#ttrpgdesign — Public Fediverse posts

Had an email from a groovy gamer asking about Applesauce, and the word "innovative" floated into the conversation, where it absolutely does not belong, for Applesauce. 🍏 😅 🍎 🤔 🍍 😆

I hope nobody's _hoping_ for that. It hasn't been among my design goals since I was 16 or 17.

I am presently whatever the opposite of a teenager is. Codger, coot, fogey. 😄

Quality quality quality. Novelty only when the needs of the design give me no choice.

#RPGFogey #TTRPGDesign #Consumerism #TTRPG

Had an email from a groovy gamer asking about Applesauce, and the word "innovative" floated into the conversation, where it absolutely does not belong, for Applesauce. 🍏 😅 🍎 🤔 🍍 😆

I hope nobody's _hoping_ for that. It hasn't been among my design goals since I was 16 or 17.

I am presently whatever the opposite of a teenager is. Codger, coot, fogey. 😄

Quality quality quality. Novelty only when the needs of the design give me no choice.

#RPGFogey #TTRPGDesign #Consumerism #TTRPG

Applesauce pregens each include the hundred-word text of the game system, along with an example (or two) specific to the character.

For a while I struggled to find a good universal _format_ for the examples.

Then I remembered that I think symmetry is for dipshits. Mantra of mine for most of my life.

The question is how I FORGOT that basic pillar of my design philosophy, in that context, for over a year. 😂

Ah well. Chalk it up to being a numbskull. And a dipshit. 😬

#TTRPG #TTRPGDesign

Applesauce pregens each include the hundred-word text of the game system, along with an example (or two) specific to the character.

For a while I struggled to find a good universal _format_ for the examples.

Then I remembered that I think symmetry is for dipshits. Mantra of mine for most of my life.

The question is how I FORGOT that basic pillar of my design philosophy, in that context, for over a year. 😂

Ah well. Chalk it up to being a numbskull. And a dipshit. 😬

#TTRPG #TTRPGDesign

So I had an idea for a game supplement, a book of spells, but with the framing being a mage going to each of these other casters to learn what they're willing to share or teach. So I collected spells I (& Gwynn) had come up with in previous games.
Oh gods, that's a lot of spells.
How did we get that many? Wait oh, over three plus decades... um... maybe this needs pruning?! lol

#ttrpg #ttrpgdesign

So I had an idea for a game supplement, a book of spells, but with the framing being a mage going to each of these other casters to learn what they're willing to share or teach. So I collected spells I (& Gwynn) had come up with in previous games.
Oh gods, that's a lot of spells.
How did we get that many? Wait oh, over three plus decades... um... maybe this needs pruning?! lol

#ttrpg #ttrpgdesign

RPGaDay2026 Day 9: Privilege.

“Silver is for peasants” – Lord Reginald Archibald III.

Once a knight of virtue and valor, then a money lender followed by a brief stint as and exchequer, now lord regent of the town of Lunae where he is treated as royalty. “Old Reggie” rarely leaves his manor at the center of town where he is waited-on 24/7, truly a mallard of privilege. He has never bothered to marry or have offspring because then he would have to share his wealth with someone and children are expensive.

The only time Lord Reginald Archibald III bothers to sully himself dealing with the peasants is when someone fails to pay what is owed or taxes. He once negotiated with a baron for admittance to Lunae but cast that ruffian to the outskirts of town for being too poor. Ironically that same baron was the very man who gave Reginald his start. His trusted seneschal, Rupert, now deals with such matters so long as they are to Archibald’s liking.

[Dark Secret: Reginald occasionally commits hostile takeovers or has his rivals murdered outright, usually by using assassins no one can trace back to him. He acquired the town’s brothel, the Tired Boar Inn, and the town’s exchequer this way. Crossing or betraying this mallard usually leads to a visit from his thugs.]

His two biggest fears in life are vampires and becoming poor. He is utterly paranoid of both which is why he keeps to himself and knows everyone in his household extremely well. He regularly tests his night staff to make sure they are not vampires or under the influence of a vampire. Unfortunately interacting with the peasants is just something that happens sometimes.

Adventurers coming into Lunae are usually viewed as a threat or trouble. The town guard are 100% unshakably loyal to Lord Archibald. Most of the businesses and shops are owned or owe taxes to the Lord. Most of the townsfolk are very careful how they speak about him. Artisan, Mariner, Merchant and possibly Knight characters should be especially wary of wandering into Lunae because Lord Archibald’s guard will likely escort the group to meet Rupert.

The Lord wants a percentage of any coin earned while the group is in town and charges an additional “Adventurer’s Fee” of 1 GP each for access to the town’s services such as the armorer, blacksmith, stables, and of course, the apothecary. He does fancy Bards and Scholars and will work out a deal to keep them around so long as they sing his praises and listen to his long-winded stories about all of his various exploits.

“If one didn’t know better, you’d swear I have a private pond where I swim in gold coins. Preposterous!” –Lord Reginald Archibald III.

RPGaDay2026 Day 9: Privilege.

“Silver is for peasants” – Lord Reginald Archibald III.

Once a knight of virtue and valor, then a money lender followed by a brief stint as and exchequer, now lord regent of the town of Lunae where he is treated as royalty. “Old Reggie” rarely leaves his manor at the center of town where he is waited-on 24/7, truly a mallard of privilege. He has never bothered to marry or have offspring because then he would have to share his wealth with someone and children are expensive.

The only time Lord Reginald Archibald III bothers to sully himself dealing with the peasants is when someone fails to pay what is owed or taxes. He once negotiated with a baron for admittance to Lunae but cast that ruffian to the outskirts of town for being too poor. Ironically that same baron was the very man who gave Reginald his start. His trusted seneschal, Rupert, now deals with such matters so long as they are to Archibald’s liking.

[Dark Secret: Reginald occasionally commits hostile takeovers or has his rivals murdered outright, usually by using assassins no one can trace back to him. He acquired the town’s brothel, the Tired Boar Inn, and the town’s exchequer this way. Crossing or betraying this mallard usually leads to a visit from his thugs.]

His two biggest fears in life are vampires and becoming poor. He is utterly paranoid of both which is why he keeps to himself and knows everyone in his household extremely well. He regularly tests his night staff to make sure they are not vampires or under the influence of a vampire. Unfortunately interacting with the peasants is just something that happens sometimes.

Adventurers coming into Lunae are usually viewed as a threat or trouble. The town guard are 100% unshakably loyal to Lord Archibald. Most of the businesses and shops are owned or owe taxes to the Lord. Most of the townsfolk are very careful how they speak about him. Artisan, Mariner, Merchant and possibly Knight characters should be especially wary of wandering into Lunae because Lord Archibald’s guard will likely escort the group to meet Rupert.

