful   
I5 - Earthquake, cultivate, disappear, firefly

N1 - Exchange, walk, end, bloom   
N2 - Timeless, vigil, flecked, heron   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Diligent, steep, volatile, alive   
N5 - Guidance, language, temperate, stranger

G1 - Ahead, inn, lamplight, prince   
G2 - Roll, sculpture, flower, release   
G3 - Landscape, eavesdrop, copper, gravity   
G4 - Seafloor, stunning, runaway, surround   
G5 - Imminent, shady, deserving, lyrical

O1 - Ribbon, mirror, fortune, instinct   
O2 - Whole, tune, alive, losing   
O3 - Contrast, minimum, twilight, mother   
O4 - Bless, braid, raise, absence   
O5 - Unknown, colour, own, hold

From Tolkien's Verse (text only)

Board by Himring   
From Tolkien's Verse prompts:

B1 - gloomy hush of night   
B2 - a messenger, a mariner   
B3 - the Ship of the Moon   
B4 - of bellying sails   
B5 - tossing draperies

I1 - the hills are old   
I2 - a song for the ease of pain   
I3 - where the shadow flows   
I4 - swinging constellations bright   
I5 - the blue-spun twilit hours

N1 - kneeling without light   
N2 - porridge for his provender   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - daffodils among the ordered trees   
N5 - in a steam of gold

G1 - wealth of down and dales   
G2 - by weir and murmuring fall   
G3 - it whistled bitter-cold   
G4 - beyond the great sea-shadows   
G5 - white, hot and soundless

O1 - the winds have waned   
O2 - full of wandering beams of light   
O3 - my white and windy tower   
O4 - night is quiet and sleep is rest   
O5 - a tardy tribute

Fluffy

Board by DaughterofShadows   
Fluffy prompts:

B1 - Cuddles   
B2 - Pets   
B3 - On a Walk   
B4 - Being kind   
B5 - Shared Memories

I1 - Hot Chocolate   
I2 - Family Dinner   
I3 - Breakfast in bed   
I4 - Chaos   
I5 - Forehead Kiss

N1 - Reunion   
N2 - Hanging out   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Laughter   
N5 - Blanket Fort

G1 - Games Night   
G2 - Best Friends Forever   
G3 - I love you   
G4 - Falling Asleep   
G5 - Holding Hands

O1 - Sleeping in   
O2 - Bonding Time   
O3 - Celebrations   
O4 - Arts & Crafts   
O5 - Comfort

Items and Objects

Board by Elleth   
Items and Objects prompts:

B1 - the Tale-Fire (BoLT)   
B2 - Lembas/Coimas   
B3 - the Tapestries of Vairë   
B4 - the Púkel-Men statues in Brethil   
B5 - Belthronding

I1 - the Stone of the Hapless   
I2 - Illuin and Ormal   
I3 - Bough of Oiolairë   
I4 - Thrones of the Valar   
I5 - The Elessar

N1 - Lúthien's cloak of shadows   
N2 - the Book of Mazarbul   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Dramborleg   
N5 - Alcarondas

G1 - the Horn of the Mark   
G2 - Nerdanel's statues   
G3 - Morgoth's iron crown   
G4 - the Palantíri   
G5 - Aeglos

O1 - fruit of Nimloth   
O2 - Fingon's banner   
O3 - The Blue Brooch from the Barrow Downs   
O4 - Aranrúth   
O5 - Telerin Swanships

Hanukkah (1)

Board by Independence1776 and janeways
Hanukkah (1) prompts:

B1 - Unexpected Victory  
B2 - Miracles  
B3 - From Generation to Generation  
B4 - Days of Old  
B5 - Legendary Heroes

I1 - Fried Foods  
I2 - Oil  
I3 - Candles or Lamps  
I4 - Jelly Donuts  
I5 - Flame

N1 - Resilience  
N2 - Strength  
N3 - Freedom  
N4 - Light  
N5 - Holiness

G1 - Gambling Games  
G2 - Gold Coins  
G3 - The Number 8  
G4 - Spinning Tops  
G5 - Hidden Messages

O1 - Minority Cultures  
O2 - Different Peoples, One Nation  
O3 - Faith  
O4 - Cultural Pride  
O5 - Rebuilding

Hanukkah (2)

Board by Independence1776 and janeways
Hanukkah (2) prompts:

B1 - Miracles 
B2 - Unexpected Victory 
B3 - Flame 
B4 - Days of Old 
B5 - Learning in Secret

I1 - Fried Foods 
I2 - Strength 
I3 - Gold Coins 
I4 - Legendary Heroes 
I5 - Candles or Lamps

