#ttrpgdesign — Public Fediverse posts

Is Ruttigers Almanac the New Shadowdark?

Yes. I’m serious.

I know the TTRPG crowd, especially the Old School, can be pretty picky about things. I’m pretty fickle when it comes to crowdfunding or even what games I buy nowadays. The last sourcebook I bought cost about $20 and that was two months ago. I don’t spend the money unless something screams “Value!”

VALUE!!! Here’s the link.

I’m supporting Ruttigers Almanac 100% until it wraps up on BackerKit. I’m planning to write for it if they create an Open License for it. I’m planning to teach my kids and wife to play as soon as the PDF comes out it full. They like/know Dungeons & Dragons, so the transition should be easy.

We all love Kelsey and Shadowdark.

I kicked myself daily when the initial Kickstarter for Shadowdark came around and I couldn’t possibly back it due to a massive, unexpected change in my employment status. I managed to scrounge enough together to become a late backer. Then there was the most recent Shadowdark Kickstarter for the Western Reaches stuff.

Kelsey, I love ya to pieces, honest. You were one of my best friends during Covid. I couldn’t afford to back Western Reaches. I get how this thing went over $1 Million because the basic buy-in for the Western Reaches books themselves was $85. That’s not even counting the Cursed Scroll zines add-on.

I suspect that’s how some of the scummier grifters (NOT Kelsey) on KS are getting the big bucks on their projects, too. Looking at you mister $3 Million project twice over DungeonTuber. If the entry price for the Kickstarter is $45 minimum for not-even-the-main emphasis of the project, then hundreds of thousands of dollars rack up real quick, especially if you have a YouTube channel with 500K subscribers or more. (But I’m not bitter over the amount of money he’s making, only that I think he’s kind of a smug jerk.)

But I digress. Shadowdark seemed to flatten for me when I ordered the Solodark rules which I feel didn’t have enough substance for the price tag, which is why there’s no review of it on my blog or YouTube channel. If I don’t like it, I don’t review it. Again, it’s not anything personal with anyone, but I think Shadowdark is eventually going to fall off in the vast array of fantasy games coming out right now and that have come out over the last two years.

What does Ruttigers Almanac offer?

First, and probably most obvious, is that Ruttigers Almanac is on BackerKit. They must not take as big of a percentage of the final take on BackerKit from what I’ve seen. A lot of reputable companies have moved their projects over there. Maybe BackerKit doesn’t get as much press as other crowdfunding sites, but they get the job done. I’ve never had issues with them.

The next big selling point of Ruttigers Almanac is the price. Just the PDF of the core book is C$25 (like $20USD) I like having a nice solid analog hardcover, so I originally got in on the C$50 tier. There’s also a softcover book option for slightly less. There’s also a very affordable tier that gets the Hardcover, PDF, and all the Gazetteer options for C$75 ($65USD.)

I’m stoked to see the cool worldbuilding. I haven’t talked about it much yet, but the previews I have seen are damned impressive. You can tell a lot of time and attention to detail that has gone into this project so far.

Ruttigers as a rule system is going to be simple and fun.

Break 20 as it is being called looks like it’s going to be something I enjoy running, playing, and making content for. That’s not to say I’m giving up my beloved Dragonbane like, ever. I am going to spend some time with Ruttigers Almanac when I get it in my hot little hands. I just love simpler rules systems. If I can learn enough to make a character in the first 15 minutes and get going as a GM in half an hour, it’s golden.

Ruttigers Almanac looks to be that golden game. Shadowdark was headed that way, but then everyone and their dog began dropping supplements faster than I could possibly keep up with them. Yes, Shadowdark is playable and runnable with the core book, but we all love new options.

I feel like Ruttigers has enough optional material already built into it to be almost everything I’m going to want. It’s already looking like something I’d gladly run at a convention. I’m not sure how feasible that would be with Shadowdark now given all the supplements.

If Ruttigers has an open license (fingers crossed) I know three content creators who are already salivating over the Break 20 System. I’m only one of them. I had some stuff ready to go for Shadowdark that never went up anywhere and a rules supplement that was on Itch.io for a short time during Baron DeFlopp’s Shadowdark Jam a few years ago. (Huge regrets over that one.)

Right now I’m working a lot of things into Dragonbane. Once upon a time I was doing stuff for D&D 5E that I never published. Thank Universe I dodged that bullet. Ruttigers Almanac as an Open License is going to be fun times because I want to get a feel for the system and then jam on it. (Root on it? We should organize a Ruttigers moot at some point.)