The Lord wants a percentage of any coin earned while the group is in town and charges an additional “Adventurer’s Fee” of 1 GP each for access to the town’s services such as the armorer, blacksmith, stables, and of course, the apothecary. He does fancy Bards and Scholars and will work out a deal to keep them around so long as they sing his praises and listen to his long-winded stories about all of his various exploits.

“If one didn’t know better, you’d swear I have a private pond where I swim in gold coins. Preposterous!” –Lord Reginald Archibald III.

RPGaDay2026 Day 8: Resolve.

“Dwarves never quit.” –Stimpson.

As stated in the rules, Dragonbane Dwarves tend to carry a bit of a grudge against anyone who ever harmed them. Stimpson is a fine example of that. He usually doesn’t wear an armor and swears helmets are for the faint of heart. He is the definition of stubborn, even more so when he’s angry. He definitely remembers anyone who ever made him angry.

Stimpson is a hands-on bareknuckle brawler. Humans have called him a “wrestler,” whatever that means. He’s not afraid to pick up an axe, sword, club, or whatever, but he prefers to beat the unholy living crap out of things with his knuckledusters or his bare hands.

Stimpson definitely has a softer side, though. He’s a bit of a ladies’ dwarf when he’s out on the town with friends. When he has friends, anyway. When he’s in a town he actually remembers the name of, mostly. Stimpson tends to drink heavily when he’s not flirting or showing off. He is one burly dwarf, after all.

He’s not much for artistic or intellectual pursuits beyond brewing and occasionally helping around the inn in exchange for a room and food. He loves dogs. Dogs are loyal and a good judge of character. Stimpson’s favorite dog is a bulldog named Renaldo who follows him around most of the time. The two seem to have no problems finding adventures or trouble, sometimes both.

Stat block to come at a later date.

I feel like sometimes it’s okay to lean into well-worn tropes and stereotypes. It especially makes NPCs easier to relate-to and get along with or not depending. I could see myself playing Stimpson as a PC or just having him be someone the group bumps into now and then. He’d make a terrible NPC torchbearer or porter, but he is built for adventure. Maybe he’d follow the group into a dungeon with the promise of ale and wenches afterward. He’s cool like that.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 7: Mercy.

Dorvin, the village apothecary for Dragonbane RPG.

Once upon a time there lived an Orc named Dorvin the Mad who ran with a tribe of embittered mercenaries-turned-bandits along the Timber Road. Betrayed by humans on more than one occasion, the bandits of Dorvin’s Missing Tooth Tribe were ruthless attacking traders and loggers all up and down the road, even attacking fellow Orcs in the logging town to the north once.

One day Dorvin’s troop attacked a caravan bound for the human settlement of Pinehold, and he was struck down by a lucky crossbow shot from one of the guards. His fellow orcs promptly abandoned him and fled. The caravan guard beat Dorvin senseless, laughing as they went. A thin young lady hopped down from the carriage and approached them.

Her name was Sella Fenroot. With a simple wave of her hand and a bright, cheerful smile she convinced them to stop. She then convinced the guard to drape Dorvin over his horse, and they continued on to Pinehold.

Sella had Dorvin taken to the village apothecary, a doddering elder gentleman named Alton who immediately took the orc into his cottage to treat his wounds. Dorvin pulled through, but it was uncertain for several days while the apothecary did all he could. When Dorvin awoke, he was surprised by his surroundings and even more by his caretaker. Sella even dropped by to check on him and receive overwhelming thanks.

Making amends for prior bad deeds.

Dorvin remembers most of his life before the severe beating that landed him in Pinehold. He has no need to battle any more. He saw that bloodshed was not a means to an end. Alton was not long from retiring and wanted to spend more time tending his garden, so he agreed to teach Dorvin the ways of the apothecary.

Dorvin’s battle axe now hangs on the wall of the new apothecary’s shack Dorvin built for himself. He is becoming a welcome member of Pinehold and has learned much from Alton. Most of the town now comes to him with their minor maladies and he still consults Alton with cases he can’t cure on his own. He appreciates Sella and speaks to her often.

Dorvin, NPC Apothecary.
HP 18. WP 12
Skills: Axes 15, Bushcraft 14, Healing 12, Hunting & Fishing 12, Alchemy 10.
Knows the following Alchemy Recipes (Book of Magic.)
Herbal Concoction, Medicinal Water, Antidote, Healing Draught.
On any given day he has enough material on hand to brew two potions.

Dorvin will go to great lengths to avoid conflict with the group. He rarely charges more for potions than what he needs for flasks and components.

RPGaDay2026 Day 7: Mercy.

Dorvin, the village apothecary for Dragonbane RPG.

Once upon a time there lived an Orc named Dorvin the Mad who ran with a tribe of embittered mercenaries-turned-bandits along the Timber Road. Betrayed by humans on more than one occasion, the bandits of Dorvin’s Missing Tooth Tribe were ruthless attacking traders and loggers all up and down the road, even attacking fellow Orcs in the logging town to the north once.

One day Dorvin’s troop attacked a caravan bound for the human settlement of Pinehold, and he was struck down by a lucky crossbow shot from one of the guards. His fellow orcs promptly abandoned him and fled. The caravan guard beat Dorvin senseless, laughing as they went. A thin young lady hopped down from the carriage and approached them.

Her name was Sella Fenroot. With a simple wave of her hand and a bright, cheerful smile she convinced them to stop. She then convinced the guard to drape Dorvin over his horse, and they continued on to Pinehold.

Sella had Dorvin taken to the village apothecary, a doddering elder gentleman named Alton who immediately took the orc into his cottage to treat his wounds. Dorvin pulled through, but it was uncertain for several days while the apothecary did all he could. When Dorvin awoke, he was surprised by his surroundings and even more by his caretaker. Sella even dropped by to check on him and receive overwhelming thanks.

Making amends for prior bad deeds.

Dorvin remembers most of his life before the severe beating that landed him in Pinehold. He has no need to battle any more. He saw that bloodshed was not a means to an end. Alton was not long from retiring and wanted to spend more time tending his garden, so he agreed to teach Dorvin the ways of the apothecary.

Dorvin’s battle axe now hangs on the wall of the new apothecary’s shack Dorvin built for himself. He is becoming a welcome member of Pinehold and has learned much from Alton. Most of the town now comes to him with their minor maladies and he still consults Alton with cases he can’t cure on his own. He appreciates Sella and speaks to her often.

Dorvin, NPC Apothecary.
HP 18. WP 12
Skills: Axes 15, Bushcraft 14, Healing 12, Hunting & Fishing 12, Alchemy 10.
Knows the following Alchemy Recipes (Book of Magic.)
Herbal Concoction, Medicinal Water, Antidote, Healing Draught.
On any given day he has enough material on hand to brew two potions.

Dorvin will go to great lengths to avoid conflict with the group. He rarely charges more for potions than what he needs for flasks and components.

RPGaDay2026 Day 6: Reach.

Hacks. Hero or Menace?

Continuing with RPGaDay2026 we have another superhero for the Reformed Cinematic Universe.

