The VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
I've been very happy that we (Compose Dream Games) has been able to make it available in print and in PDF for both Canada and now the UK.
Canada: The Monster Overhaul
United Kingdom (and EU): The Monster Overhaul
Your FLGS can also order it in for you from us! The book is already on it's 3rd...
That's an interesting point. Narrative magnitude can be a pretty real thing.
In Simple Superheroes #0 people start with a choice of three arrays to pick. Focused, Standard, or Well-rounded.
Focused get fewer higher ranked talents, while well-rounded get more lower ranked talents. Focused...
Interesting, the last one in particular seem to match my Scenario Game definition, which I don't think I have actually heard anyone use before!
I would agree that "Zine" is just format. A short "half-sized" saddle-stitched book. There's some overlap but there's plenty of adventures for other...
This is a refreshing take, and a freeing one.
I recall a story about Dave Arneson running games at conventions and handing out character sheets from different editions (3e, Basic, AD&D and I believe something else entirely like Adventures in Fantasy maybe). Some of the players were naturally...
Exactly, there are always borderline cases. Lots of starter sets for RPGs or similar might come with maps, dice, figures etc too, but that isn't the expected norm.
Alright, this has been percolating for a bit. I think I would go with: Scenario Games.
Think of it as an Adventure+System. They are written to facilitate a relatively narrow story -- much like a scenario or adventure for a larger system -- but include all the necessary mechanics and context to...
I spent a chunk of today chatting with a boardgame cafe owner at OtonaCon in Peterborough about RPGs, storygames, and the border between boardgames and these.
They are often pretty blurry. Once a game is GMless it can be more so.
To me the main difference is two-fold --
a) a boardgame...
I enjoyed reading some of @robertsconley blog posts and I'm pretty tempted to pick up the book!
Most recently I have considered running the "underdark" style hexcrawls in AA#23 Down the Shadowvein and it's sequel AA#24 The Mouth of the Shadowvein because of the somewhat linear river and...
@_HERETIC_
Looks like you are new here on ENworld, so if you have read and played dozens of very different RPGs . . . then what follows doesn't apply.
My best advice to someone who is looking to design a system is combine things you like from multiple (at least two) different games that you...
You need to specify your DnD edition ;) Your description I take to mean 3ed + versions.
If you only ever use ability attribute modifiers and never use the actual scores for anything, then you do not need the scores.
Many games use just modifiers that are actually used in rolls and these are...
Hot take:
Unless you plan to have your system uses ability checks where you roll under their value (i.e. make a dex check -- Frank the Fighters dex is 12 -- he roles 3d6 or a d20 and hopes to get 12 or under) don't have attributes like this. Have a -2 to +3.
Got six stats? Give them 6 points...
The first "writer's room" game I encountered (played it at an event) was Universalis (first release in 2002, very Forge Era). I pretty much described it that way before I heard the term (it feels like you are a bunch of writers brainstorming a movie or TV series.)
Most systems I've played along...
Looks like your store is in BC, Canada?
If you'd like I'd be happy to send a little package of Canadian RPGs from ComposeDreamGames.com your way as a "that sucks and here's a small way we can help."
You are welcome to send me a PM to talk further.
There's a lot I could say on this topic and I intend to respond to some specifics of others thoughts. Here's some of mine:
A1: Each of my game designs should have its own set of design principles/goals. (Otherwise why make a new game? The "A"s below are other apriori items.)
A2: Mechanics and...