I don’t see gloom and doom for other games.

I am still all in on Twilight Sword and Dragonbane: Trudvang. But Ruttigers Almanac hits closer to home for me which is ironic given the authors are all over the place. The game feels more like something that could have come out sooner, but the timing just wasn’t there yet. The Universe just hadn’t created the circumstances until more recently.

We’re going to build vast underground complexes for the Ruttigers to explore. We’re going to fight epic monsters and sing epic ballads of our deeds. Maybe we are scallywags and ruffians, but by golly we’re going to have fun with it!

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!

RUTTIGERS ALMANAC Is On BackerKit!

This new fantasy TTRPG is done right by people who care and know what they’re doing.

I’m really stoked for this game, and I thought I’d already found my big hits for the year. Then I ran into Richard Whitters on X (Twitter.) I’ve been following him and his art on that platform for a while now. I like what he has going on with Ruttigers Almanac.

Here’s the link to BackerKit.

To make things even better, one of my absolutely favorite sourcebook creators is helping Richard out with this one. That’s right. Andrew Cawood is helping with some of the BackerKit and production aspects. I mean, he’s one of my TTRPG idols. He’s Andrew freakin Cawood! Have you seen World of Myrr and the six monster books that preceded it?

Not that Richard Whitters is to be underestimated, either. He has helped as Art Director/Concept Artist for Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: the Gathering, and Larian Studios. That’s a lot of solid experience right there regardless of what many of us say about WotC. Art credit aside, Richard is definitely a roleplaying gamer.

A lot of loving production has already gone into Ruttigers Almanac. I suspect Richard has been working on this game for at least a year now. Just by looking at the quickstart rules alone, one can see quite a bit of thought has already gone into the unique fantasy races, 24 classes, the magic, the setting, the monster generator…

Here is the link to the Quickstart Rules. I’m absolutely amazed so far.

Obviously the art is going to be off the charts for this book, as is obvious from the previews. I haven’t heard yet if Cawood’s resident artist, Travis Hanson, is involved in the project yet. I’m kinda hoping…

The rules are going to be familiar to both Old School fans and new players alike. You’ve got the same Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Armor Class, and Hit Points that we all know and love. Skill checks are a d20 +/- modifiers vs Difficulty Class. The weapons, armor, and some of the spells mightl seem familiar from other games. However…

Jeff, what’s a “Ruttiger?”

Here’s where Ruttigers Almanac takes a dramatic turn from what we’re all used-to. Where in most fantasy TTRPGs, adventurers coming into town fresh out of a dungeon are greeted with a hearty “Hail and well met, travelers,” Ruttigers are met with a degree of disdain, apathy, and slight loathing. No one is glad to see the tomb-pillaging, local-economy-ruining, drunken brawling Ruttigers.

If you look at the 24 character class names, it kind of gives the impression that Ruttigers generally gives. In this sort of grimdark world inhabited by Ruttigers, no one is glad to see them coming until a giant carnivorous Rhinoceros Beetle is gnawing on half their farm animals. Sure, they’re friendly as long as they need a favor, but as soon as the beetle is gone? Ruttiger reputations come back into play.

There are more surprises to come with this project,
and I’m excited to see them.

Sure, I’m still a huge fan of Dragonbane, Shadowdark, Old School Essentials, Twilight Sword, and Fabula Ultima. But I’m making room on my shelf for Ruttigers Almanac. I think this is going to be the next step forward in basic, easy-to-teach, fun-to-play fantasy gaming. It appeals to me as a creator and Game Master. I’m also looking forward to teaching at least a couple of my kids to play. It’s got tons of potential.

I once spent an entire summer back in 1990 playing/running Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying. It was the best of times. That’s what Ruttigers makes me think of. This game is going to be awesome as a common frame of reference for players and GMs who want new takes on the old fantasy races, classes, spells, and monsters along with a bunch of new ones.

Not to mention the creature crucible, a monster generator baked into the rules for GMs who like to customize their experience. That’s not the only widget coming in Ruttigers. There are rules for travel, carousing, hunting/foraging, siege warfare, naval battles, item enchantment and more on their way.

Please go take a look at the project on BackerKit. Almost 750 people were onboard before the BackerKit even opened up. I’m one of them. We’ll be talking more about Ruttigers Almanac in the days to come.

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!