Character Name: Marlon Johnson.
Codename: Hacks.
Team: The Reformed.
Powers: Cybernetic Interface, Teleportation.
Incarcerated For: Breaking and Entering, Burglary, Computer Crimes, Hacking, various minor charges.

Marlon Johnson was a victim of circumstance originally. He was a fairly average high school kid living in inner city Detroit when a freak bolt of lighting struck him and the laptop he was using through an open window. Somehow Marlon survived even though the house was destroyed and his laptop. No one else was home at the time.

Desperate to get a new laptop and get into a decent college, Marlon began planning thefts of the components he would need to build a new computer. That’s when he discovered his unique ability to interact with various electronic devices using just his mind. Soon electronics stores were missing high dollar inventory with no indication of anything on camera or alarms triggered.

Then Marlon got a little too cocky. He thought he found the perfect bank. He had the cameras shut down, the alarms disabled, and the vault unlocked in the First National Bank. He confidently walked through the front door with two empty duffel bags ready to steal his college tuition. He didn’t count on the branch manager working late. Before Marlon could finish filling the second bag, police had the building surrounded.

Walking out of the vault with money in hand, Marlon was staring down the barrels of guns held by several angry looking police officers. Marlon wished to be anywhere, but where he was. He thought about his favorite burger restaurant. He remembered his favorite booth where he hung out with his brother and friends. Just as he was putting the first bag on the floor, POOF! He was in the restaurant, money still in hand.

Marlon managed to erase the police body cam footage from the incident as soon as he got home through the second use of his teleportation. He learned that the power has a range that becomes progressively shorter each time he used it and the power itself was becoming exhausting with each use. Marlon breathed easy knowing he was set for life, and no one could stop him.

Unfortunately for Marlon, his brother got messed up with the wrong gang. Tragedy struck as his parents were gunned down in front of the house, and police showed up asking a lot of questions. Marlon managed to hide his ill-gotten gain in the attic, but freeing his brother from federal custody was another issue entirely.

What Marlon didn’t know is that his brother’s incarceration was mostly to bait him into using his powers one last time. The Unknown Detective had experience dealing with teleporters and cyber criminals. It didn’t take him long to sus out Marlon and his brother. His family’s death was an unintended side effect of angering a violent gang who were later brought to custody by the Unknown Detective.

Marlon’s brother was later released and found not guilty due to a technicality. Marlon teleported himself directly into a holding cell where the Detective slapped nullifying isolation cuffs on his wrists as soon as he appeared. Marlon was later sentenced and sent to the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where he met Jack Kingston and agreed to help the team in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Marlon has turned out to be one of the team’s most powerful assets. He can control communications, hack into almost any facility that has a computer, teleport into any room he has seen or can see through various camera systems. He once even grounded a helicopter before a notorious gangster could escape arrest.

He has a crush on his teammate, Charade. Jack does not approve of any fraternization on the team, but Marlon frequently messages Charade and they spend a lot of time together when Jack isn’t looking. He also sneaks out for pizza and burgers after lights out. So far he hasn’t gotten caught nor has he committed any crimes while working with The Reformed.

Marlon does still bear a grudge against The Unknown Detective and has been trying to track down the mystery masked man for a showdown. Luckily, Detective keeps a low profile and lives completely off the grid.

Hacks came up for this prompt because his reach extends far and wide due to his ability to see anywhere with a camera on the internet and usually teleport there. Hacks is what has been classified as a “serial teleporter” because he has to make multiple jumps to cover long distances. If pushed too hard, repeated rapid teleportation has landed him in the hospital with nosebleeds, dehydration, severe exhaustion, and a seizure on one occasion. Luckily he is not a criminal at heart and Jack is hoping to reign him in to make Hacks a force for good.

All characters mentioned in this post are fictional. Any semblance to real world individuals living or deceased is purely unintentional. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 6: Reach.

Hacks. Hero or Menace?

Continuing with RPGaDay2026 we have another superhero for the Reformed Cinematic Universe.

Character Name: Marlon Johnson.
Codename: Hacks.
Team: The Reformed.
Powers: Cybernetic Interface, Teleportation.
Incarcerated For: Breaking and Entering, Burglary, Computer Crimes, Hacking, various minor charges.

Marlon Johnson was a victim of circumstance originally. He was a fairly average high school kid living in inner city Detroit when a freak bolt of lighting struck him and the laptop he was using through an open window. Somehow Marlon survived even though the house was destroyed and his laptop. No one else was home at the time.

Desperate to get a new laptop and get into a decent college, Marlon began planning thefts of the components he would need to build a new computer. That’s when he discovered his unique ability to interact with various electronic devices using just his mind. Soon electronics stores were missing high dollar inventory with no indication of anything on camera or alarms triggered.

Then Marlon got a little too cocky. He thought he found the perfect bank. He had the cameras shut down, the alarms disabled, and the vault unlocked in the First National Bank. He confidently walked through the front door with two empty duffel bags ready to steal his college tuition. He didn’t count on the branch manager working late. Before Marlon could finish filling the second bag, police had the building surrounded.

Walking out of the vault with money in hand, Marlon was staring down the barrels of guns held by several angry looking police officers. Marlon wished to be anywhere, but where he was. He thought about his favorite burger restaurant. He remembered his favorite booth where he hung out with his brother and friends. Just as he was putting the first bag on the floor, POOF! He was in the restaurant, money still in hand.

Marlon managed to erase the police body cam footage from the incident as soon as he got home through the second use of his teleportation. He learned that the power has a range that becomes progressively shorter each time he used it and the power itself was becoming exhausting with each use. Marlon breathed easy knowing he was set for life, and no one could stop him.

Unfortunately for Marlon, his brother got messed up with the wrong gang. Tragedy struck as his parents were gunned down in front of the house, and police showed up asking a lot of questions. Marlon managed to hide his ill-gotten gain in the attic, but freeing his brother from federal custody was another issue entirely.

What Marlon didn’t know is that his brother’s incarceration was mostly to bait him into using his powers one last time. The Unknown Detective had experience dealing with teleporters and cyber criminals. It didn’t take him long to sus out Marlon and his brother. His family’s death was an unintended side effect of angering a violent gang who were later brought to custody by the Unknown Detective.

Marlon’s brother was later released and found not guilty due to a technicality. Marlon teleported himself directly into a holding cell where the Detective slapped nullifying isolation cuffs on his wrists as soon as he appeared. Marlon was later sentenced and sent to the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where he met Jack Kingston and agreed to help the team in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Marlon has turned out to be one of the team’s most powerful assets. He can control communications, hack into almost any facility that has a computer, teleport into any room he has seen or can see through various camera systems. He once even grounded a helicopter before a notorious gangster could escape arrest.

He has a crush on his teammate, Charade. Jack does not approve of any fraternization on the team, but Marlon frequently messages Charade and they spend a lot of time together when Jack isn’t looking. He also sneaks out for pizza and burgers after lights out. So far he hasn’t gotten caught nor has he committed any crimes while working with The Reformed.