N1 - Gambling Games 
N2 - Resilience 
N3 - Freedom 
N4 - Cultural Pride 
N5 - Praise

G1 - Oil 
G2 - Different Peoples, One Nation 
G3 - The Number 8 
G4 - Rededication 
G5 - Spinning Tops

O1 - Jelly Donuts 
O2 - Minority Cultures 
O3 - From Generation to Generation 
O4 - Light 
O5 - In those days & at this time

Havens of Sirion

Board by Polutropos   
Havens of Sirion prompts:

B1 - Idril   
B2 - Exchange   
B3 - Ship-building   
B4 - [Image of a person casting a net from a small boat at sunset]   
B5 - Earendil

I1 - Flight   
I2 - [Image of a white crane (bird) standing in tall grasses]   
I3 - Ulmo   
I4 - Heroism   
I5 - Sea-longing

N1 - [Image of the sea-floor with sunlight breaking through the surface of the water]   
N2 - Refugee   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Songs   
N5 - Protection

G1 - Histories   
G2 - Silmaril   
G3 - Secrecy   
G4 - Peredhil   
G5 - [Image of a forest of white beeches in autumn]

O1 - Elwing   
O2 - Exploration   
O3 - Despair   
O4 - Threat   
O5 - Tuor

Hopeful

Board by Elleth   
Hopeful prompts:

B1 - No theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me   
B2 - Amdir   
B3 - I will not say the day is done, nor bid the stars farewell   
B4 - Let's build the day we wanna have   
B5 - A multitude of slaves came forth beyond all hope into the light of day

I1 - The hearts of the Noldor were high and full of hope   
I2 - Dum spiro spero   
I3 - Her heart cheated her with hope unadmitted   
I4 - Beyond his hope she returned to him where he sat in darkness   
I5 - But a part of the whole and tributary to its glory

N1 - Eucatastrophe   
N2 - The prison opening, the chain that snaps   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Estel   
N5 - The longed-for that cometh beyond hope

G1 - Hope is an action verb   
G2 - Pity, and endurance in hope   
G3 - Spring came hopefully and men sang at their work   
G4 - In the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing   
G5 - Lord, we are all cinders from a fire burning long ago

O1 - [They] cheated the hope of Morgoth and were faithful   
O2 - Harthad   
O3 - Gil-Estel, the Star of High Hope   
O4 - In you lives the last hope of the Eldar   
O5 - When the king learns the truth you may hope for his pardon

Horror and Darkfic

Board by Independence1776   
Horror and Darkfic prompts:

B1 - dark lord wins   
B2 - ghosts, wraiths, houseless elves   
B3 - monsters   
B4 - dragons   
B5 - giant spiders

I1 - captivity   
I2 - torture   
I3 - rape   
I4 - nonconsensual body modification   
I5 - experimentation

N1 - forced to work for enemy   
N2 - betrayal   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - corruption   
N5 - “It’s for your own good.”

G1 - punishments   
G2 - death   
G3 - ruins   
G4 - mazes   
G5 - Mewlips

O1 - horror crossover   
O2 - lights in swamps   
O3 - things that go bump in the night   
O4 - things that are not what they appear   
O5 - your favorite horror element

Keep It Clean

Board by Grundy Keep It Clean prompts:

B1 - Hot tub   
B2 - Cold shower   
B3 - Sauna   
B4 - Sponge Bath   
B5 - Wash basin

I1 - Soap   
I2 - Bubble bath   
I3 - Gel   
I4 - Salts   
I5 - Oil

N1 - Shampoo   
N2 - Conditioner   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Toothpaste   
N5 - Powder

G1 - Washcloth   
G2 - Loofah   
G3 - Vihta   
G4 - Strigil   
G5 - Brush

O1 - Towel   
O2 - Robe   
O3 - Slippers   
O4 - Lotion   
O5 - Drink

The Material World

Board by Grundy The Material World prompts:

B1 - straw   
B2 - reed   
B3 - bark   
B4 - wood   
B5 - sod

I1 - wax   
I2 - brick   
I3 - stone   
I4 - metal   
I5 - glass

N1 - earth   
N2 - air   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - fire   
N5 - water

G1 - papyrus   
G2 - paper   
G3 - bamboo   
G4 - leather   
G5 - fur

O1 - hemp   
O2 - flax   
O3 - jute   
O4 - cotton   
O5 - wool

Midwinter

Board by AdmirableMonster   
Midwinter prompts

B1 - Huddling for warmth   
B2 - the Helcaraxë   
B3 - Father Christmas   
B4 - Holly & mistletoe   
B5 - Sledding