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

If you want to see where I post more information for these designs: https://www.patreon.com/posts/week-15-barnacle-155640370?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link and https://ko-fi.com/post/Research-Log-The-Submerged-Reclaimer-X8X21XUF4V

#IndieDev #indieGame #TTRPGDesign #IndieTTRPG

Daily Design Lab: Indirect Influence

Evidence suggests the Alchemist’s reach exceeds simple transactions. There is another NPC that this one has interactions/history with, in which an incident occurs. This hints at unforeseen spatial or temporal ramifications behind his unconventional inputs. His direct utility may mask an unintentional capacity for profound environmental alteration.

#LoreFragments #TTRPG #TTRPGDesign #IndieDev #UnexplainedPhenomena

My sister (the artist for my Kofi/Patreon posts) is dealing with IRL stuff for about a week or two. In the meantime, I've got some NPCs to share that were inspired by Patrons!

Daily Design Lab: Somatic Integration

'The Alchemist' views injury not as loss, but as an opportunity for superior revision. Lost limbs are replaced with alloy and salvaged composites that far exceed baseline function. And he's not worried about it. In fact, he's pretty enthusiastic.

#TTRPG #TheAlchemist #TTRPGDesign

J'ai arrêté une liste de Tempéraments. J'en ai 24, soit 4 pour chaque Domaine.

Selon vous, lesquels manquent terriblement à cette liste ?

#gamedesign #ttrpg #ttrpgDesign #THB #designedbyAcritarche #jdr

Archival Log: DELTA-004. Within the derelict aisles of the retail confluence, the interplay between Tsukikago Servitors and Calamivox Ingratus presents a disconcerting synergy. The measured movement of servitors through compromised spaces often precedes or follows the manifestation of the C.Ingratus, suggesting a potential, yet undefined, relationship.
Their physical presence and sonic invasion imply a coordinated, albeit non-communicative, operation.

#IndieDev #IndieTTRPG #TTRPGdesign #gamedev

Je galère encore et toujours pour trouver LE design qui permette de différencier recto et verso des cartes de Sur les Terres des Hommes-bêtes sans hésitation.
J'ai fait quelques tests aujourd'hui. Dites-moi lequel vous préférez et pourquoi. Retours et idées bienvenus.
#design #designedbyAcritarche #THB #jdr #ttrpg #ttrpgDesign

The 'Nesting Continuity Protocol' is my answer to the "one-hit-kill" problem. You might shatter the outer porcelain shell, but a smaller, swifter unit emerges from the wreckage. It changes the scale of the fight instantly.

Designer Challenge: How do your players react when the "corpse" of their enemy stands back up, half the size and twice as fast?

#GameMechanics #BossDesign #Tsukikago #ttrpgdesign

Eu sou o doido das mecânicas de rpg, né? Aí um criaturo me manda um sistema e diz assim: 'narrei uma aventura com ele, mas meio no foda-se', então eu pergunto 'como assim?'

E ele responde desse jeito (ipsis litteris):

dei uma lida nas regras mas não segui elas kkk
o jogo é simples e por isso não usei as mecanicas
foi conversa -> obstáculo -> teste -> coerência na ficção

Set your text free on our #wiki!

If you wrote about #music or #games before, you can give your old text new life by putting it on Games for Music and letting it evolve in the network with other topics.

Reviews, theories, lists, all welcome!

1/x

#writing #gameDesign #ttrpgDesign #boardGameDesign #contemporaryMusic #experimentalMusic #avantgarde #improvisation #improv #impro #musicEducation

Follow up, a 2nd culture.

#ttrpgdesign #rpgdesign

I've had my eye on this one for a while, so today when I visited the Scifi bookstore in #Stockholm, I could clearly hear it calling to me. It's not that I want to play it, but it's interesting from a #TTRPG design and historical perspective, especially since it's the root of Drakar och Demoner (Dragonbane) which was my introduction into the TTRPG world back in the 80's.
#BRP #BasicRoleplaying #TTRPGDesign #SFBok

This is a first look of the GM screen inserts for ANDERS, as they can be seen by the game master.
We intend to publish these inserts (of course with some great images for the front side of the GM screen) on DriveThruRPG as well (as a PDF for printing at home, as print-on-demand, and as a bundle with their customizable GM screen).
#AndersRPG #TTRPG #RPG #ttrpgDesign

Another week has come and go, and I was able to finish the layout and proofreading for the ANDERS RPG core rule book. I have already started on some inserts for a GM screen (see the image), and will now try to find an illustrator for the remaining illustrations. Wish me luck! 🙂
#AndersRPG #TTRPG #RPG #ttrpgDesign