Marlon does still bear a grudge against The Unknown Detective and has been trying to track down the mystery masked man for a showdown. Luckily, Detective keeps a low profile and lives completely off the grid.

Hacks came up for this prompt because his reach extends far and wide due to his ability to see anywhere with a camera on the internet and usually teleport there. Hacks is what has been classified as a “serial teleporter” because he has to make multiple jumps to cover long distances. If pushed too hard, repeated rapid teleportation has landed him in the hospital with nosebleeds, dehydration, severe exhaustion, and a seizure on one occasion. Luckily he is not a criminal at heart and Jack is hoping to reign him in to make Hacks a force for good.

All characters mentioned in this post are fictional. Any semblance to real world individuals living or deceased is purely unintentional. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 5: Burden.

“With great power comes great responsibility or something.” –Someone’s Uncle.

Elmer “the Great” has to forever live thinking he turned his best friend into a chicken.

Name Elmer.
Origin: Heir. Great grandson of the famous Wizard, Xoltar.
Kin: Huma
Way of Magic.

Elmer was practicing magic secretly in his barn for years because his family did not want him to grow up to be a mage. Elmer, having learned of his grandfather, decided he was going to be a great Champion someday and began learning the arcane arts.

Elmer’s best friend, Stan, was watching him one day and dared him to cast a spell. Elmer cast what he thought was an exciting spell and when the smoke cleared there was a chicken where Stan once stood. Stan of course dipped out through the back door of the barn with all of the smoke and confusion. Then Stan got distracted by farm chores and laying in the hot sun by the pond.

Meanwhile, Elmer, firmly believing Stan had been transformed into a chicken, panicked and cast more spells trying to cure his chicken of the curse he thought he had placed. After several failed attempts, Elmer collected his prized possessions, Stan the Chicken, and headed out on the open road knowing that his parents and Stan’s father would be furious.

Elmer wants to be a Champion like his great grandfather and learn how to “fix” Stan along the way.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 5: Burden.

“With great power comes great responsibility or something.” –Someone’s Uncle.

Elmer “the Great” has to forever live thinking he turned his best friend into a chicken.

Name Elmer.
Origin: Heir. Great grandson of the famous Wizard, Xoltar.
Kin: Huma
Way of Magic.

Elmer was practicing magic secretly in his barn for years because his family did not want him to grow up to be a mage. Elmer, having learned of his grandfather, decided he was going to be a great Champion someday and began learning the arcane arts.

Elmer’s best friend, Stan, was watching him one day and dared him to cast a spell. Elmer cast what he thought was an exciting spell and when the smoke cleared there was a chicken where Stan once stood. Stan of course dipped out through the back door of the barn with all of the smoke and confusion. Then Stan got distracted by farm chores and laying in the hot sun by the pond.

Meanwhile, Elmer, firmly believing Stan had been transformed into a chicken, panicked and cast more spells trying to cure his chicken of the curse he thought he had placed. After several failed attempts, Elmer collected his prized possessions, Stan the Chicken, and headed out on the open road knowing that his parents and Stan’s father would be furious.

Elmer wants to be a Champion like his great grandfather and learn how to “fix” Stan along the way.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 2: Stature

Meet my first ever Twilight Sword Character.

We call him Brick. He is a Pengu. Brick comes from humble beginnings and has decided to pick up his club and rid the world of bad guys. He might not be the smartest champion in the group, but he is one of the biggest and strongest.

Name: Brick
Origin: Chosen.
Kin: Pengu.
Way of the Hammer (Lands of Radia.)

Personality: Brick is actually pretty easy going despite his imposing stature. He likes the simple things in life such as fishing and sunsets. He is usually the first to volunteer for hard work and remains super loyal to his friends. He might be considered a touch gullible, but he is quick to trust and make friends.

He will carve a path of destruction in pursuit of bad guys. His one true goal in life is to see everyone happy and having fun. If someone hurts one of Brick’s friends, they had better run.

Jeff Note: I figure an 8 Bit character doesn’t need a huge backstory. How much did we really know about Link or any of the Final Fantasy PCs? It’s enough to know that Brick is a big dude and he enjoys the simple things in life. He’s also adept and eager to bash bad guys on the head.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 2: Stature

Meet my first ever Twilight Sword Character.

We call him Brick. He is a Pengu. Brick comes from humble beginnings and has decided to pick up his club and rid the world of bad guys. He might not be the smartest champion in the group, but he is one of the biggest and strongest.

Name: Brick
Origin: Chosen.
Kin: Pengu.
Way of the Hammer (Lands of Radia.)

Personality: Brick is actually pretty easy going despite his imposing stature. He likes the simple things in life such as fishing and sunsets. He is usually the first to volunteer for hard work and remains super loyal to his friends. He might be considered a touch gullible, but he is quick to trust and make friends.

He will carve a path of destruction in pursuit of bad guys. His one true goal in life is to see everyone happy and having fun. If someone hurts one of Brick’s friends, they had better run.

Jeff Note: I figure an 8 Bit character doesn’t need a huge backstory. How much did we really know about Link or any of the Final Fantasy PCs? It’s enough to know that Brick is a big dude and he enjoys the simple things in life. He’s also adept and eager to bash bad guys on the head.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

I am trying to dust off some of my neglected #wips, including my portal fantasy paragon game.

So let me know your favourite public domain stories/works and help me figure out the worlds to include. 👀👀👀

#ttrpgdesign #ttrpgcommunity #writingcommunity

I am trying to dust off some of my neglected #wips, including my portal fantasy paragon game.

So let me know your favourite public domain stories/works and help me figure out the worlds to include. 👀👀👀

#ttrpgdesign #ttrpgcommunity #writingcommunity

RPGaDay2026 Day 1: Discipline

For use with Outgunned Superheroes or any Supers RPG.

Character Name: Jack Kingston
Codename: Warden
Team Name: The Reformed.

Jack Kingston is the leader and primary contact for The Reformed, a group of “super elite misfits” as he calls them. He eagerly stepped into his role when the Department of Justice asked him to pick a team of metahuman inmates willing to cooperate in exchange for reduced sentences and time out of jail. Prior to this assignment, Jack was a guard at the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where his record was exemplary.

Before his life as a guard in one of the toughest prisons in America, Jack was a drill instructor for the United States Marine Corps. He is skilled in leadership and tactics as well as training in a variety of weapons. His physical prowess and overall being a gung-ho marine inspired the troops who trained under him.

While he possesses superior physical trains and mental agility, he was chosen for this mission because Jack has a hidden metahuman ability. He is what is called a nega-psychic. Basically he is immune to most mind control and magic effects. He just doesn’t believe in “any of that horse sh*t or nonsense” and it doesn’t affect him.

Jack isn’t afraid of field work but has to spend most of his time in Command & Communications making sure the team stays on mission. He is also the team’s primary liaison with the government and the Nevada Board of Corrections. Jack is accountable for any mistakes or damages the team might cause and is very upfront about his responsibilities.

While he tries to instill discipline and keep the team in line, Jack understands that they are mostly civilians and following orders is difficult for them. It never stops him from trying or getting really loud and abrasive when people don’t listen.

He is equipped with Kevlar body armor, a master comms headset, charged nightstick, and star metal K-Bar knife. He usually has a sidearm pistol and/or a taser which he rarely uses.

Catch Phrase: Somebody has to keep this bunch in line.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

RPGaDay2026 Day 1: Discipline

For use with Outgunned Superheroes or any Supers RPG.

Character Name: Jack Kingston
Codename: Warden
Team Name: The Reformed.

Jack Kingston is the leader and primary contact for The Reformed, a group of “super elite misfits” as he calls them. He eagerly stepped into his role when the Department of Justice asked him to pick a team of metahuman inmates willing to cooperate in exchange for reduced sentences and time out of jail. Prior to this assignment, Jack was a guard at the Fresno Nevada Correctional Facility for Metahumans where his record was exemplary.

Before his life as a guard in one of the toughest prisons in America, Jack was a drill instructor for the United States Marine Corps. He is skilled in leadership and tactics as well as training in a variety of weapons. His physical prowess and overall being a gung-ho marine inspired the troops who trained under him.

While he possesses superior physical trains and mental agility, he was chosen for this mission because Jack has a hidden metahuman ability. He is what is called a nega-psychic. Basically he is immune to most mind control and magic effects. He just doesn’t believe in “any of that horse sh*t or nonsense” and it doesn’t affect him.

Jack isn’t afraid of field work but has to spend most of his time in Command & Communications making sure the team stays on mission. He is also the team’s primary liaison with the government and the Nevada Board of Corrections. Jack is accountable for any mistakes or damages the team might cause and is very upfront about his responsibilities.

While he tries to instill discipline and keep the team in line, Jack understands that they are mostly civilians and following orders is difficult for them. It never stops him from trying or getting really loud and abrasive when people don’t listen.

He is equipped with Kevlar body armor, a master comms headset, charged nightstick, and star metal K-Bar knife. He usually has a sidearm pistol and/or a taser which he rarely uses.

Catch Phrase: Somebody has to keep this bunch in line.

I say it every year, but I think 2026 bears repeating it. This year I intend to write more, read more, and discuss cool TTRPGs as well as supplements. Most of all, let’s just have more fun. Let’s explore. Let’s save the kingdom from the evil warlord. Let’s discuss all the fun stuff in gaming that we love.

With the world in the state it finds itself in today, please be kind. Please be considerate to one another even if we don’t agree. Lastly, please pursue the thing that brings you the most joy without harm to others. Thank you!

#RPGaDay2026

This year’s challenge involves characters.

1. Discipline
2. Stature
3. Poise
4. Charm
5. Burden
6. Reach
7. Mercy
8. Resolve
9. Privilege
10. Secret
11. Tact
12. Loss
13. Strain
14. Regard
15. Endurance
16. Composure
17. Intensity
18. Directness
19. Desire
20. Promise
21. Charity
22. Grit
23. Fortune
24. Distance
25. Familiarity
26. Regret
27. Hunger
28. Devotion
29. Labour
30. Pride
31. Edge.

The idea behind this year’s challenge is to keep it positive, make characters and NPCs, make sure to tag #RPGaDay2026, @autocratik, and @runeslinger.

#RPGaDay2026

This year’s challenge involves characters.

1. Discipline
2. Stature
3. Poise
4. Charm
5. Burden
6. Reach
7. Mercy
8. Resolve
9. Privilege
10. Secret
11. Tact
12. Loss
13. Strain
14. Regard
15. Endurance
16. Composure
17. Intensity
18. Directness
19. Desire
20. Promise
21. Charity
22. Grit
23. Fortune
24. Distance
25. Familiarity
26. Regret
27. Hunger
28. Devotion
29. Labour
30. Pride
31. Edge.

The idea behind this year’s challenge is to keep it positive, make characters and NPCs, make sure to tag #RPGaDay2026, @autocratik, and @runeslinger.

Wondering what forms of energy aliens species might use--as biological processes. We use electro-chemical processes, but could other energy transfer work? I mean plants aren't that dissimilar, of course.

#aliencreatopm #ttrpg #ttrpg-design #speculative-biology

Aliens. What are your favorite alien species in sci-fi novels, tabletop rpgs, or shows?

#aliens #sci-fi #ttrpg-design #ttrpg

Aliens. What are your favorite alien species in sci-fi novels, tabletop rpgs, or shows?

#aliens #sci-fi #ttrpg-design #ttrpg

Wrote a blog post where I convinced myself that I have too many projects

https://pennylescroche.codeberg.page/posts/status-update-july-2026/

#webcomic #gamedev #ttrpg #ttrpgDesign #blog

Wow, a year and three days before I actually continued this thread. Amazing. (#ADHD 😆 )

So continuing on, here's some actual information about the game, starting with some high-level design features:

Universality: The system is "setting agnostic", and can be used with any setting, existing or created by you.

Creativity: The system includes a large toolset for you to create or adapt your perfect setting, in any genre and any level of detail you desire.

Setting Scalability: SpaceCraft can be used for games that take place in a single neighborhood (or even a large building), or span multiple galactic clusters. Players can play micronized beings to Lovecraftian Outer Gods, larger than planets. Characters can be ordinary people with nothing special about them except their story (during game and/or backstory), or any level up to demi-gods.

Rules Scalability: The rules are designed to work as much the same at any scale as possible. The combat rules for fist-fights are fundamentally the same as hurling black holes at nearby galaxies. The rules for doing parkour through an office building are basically the same as racing a spaceship through an asteroid belt. The rules for perception work the same whether you're looking for clues in a dark apartment, or observing astronomical phenomena in a distant galaxy. This makes the system much easier to learn. Different situations will also have add-on rules that add realism.

Play Style Choice: The Choose-Roll-Calculate (CRC) system gives GMs and Players the flexibility to make quick, arbitrary choices, roll randomly, or calculate outcomes for more realistic and immersive play.

Detail when you want it, speed when it counts: By default the rules tend towards "crunchy" for tools used outside of game time, such as character creation and world building, and speedy for rules used in game, such as combat. But in both cases there are options to speed up the crunchy and flesh out the speedy, depending on your situation and play style.

2/x
#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign

Wow, a year and three days before I actually continued this thread. Amazing. (#ADHD 😆 )

So continuing on, here's some actual information about the game, starting with some high-level design features:

Universality: The system is "setting agnostic", and can be used with any setting, existing or created by you.

Creativity: The system includes a large toolset for you to create or adapt your perfect setting, in any genre and any level of detail you desire.