I1 - Snowflakes   
I2 - King Cake   
I3 - Hot chocolate   
I4 - Candles   
I5 - Darkness

N1 - The longest night   
N2 - Snowball fights   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Hibernation   
N5 - Gift-giving

G1 - Bonfires   
G2 - Carols & singing   
G3 - Death and rebirth   
G4 - Snow angels   
G5 - Bright stars

O1 - Family   
O2 - Frostbite   
O3 - the Oak king & the Holly king   
O4 - Tree decorating   
O5 - Blankets

Maglor Can't Catch A Break

Board by Elleth   
Maglor Can't Catch A Break prompts:

B1 - First kill in Alqualondë   
B2 - Silmaril Burns   
B3 - AU: Maglor instead of Maedhros is captured   
B4 - Easterlings' betrayal in the Nirnaeth   
B5 - Trauma

I1 - Songs of sorrow   
I2 - Everlasting darkness   
I3 - The Darkening   
I4 - Attacking Eonwë's camp   
I5 - Playing the harp until his fingers bleed

N1 - The Dispossessed shall they be forever   
N2 - Maglor in Modern Day: Medical Experiments   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Singing in pain and regret beside the waves   
N5 - Fostering Elrond and Elros

G1 - Ruler of the Fëanorians during Maedhros' captivity   
G2 - Losing his brothers   
G3 - Doriath   
G4 - Maglor in History: Witnessing historical atrocities   
G5 - Less evil shall we do in the breaking

O1 - Dagor Bragollach   
O2 - The Havens of Sirion   
O3 - Treason of kin unto kin   
O4 - Survivor's guilt   
O5 - Exile to Formenos

Music of the Ainur

Board by Grundy Music of the Ainur prompts:

Links go to videos of the song. Where possible, versions with lyrics or closed captions have been chosen.

B1 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea   
B2 What's Up Danger?   
B3 Odds Are   
B4 All Along The Watchtower   
B5 Don't Stop Me Now

I1 On the Nature of Daylight   
I2 A Midsummer Night's Dream   
I3 Summertime   
I4 Jupiter   
I5 ‘Organ’ Symphony No.3

N1 Shut Up And Dance   
N2 Love Me Now   
N3 FREE SPACE   
N4 Whenever, Wherever   
N5 Can't Get You Out Of My Head

G1 Duel of the Fates   
G2 The Bridge of Khazad-Dum   
G3 Dies Irae   
G4 O Fortuna   
G5 Ode an die Freude

O1 A Sky Full of Stars   
O2 All I Know So Far   
O3 Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of   
O4 Hold Each Other   
O5 Love Don't Die

Non-Generic Genres

Board by Dawn Felagund   
Non-Generic Genres prompts:

B1 bildungsroman   
B2 bizarro   
B3 Gothic   
B4 grimdark   
B5 fable

I1 category romance   
I2 urban fantasy   
I3 superhero   
I4 Western   
I5 hardboiled

N1 steampunk   
N2 prose poem   
N3 (free space) caper   
N4 splatter   
N5 spy fiction

G1 tall tale   
G2 picaresque   
G3 fabulation   
G4 utopian   
G5 nautical

O1 pastoral   
O2 found fiction   
O3 space opera   
O4 burlesque   
O5 weird fiction

Original Female Character (Create an OFC)

Board by EllethOriginal Female Character prompts:   
Create an OFC who is...

B1 - important to the plot   
B2 - queer   
B3 - a Dwarf   
B4 - a canon character's love interest   
B5 - an antagonist

I1 - a queen or ruler   
I2 - unimportant to canon characters   
I3 - old   
I4 - a Textual Ghost   
I5 - a side or background character

N1 - a Mary Sue   
N2 - a mother   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - unlikeable/flawed/imperfect   
N5 - a non-humanoid creature

G1 - a canon character's friend   
G2 - from a marginalized group   
G3 - childless and/or unmarried   
G4 - a Maia   
G5 - a servant

O1 - an Orc   
O2 - not defined by gender norms   
O3 - a canon character's relative   
O4 - a child   
O5 - a trans woman

Plants That Grow in Ithilien and Elsewhere

Prompts by Himring, Board by Polutropos   
Plants That Grow in Ithilien and Elsewhere prompts:

B1 terebinth   
B2 lebethron   
B3 rose   
B4 oak   
B5 saxifrage

I1 eglantine   
I2 anemone   
I3 water-lily   
I4 culumalda   
I5 cypress

N1 marjoram   
N2 lily   
N3 (free space) beyond Sam's garden-lore   
N4 tamarisk   
N5 juniper

G1 parsley   
G2 asphodel   
G3 ash-tree   
G4 stonecrop   
G5 iris

O1 celandine   
O2 cedar   
O3 ilex   
O4 thyme   
O5 myrtle

Putting the HURT in Hurt/Comfort

Board by Independence1776   
Putting the HURT in Hurt/Comfort prompts:

B1 - broken bone(s)   
B2 - torture   
B3 - brands   
B4 - fire   
B5 - lost in [location of your choice]

I1 - needles   
I2 - hypothermia   
I3 - heat illness   
I4 - drugged against your will   
I5 - forced to rely on enemy for survival

N1 - nightmares   
N2 - arrow or stab wounds   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - survivor’s guilt   
N5 - exile   
 

G1 - flashbacks   
G2 - captivity   
G3 - chains   
G4 - poison   
G5 - infection

O1 - secrets   
O2 - concussion   
O3 - dangerously ill   
O4 - solitary confinement   
O5 - beatings

Silm Smut (NSFW)

Board by Polutropos   
Silm Smut prompts:

B1 - Jewellery B2 - Osanwe B3 - Pining B4 - Mind control B5 - Healing Sex

I1 - Bondage   
I2 - Polyamory   
I3 - Shapeshifting   
I4 - Incest   
I5 - Toys

N1 - Monsterfucking   
*N2 - “disastrous expense” (From The Nature of Middle-earth: “[The act of procreation] was one of the acts of chief delight, in process and in memory, in an Elvish life, but its intensity alone provided its importance, not its time or length: it could not have been endured for a great length of time, without disastrous “expense.”)   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Soul Bond   
N5 - Hair

G1 - Bloodplay   
G2 - Laws and Customs among the Eldar   
G3 - Experimentation   
G4 - Music   
G5 - Teacher/Pupil

O1 - Liege/Vassal   
O2 - Oaths   
*O3 - “Philoprogenitive” (From The Nature of Middle-earth: “The Quendi at first (to 3 gens.?) were very philoprogenitive. They mated almost at once with their predestined mates. It was not for some time, when their young, inexperienced fëar began to take command, that their other faculties demanded fulfilment…”)   
O4 - Throne Sex   
O5 - Knifeplay

Tell Her Story

Board by Flora-lass   
Tell Her Story prompts:

B1 - Firiel of Gondor  
B2 - Adamanta Chubb  
B3 - Finduilas of Dol Amroth  
B4 - Nimloth  
B5 - Dis

I1 - Morwen of Lossarnach  
I2 - Estella Bolger  
I3 - Vidumavi  
I4 - Fimbrethil  
I5 - Hild

N1 - Silmariën  
N2 - Goldilocks Gardner  
N3 - Free Space  
N4 - Gil-galad's mother  
N5 - Gimli's mother/Gloin's wife

G1 - Elros’ wife  
G2 - The Took fairy wife  
G3 - Isildur's wife  
G4 - Oropher's wife/Thranduil's mother  
G5 - the wife of Durin I (the Deathless)

O1 - Tar-Telperiën  
O2 - Firiel Fairbairn  
O3 - Arwen and Aragorn's daughters  
O4 - Findis  
O5 - Ilmarë

Tolkien Meta

Board by Dawn Felagund
Tolkien Meta prompts:

B1 - defend an AU   
B2 - meta fiction   
B3 - race, gender, sexuality (oh my)   
B4 - science & tech   
B5 - fix it

I1 - character study   
I2 - What even IS canon?   
I3 - geography maps places   
I4 - multimedia   
I5 - Tolkien's sources

N1 - bibliography or reading list   
N2 - worldbuilding   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - annotate a chapter   
N5 - music & art

G1 - unpopular opinion   
G2 - Tolkien as history   
G3 - infographic   
G4 - ship manifesto   
G5 - contradictions

O1 - everything about fanon   
O2 - films & shows   
O3 - headcanon away!   
O4 - fans fandom fanworks   
O5 - literary analysis

Villains...or are they?

Board by Grundy Villains...or are they? prompts:

B1 - Gothmog   
B2 - Durin's Bane   
B3 - Lungorthin   
B4 - Draugluin   
B5 - Carcharoth

I1 - Ulfang   
I2 - Brodda   
I3 - Lorgan   
I4 - Ar-Pharazôn   
I5 - Khamûl

N1 - Morgoth   
N2 - Sauron   
N3 - FREE SPACE   
N4 - Ungoliant   
N5 - Thuringwethil

G1 - Ancalagon   
G2 - Glaurung   
G3 - Scatha   
G4 - Gostir   
G5 - Smaug

O1 - the Great Goblin   
O2 - Bolg   
O3 - Azog   
O4 - Grishnakh   
O5 - Gorgol