Give followers a peek behind the curtain. Solicit feedback on mechanics, run polls about lore and show off art as it comes in. Involving your audience helps us feel invested in your work. (4/11) #GameDev #TTRPGdesign #RPGdesign #IndieRPG

Start small! Your first project shouldn't be a 500-page tome. A one-page RPG, a small adventure or a focused micro-game is a fantastic way to learn the ropes and, most importantly, actually finish something. (3/9) #OnePageRPG #TTRPGdesign #GameDevTips #RPGdesign

Don't be afraid to kill your darlings. That clever mechanic you spent a week on might just not work in practice. If it's clunky, confusing or slows down play, it likely should be cut. Be ruthless for the good of the overall design. (7/9) #TTRPGdesign #GameDevTips #IndieRPG #Design

Playtest, playtest, PLAYTEST. Run your game as often as you can. Enlist your friends and your gaming group. Actively seek out feedback, take good notes and iterate on your design. This is where a game is truly forged. (5/9) #Playtesting #TTRPGdesign #GameDev #RPG

Some tips for breaking into tabletop RPG design! (1/9) To create an RPG, you must first WRITE one. Pick a concept and go for it. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Just get something on the page. Your journey begins with that first paragraph. #TTRPGdesign #GameDev #RPGdesign #IndieRPG

New blog post: How to create TTRPG character sheets in HTML and CSS! This is my favorite way to create character sheets for games, because as a software developer, I'm just a huge text nerd. (I also use `entr` to make the rebuilding process completely painless).

If you wanna make character sheets in pure text with HTML and CSS, then give this a read: https://thecloudtender.com/2025/01/21/weasyprint.html

#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign #html #css #weasyprint

Decided to throw up a quick draft of the latest thing I'm working on after some prompting on Bluesky, so here it is! It's a roll-and-keep, single-combat-roll variant of Synthetic Dream Machine: https://thecloudtender.com/2025/01/11/unnamed.html

#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign #syntheticDreamMachine #sdm #ultravioletGrasslands #uvg

Spent a fun time with #TheOneRing2e making a scholar ranger of the North. I'm also considering homebrews and variants as I go. Need to get a copy of the #pbta #thefellowship to compare and contrast. I'n all in with #onering (at least solo play so far), but I've been hankering to consider #Glorantha, #SpeedRune and some of the related writings of Ted Gioia on historical music, etc. to brew or create something a little different. studying #goodsocietyrpg too. #ttrpgDesign #ttrpghomebrew #ttrpg

Spent a fun time with #TheOneRing2e making a scholar ranger of the North. I'm also considering homebrews and variants as I go. Need to get a copy of the #pbta #thefellowship to compare and contrast. I'n all in with #onering (at least solo play so far), but I've been hankering to consider #Glorantha, #SpeedRune and some of the related writings of Ted Gioia on historical music, etc. to brew or create something a little different. studying #goodsocietyrpg too. #ttrpgDesign #ttrpghomebrew #ttrpg

Spent a fun time with #TheOneRing2e making a scholar ranger of the North. I'm also considering homebrews and variants as I go. Need to get a copy of the #pbta #thefellowship to compare and contrast. I'n all in with #onering (at least solo play so far), but I've been hankering to consider #Glorantha, #SpeedRune and some of the related writings of Ted Gioia on historical music, etc. to brew or create something a little different. studying #goodsocietyrpg too. #ttrpgDesign #ttrpghomebrew #ttrpg

I finally ran my first (solo) test combat for the little #OSR system I've been working on (to use for my upcoming #UVG campaign as well as test celestial dice and mandatory multiclassing), and it seems to run okay!

The four sample players were able to defeat six skeletons, although they took pretty heavy damage and had to burn spells, although I'm not sure how much I like using celestial dice for damage instead of just having a separate damage roll.

We'll see!

#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign

The more I read of Metro: #otherscape the less I enjoy it as it suffers from the same bloated verbosity as #CityOfMist. It is tiring. But on the other hand it is well written. Just too much of it.

I think with clearer layout, especially better highlighting of the actual rules, it would have been more enjoyable to read. My thoughts immediately go to #Ironsworn as I would have wanted it. The rule clear front and center. Then and only then commentary on it.