Setting Scalability: SpaceCraft can be used for games that take place in a single neighborhood (or even a large building), or span multiple galactic clusters. Players can play micronized beings to Lovecraftian Outer Gods, larger than planets. Characters can be ordinary people with nothing special about them except their story (during game and/or backstory), or any level up to demi-gods.

Rules Scalability: The rules are designed to work as much the same at any scale as possible. The combat rules for fist-fights are fundamentally the same as hurling black holes at nearby galaxies. The rules for doing parkour through an office building are basically the same as racing a spaceship through an asteroid belt. The rules for perception work the same whether you're looking for clues in a dark apartment, or observing astronomical phenomena in a distant galaxy. This makes the system much easier to learn. Different situations will also have add-on rules that add realism.

Play Style Choice: The Choose-Roll-Calculate (CRC) system gives GMs and Players the flexibility to make quick, arbitrary choices, roll randomly, or calculate outcomes for more realistic and immersive play.

Detail when you want it, speed when it counts: By default the rules tend towards "crunchy" for tools used outside of game time, such as character creation and world building, and speedy for rules used in game, such as combat. But in both cases there are options to speed up the crunchy and flesh out the speedy, depending on your situation and play style.

2/x
#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign

Anyone else taking part in the one page rpg jam (https://itch.io/jam/one-page-rpg-jam-2026)? Happy to look through anyone's submission and give feedback or help playtest :)

#ttrpg #ttrpgdesign #onepagerpgjam

Hmm, this dungeoneering procedure I've designed is pretty cool, but a bit too complicated.

<introduces further complications>

Ah, much better!
#ttrpgDesign

Hmm, this dungeoneering procedure I've designed is pretty cool, but a bit too complicated.

<introduces further complications>

Ah, much better!
#ttrpgDesign

Spent some time organizing some design ideas I had for example adventures.

Now I have some gaming with friends this evening.

#ttrpgdesign

Spent some time organizing some design ideas I had for example adventures.

Now I have some gaming with friends this evening.

#ttrpgdesign

That Conversation I Don’t Want To Have.

That conversation I never wanted to freakin have.

I’ve been sitting on this article for months. The first draft was well over 3,000 words, and the second draft wasn’t much shorter. Every time I started writing, I got angry, and every time I got angry, the article got longer. Somewhere along the way I realized I wasn’t really writing about AI anymore. I was writing about frustration, disappointment, and feeling like I had to defend my existence as a creator.

So let’s try this one more time.

Once upon a time, tabletop roleplaying games were built on newsletters, fanzines, pamphlets, and whatever else people could scrape together. Folks typed things up on typewriters, ran them through photocopiers, stapled them together, and shared them with anyone at the wargaming club willing to read them. The hobby wasn’t built by publishing companies; it was built by enthusiastic weirdos with fantastic ideas.

Fantasy art wasn’t readily available, and layout software didn’t exist. Nobody was arguing about AI because most of us were trying to figure out how to get enough copies made before the local copy shop closed or we got kicked out of the public library (Yes, that really happened.) The important thing was the idea; the adventure, the setting, the monster, the game.

Somewhere along the line, things changed.

Today, fantasy art is everywhere, layout software is available to almost anyone with a computer or a phone, and publishing has never been easier. Yet somehow the barriers to entry feel higher than ever. If you release a product today without art, if your cover isn’t eye-catching, or if your layout isn’t polished, people notice. Art has become an expectation.

I listened to a popular DungeonTuber the other day railing against typos and grammatical errors the other day. The same guy regularly doubles down against AI tools. Do you see where this causes me some cognitive dissonance?

That brings me to the problem.

I have quietly come to loggerheads with people I admire over AI art. I’ve watched creators get absolutely roasted for using it. I’ve watched friendships fracture, and I’ve watched communities divide themselves into camps that seem increasingly unwilling to listen to each other. I’ve mostly kept my mouth shut—not because I don’t have opinions (trust me, I do), but because I knew the moment I opened my mouth someone would assume I was attacking artists.

I’m not. Not even a little.

I think artists should be paid, and I think artists deserve respect. I think artists create things I could never create. I also think reality exists, and reality is where this discussion gets complicated.

I’m a small creator. I’m not running million-dollar crowdfunding campaigns, getting convention appearance fees, or selling tens of thousands of copies of products. I’m a guy trying to make third-party Dragonbane supplements at three in the morning while dealing with chronic pain, depression, family obligations, and whatever fresh disaster life has decided to throw at me this week.

Have you seen what professional fantasy art costs these days? Holy shit.

Good artists deserve every penny they earn. The problem isn’t the artist; the problem is that many small creators simply can’t afford those prices. A custom cover can easily cost hundreds of dollars, and interior artwork can climb into the thousands. That’s before layout, editing, promotion, or anything else enters the equation.

People often tell me to use stock art. Okay. Please show me where I can find stock art for a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex with gorilla arms, vulture wings, and a venomous tail. I’ll wait.

If I need a castle, a mountain, or a goat, stock art is wonderful. If I need a bizarre monster that exists only in the twisted recesses of my brain, the options become a lot more limited. That’s where AI entered my workflow; not because I hate artists, want artists to starve, and not because I’m trying to replace anyone. It’s because AI solved a problem that otherwise had no practical solution.

The choice wasn’t AI art versus commissioned art. The choice was AI art versus no art, and that’s a very different conversation.

There’s another aspect of this discussion that gets overlooked constantly: accessibility.

My friend, The OG GM, has dyslexia and other neurological challenges that can make writing and formatting difficult, which is a well-known fact to his friends, family, and strangers on the Internet. AI helps bridge some of those gaps. Sometimes it helps with spelling, sometimes it helps organize thoughts, and sometimes it helps transform rough ideas into something easier to work with. I help when I can, too. For free because that’s what friends do. Sometimes I wish I could help more.

What I’ve discovered is that a lot of neurodivergent people use AI in similar ways. They use it to reduce decision fatigue, organize schedules, draft emails, answer messages, summarize information, and break overwhelming tasks into manageable pieces. AI doesn’t make ADHD, or Autism disappear. It doesn’t magically solve anxiety, depression, dyslexia, or executive dysfunction. What it can do is remove a few obstacles and reduce a little friction, and for some people, that’s a bigger deal than critics seem willing to acknowledge.

Now before anyone starts sharpening pitchforks, let’s address the obvious concerns.

Some artists are losing work, and that’s real. Some companies are absolutely using AI to cut costs, and that’s real too. Some people are flooding storefronts with low-effort junk generated in five minutes. I’ve seen it, and you’ve seen it. Pretending those things aren’t happening would be dishonest. Likewise, concerns about energy usage and infrastructure deserve discussion. Every major technological shift comes with consequences, and none of those concerns are imaginary.

What frustrates me is the lack of nuance. The conversation often feels like it has only two positions: either AI is the greatest thing ever invented, or AI is destroying creativity forever. Reality rarely works that way. Most people end up somewhere in the middle. Most people aren’t trying to destroy art or artists; they’re simply trying to solve problems using the tools available to them.

The thing that concerns me most isn’t the technology; it’s the growing divide inside the TTRPG hobby. Communities are splitting apart, conventions are debating policies, creators are choosing sides, and people who probably agree on ninety percent of everything else suddenly can’t stand each other because of one issue. That’s sad, especially in a hobby built on imagination and collaboration.

The truth is AI isn’t going away. Search engines use it, Microsoft Word uses it, WordPress uses it, customer service departments use it, and my dentist’s office uses it after hours. Most people interact with AI every day whether they realize it or not. Technology changes, people adapt, and nobody is rushing to bring back eight-track tapes or demanding a return to typewriters. The world keeps moving forward.

That doesn’t mean every technological change is good, but it does mean some of them become permanent. Sewing machines still exist, but they don’t closely resemble the ones from a hundred years ago.

My position is pretty simple.

Creators who want to make everything by hand should absolutely do so. Creators who want to hire artists should absolutely do so. Customers should absolutely support the creators they believe in. I have no interest in telling anyone what tools they should use; I just want the same courtesy in return.

I’ve been in this hobby for decades. I’ve written for small publications, and I’ve watched entire eras of gaming come and go. The one thing I’ve always loved about tabletop roleplaying games is that anyone could create something. Anyone could write an adventure, build a world, invent a monster, and contribute. That spirit is worth protecting.

You don’t have to agree with my choices. You don’t have to like AI, and you don’t have to use it. But I do believe people should be free to create using the tools available to them, especially when those tools help overcome barriers that might otherwise prevent them from creating at all.

At the end of the day, I’d rather spend my time creating worlds than fighting culture wars. The hobby is big enough for all of us, or at least I’d like to believe it is.

That Conversation I Don’t Want To Have.

That conversation I never wanted to freakin have.

I’ve been sitting on this article for months. The first draft was well over 3,000 words, and the second draft wasn’t much shorter. Every time I started writing, I got angry, and every time I got angry, the article got longer. Somewhere along the way I realized I wasn’t really writing about AI anymore. I was writing about frustration, disappointment, and feeling like I had to defend my existence as a creator.

So let’s try this one more time.

Once upon a time, tabletop roleplaying games were built on newsletters, fanzines, pamphlets, and whatever else people could scrape together. Folks typed things up on typewriters, ran them through photocopiers, stapled them together, and shared them with anyone at the wargaming club willing to read them. The hobby wasn’t built by publishing companies; it was built by enthusiastic weirdos with fantastic ideas.

Fantasy art wasn’t readily available, and layout software didn’t exist. Nobody was arguing about AI because most of us were trying to figure out how to get enough copies made before the local copy shop closed or we got kicked out of the public library (Yes, that really happened.) The important thing was the idea; the adventure, the setting, the monster, the game.

Somewhere along the line, things changed.

Today, fantasy art is everywhere, layout software is available to almost anyone with a computer or a phone, and publishing has never been easier. Yet somehow the barriers to entry feel higher than ever. If you release a product today without art, if your cover isn’t eye-catching, or if your layout isn’t polished, people notice. Art has become an expectation.

I listened to a popular DungeonTuber the other day railing against typos and grammatical errors the other day. The same guy regularly doubles down against AI tools. Do you see where this causes me some cognitive dissonance?

That brings me to the problem.

I have quietly come to loggerheads with people I admire over AI art. I’ve watched creators get absolutely roasted for using it. I’ve watched friendships fracture, and I’ve watched communities divide themselves into camps that seem increasingly unwilling to listen to each other. I’ve mostly kept my mouth shut—not because I don’t have opinions (trust me, I do), but because I knew the moment I opened my mouth someone would assume I was attacking artists.

I’m not. Not even a little.

I think artists should be paid, and I think artists deserve respect. I think artists create things I could never create. I also think reality exists, and reality is where this discussion gets complicated.

I’m a small creator. I’m not running million-dollar crowdfunding campaigns, getting convention appearance fees, or selling tens of thousands of copies of products. I’m a guy trying to make third-party Dragonbane supplements at three in the morning while dealing with chronic pain, depression, family obligations, and whatever fresh disaster life has decided to throw at me this week.

Have you seen what professional fantasy art costs these days? Holy shit.

Good artists deserve every penny they earn. The problem isn’t the artist; the problem is that many small creators simply can’t afford those prices. A custom cover can easily cost hundreds of dollars, and interior artwork can climb into the thousands. That’s before layout, editing, promotion, or anything else enters the equation.

People often tell me to use stock art. Okay. Please show me where I can find stock art for a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex with gorilla arms, vulture wings, and a venomous tail. I’ll wait.

If I need a castle, a mountain, or a goat, stock art is wonderful. If I need a bizarre monster that exists only in the twisted recesses of my brain, the options become a lot more limited. That’s where AI entered my workflow; not because I hate artists, want artists to starve, and not because I’m trying to replace anyone. It’s because AI solved a problem that otherwise had no practical solution.

The choice wasn’t AI art versus commissioned art. The choice was AI art versus no art, and that’s a very different conversation.

There’s another aspect of this discussion that gets overlooked constantly: accessibility.

My friend, The OG GM, has dyslexia and other neurological challenges that can make writing and formatting difficult, which is a well-known fact to his friends, family, and strangers on the Internet. AI helps bridge some of those gaps. Sometimes it helps with spelling, sometimes it helps organize thoughts, and sometimes it helps transform rough ideas into something easier to work with. I help when I can, too. For free because that’s what friends do. Sometimes I wish I could help more.

What I’ve discovered is that a lot of neurodivergent people use AI in similar ways. They use it to reduce decision fatigue, organize schedules, draft emails, answer messages, summarize information, and break overwhelming tasks into manageable pieces. AI doesn’t make ADHD, or Autism disappear. It doesn’t magically solve anxiety, depression, dyslexia, or executive dysfunction. What it can do is remove a few obstacles and reduce a little friction, and for some people, that’s a bigger deal than critics seem willing to acknowledge.

Now before anyone starts sharpening pitchforks, let’s address the obvious concerns.

Some artists are losing work, and that’s real. Some companies are absolutely using AI to cut costs, and that’s real too. Some people are flooding storefronts with low-effort junk generated in five minutes. I’ve seen it, and you’ve seen it. Pretending those things aren’t happening would be dishonest. Likewise, concerns about energy usage and infrastructure deserve discussion. Every major technological shift comes with consequences, and none of those concerns are imaginary.

What frustrates me is the lack of nuance. The conversation often feels like it has only two positions: either AI is the greatest thing ever invented, or AI is destroying creativity forever. Reality rarely works that way. Most people end up somewhere in the middle. Most people aren’t trying to destroy art or artists; they’re simply trying to solve problems using the tools available to them.

The thing that concerns me most isn’t the technology; it’s the growing divide inside the TTRPG hobby. Communities are splitting apart, conventions are debating policies, creators are choosing sides, and people who probably agree on ninety percent of everything else suddenly can’t stand each other because of one issue. That’s sad, especially in a hobby built on imagination and collaboration.

The truth is AI isn’t going away. Search engines use it, Microsoft Word uses it, WordPress uses it, customer service departments use it, and my dentist’s office uses it after hours. Most people interact with AI every day whether they realize it or not. Technology changes, people adapt, and nobody is rushing to bring back eight-track tapes or demanding a return to typewriters. The world keeps moving forward.

That doesn’t mean every technological change is good, but it does mean some of them become permanent. Sewing machines still exist, but they don’t closely resemble the ones from a hundred years ago.

My position is pretty simple.

Creators who want to make everything by hand should absolutely do so. Creators who want to hire artists should absolutely do so. Customers should absolutely support the creators they believe in. I have no interest in telling anyone what tools they should use; I just want the same courtesy in return.

I’ve been in this hobby for decades. I’ve written for small publications, and I’ve watched entire eras of gaming come and go. The one thing I’ve always loved about tabletop roleplaying games is that anyone could create something. Anyone could write an adventure, build a world, invent a monster, and contribute. That spirit is worth protecting.

You don’t have to agree with my choices. You don’t have to like AI, and you don’t have to use it. But I do believe people should be free to create using the tools available to them, especially when those tools help overcome barriers that might otherwise prevent them from creating at all.

At the end of the day, I’d rather spend my time creating worlds than fighting culture wars. The hobby is big enough for all of us, or at least I’d like to believe it is.

I've been on this Ars Magica trip lately. The first edition I ever saw was the 2nd and it opened spaces. The later ones where massive turn offs. The 2nd ed rekindled my curiosity as I read it again lately.

Having gotten and read the supplement "Order of Hermes", even though it's not one of the later humongous and dense ones, I once more felt it was a slog.

It's a game with so much potentail that drowns in bummers as it gets detailed.

#ArsMagica #MindBlown #MythicEurope #ttrpgDesign

I've been on this Ars Magica trip lately. The first edition I ever saw was the 2nd and it opened spaces. The later ones where massive turn offs. The 2nd ed rekindled my curiosity as I read it again lately.

Having gotten and read the supplement "Order of Hermes", even though it's not one of the later humongous and dense ones, I once more felt it was a slog.

It's a game with so much potentail that drowns in bummers as it gets detailed.

#ArsMagica #MindBlown #MythicEurope #ttrpgDesign

A lot has been done on Edict RPG lately.

The character progression systems are pretty unique now instead of a standard leveling system.

The list of monster origins (categories) has been updated to be extremely flavourful.

One of the actions on the action sheet got replaced with something far cooler.

There are some interesting things you can gain from deals made with a fae.

I need to finish adding rituals and then I'll run another playtest.

#ttrpg #edict #ttrpgdesign

A lot has been done on Edict RPG lately.

The character progression systems are pretty unique now instead of a standard leveling system.

The list of monster origins (categories) has been updated to be extremely flavourful.

One of the actions on the action sheet got replaced with something far cooler.

There are some interesting things you can gain from deals made with a fae.

I need to finish adding rituals and then I'll run another playtest.

#ttrpg #edict #ttrpgdesign

My #ttrpgDesign process is about 85% staring at a half-filled random table until I suddenly get an idea for a mechanic that will work with it.

My #ttrpgDesign process is about 85% staring at a half-filled random table until I suddenly get an idea for a mechanic that will work with it.

RE: https://dice.camp/@AdamMakesTTRPG/116681555799835956

If you'd like to have statblocks for existing D&D monsters at new levels of play, check out this supplement!

I am on of the writers on this project 📝 A couple of the monsters I designed include an aboleth egg and a corrupted decaton! 🤖 #ttrpgDesign #DnD #ttrpg

RE: https://dice.camp/@AdamMakesTTRPG/116681555799835956

If you'd like to have statblocks for existing D&D monsters at new levels of play, check out this supplement!

I am on of the writers on this project 📝 A couple of the monsters I designed include an aboleth egg and a corrupted decaton! 🤖 #ttrpgDesign #DnD #ttrpg

Buffed/replaced many attribute roll based actions and how strong weaknesses are based on solo combat testing.

Replaced 4 starting gear.

Improved how character creation shifts to rebalance the players based on how many players are in the party.

Changed how "leveling up" and gaining max health effectively works.

Moved bonus damage from agility to its own stat based on agility for clarity.

Armour is now gear instead of max health.

Changed how you learn rituals.

#edict #ttrpgdesign

Buffed/replaced many attribute roll based actions and how strong weaknesses are based on solo combat testing.

Replaced 4 starting gear.

Improved how character creation shifts to rebalance the players based on how many players are in the party.

Changed how "leveling up" and gaining max health effectively works.

Moved bonus damage from agility to its own stat based on agility for clarity.

Armour is now gear instead of max health.

Changed how you learn rituals.

#edict #ttrpgdesign

Designing a corrupted creature this week where the problem isn't the power.

It's the interpretation.
She's still listening to the ocean. The ocean is still speaking.

She just stopped hearing it correctly, and has no way to know that.

#TTRPGDesign #GameDev #Bestiary52

Designing a corrupted creature this week where the problem isn't the power.

It's the interpretation.
She's still listening to the ocean. The ocean is still speaking.

She just stopped hearing it correctly, and has no way to know that.

#TTRPGDesign #GameDev #Bestiary52

Last week: a creature that hesitates before aggression.

This week: a creature that hesitates before retreat.

Same architecture, but inverted. The Fraddam Seer is what the Coral Priestess becomes when the signal corrupts.

#Bestiary52 #TTRPGDesign #CreatureDesign

Last week: a creature that hesitates before aggression.

This week: a creature that hesitates before retreat.

Same architecture, but inverted. The Fraddam Seer is what the Coral Priestess becomes when the signal corrupts.

#Bestiary52 #TTRPGDesign #CreatureDesign

Design angle - Designing an encounter this week that doesn't have to happen. The Priestess isn't waiting to fight you. She's been reading the reef's memory of your approach since before you arrived.

The design question: what does pressure feel like when it never raises its voice?

#TTRPGDesign #GameDev #Bestiary52

Design angle - Designing an encounter this week that doesn't have to happen. The Priestess isn't waiting to fight you. She's been reading the reef's memory of your approach since before you arrived.

The design question: what does pressure feel like when it never raises its voice?

#TTRPGDesign #GameDev #Bestiary52

In preparation for creating the print-on-demand version of the ANDERS Core Rules book, I used the opportunity to improve the map for the Kingdom of Aroath a little bit.

Do you like the smoother design?

#AndersRPG #TTRPG #RPG #ttrpgDesign #mapmaking #mapdesign