#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign

Yesterday, my #WerewolfTheApocalypse group had another #sessionZero since we recently added another player. It was a great discussion. Unfortunately, it also called to mind what I don't like about the older editions of Werewolf - the combat system is supposed to portray raging, feral monstrosities tearing and ripping enemies apart, but the systems behind it have us roll and resolve up to 4 checks per attack. I'd love to borrow some stuff from 5th edition Werewolf, but there are just so many supernatural abilities that build off the core mechanics that I'd have to rewrite.

#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign #pnpde #CiferRPGMusings

Yesterday, my #WerewolfTheApocalypse group had another #sessionZero since we recently added another player. It was a great discussion. Unfortunately, it also called to mind what I don't like about the older editions of Werewolf - the combat system is supposed to portray raging, feral monstrosities tearing and ripping enemies apart, but the systems behind it have us roll and resolve up to 4 checks per attack. I'd love to borrow some stuff from 5th edition Werewolf, but there are just so many supernatural abilities that build off the core mechanics that I'd have to rewrite.

#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign #pnpde #CiferRPGMusings

Yesterday, my #WerewolfTheApocalypse group had another #sessionZero since we recently added another player. It was a great discussion. Unfortunately, it also called to mind what I don't like about the older editions of Werewolf - the combat system is supposed to portray raging, feral monstrosities tearing and ripping enemies apart, but the systems behind it have us roll and resolve up to 4 checks per attack. I'd love to borrow some stuff from 5th edition Werewolf, but there are just so many supernatural abilities that build off the core mechanics that I'd have to rewrite.

#ttrpg #ttrpgDesign #pnpde #CiferRPGMusings

Murnin'.
Mystydjinn's live with a body double stream again on twitch. She's working on world seed, some cleanup for the primary and secondary skill system I think. Something about the way actions are structured don't line up right yet. Anyway, go be nice if you want 🌺
twitch.tv/mystydjinn

#vtuber #indievtuber #gamedev #ttrpg #ttrpgdesign #boardgames #envtuber #mystydjinn #bodydouble #chill

A thing that makes it difficult in doing hardish SF in a RPG is that the players will simply ask the GM the results w/o doing the calcs. Which is entirely normal, as that is what people would do in real life is ask the ship's computer. The rub lies in that the computer was an NPC run by me, so I was loading myself up with the extra rules. Lesson: KISS.
#KosmicRPG #CepheusEngine #TravellerRRG #ttrpgDesign

#ttrpgDesign #rpg #ttrpgkids

Why yes that is a Tootsmith and his Wand of Smells. Why do you ask?

No, you can't purchase his wand until you find him a diffuser in the Swamp of Slime. (Slime just burns the best!)

#montecook

I've been looking for a cool Sci-FI game for some time. I think at this point since nothing has really made me happy that I will end up writing yet another game. Mind you I've got other works in progress. I do have two space opera ones but they're a little more 'flowy' in feel than I think I want for a space sci-fi game.

#sci #scifirpg #ttrpg #ttrpgdesign

You are superpowered enemies. You also have a lot of romantic tension between you. Neither of you knows what to do about it.

My #1pRPGjam project for this year is out now!

#TTRPG #indiegame #ttrpgdesign

https://ko-fi.com/s/d16d3695d9
https://islanderscaper.itch.io/hearts-unrivaled

4 ways to stack the deck in your next #boardgame or #ttrpg game design.

Read it!

Skeleton Code Machine: https://www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/stacking-the-deck

#ttrpg #rpg #rpgdesign #ttrpgdesign #boardgames #roleplaying #cards #deck #deckconstruction #gamedesign #pandemic #eschaton #paxrenaissance #paxren #cthulhu #cdmd #cthulhudeathmaydie #deathmaydie

The first thing to know about the CHEATS System is that it's not just another gaming system. It's so much less than that!

I've used it with several different dice resolution schemes. I will tinker with that forever.

It is pretentiously and aggressively backronymed from its PC building blocks:

Core
Hallmarks
Energies
Approaches
Talents
Stuff

It is influenced by everything I've ever read but specifically by #Risus #BladesInTheDark #HarmonyDrive and #MiniBX .

#CheatsSystem #ttRPG #ttRPGdesign

Colour/Textured versions of my Abbadon character sheets. Just need to make the PDF version fillable and they're good to go!

#gamedesign #tttrpg #ttrpgs #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgcommunity #charactersheets #indiegame #indiettrpg

Just finished typing up all of the 1st to 3rd tier abilities for Abbadon which means it's time I can start test playing!

#tttrpg #mastadonttrpg #ttrpgcommunity #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgart