TTRPGs

BIND

Jan 20, 2022 · 1 min read · RPG BIND

Overview BIND is a fantasy tabletop RPG designed to solve a number of problems: Character backstories are a pain. Solution: Story Points Players never engage in the adventure in the right way; when they should go left, they always go right, but railroading them never gives good results. Solution: Side Quests Standard …

Return to White Plume Mountain

Jan 12, 2022 · 8 min read · RPG Reviews

This was one of the greatest adventure modules out there. I played it so many times that I once used it as a Mind Palace in university, because I can remember every single room. White Plume Mountain The original adventure took the adventurers around a 'house of fun' style dungeon, with a ham-fisted hook, and no kind of …

Why BIND Rules Don't Allow Players to Go for the Eyes

Jun 7, 2023 · 4 min read · RPG BIND

(a story about spreadsheet failure) I've considered changing BIND's 'to-hit' system to let players 'go for the eyes' (or a headshot, or otherwise decide to attempt a vitals shot), and decided against it. My reasons sit below, but expect lots of boring numbers. You have been warned. (or just skip to the conclusions) …

Deriving from Magic

Jun 1, 2023 · 2 min read · RPG BIND

As I've mentioned, every fantasy novel needs two particular characters - [magic, and landscape]. For BIND's next edition (0.9) I'm hoping to tie the two together a little more. Specifically, more creatures could arise from magic. Nura (goblins, ogres, et c.) come directly from the nuramancy sphere. They exist because …

BIND Roadmap

May 23, 2023 · 3 min read · RPG BIND

BIND currently has 20 things to do, and needs translated into typst, the sparkly-new typestting tool. That's a lot, so I guess here's the roadmap. Magic Magic needs a complete do-over: Spells Not Spheres All spells should be 'level 1' (i.e. level distinctions must be removed). All higher-level spells should be derived …

Rewriting BIND as Zines

May 2, 2023 · 1 min read · RPG BIND

BIND RPG into the smallest functional units, and having each as a zine. The parts would be: Introductory adventure module (each with rules and pregenerated characters) Rules (with Stories, Codes, Combat Options, Races) Magic GM's Guide Adventure Module The adventure (or collection of adventures?) Instead of equipment …

New Handouts

Apr 29, 2023 · 2 min read · RPG LaTeX BIND

BIND's maps have their numbers and comments applied by its writing tool, LaTeX. This makes handouts really easy, because the same map can present different layers to different people. Here's the plan so far (it's untested, none of my players have seen this): The fallen temple to Qualme (god of death and pensions) has …

Sleeping in a Dungeon

Apr 28, 2023 · 1 min read · RPG

The A,D&D core book stated that wizards could only memorize spells in the morning, and also only after eight hours of complete rest. The bigger dungeons occasionally demanded that people sleep in the dungeon in some safe corner. These two aspects never sat well with me. I kept picturing the party's fighter …

Dungeons Need More Space

Apr 23, 2023 · 3 min read · RPG Theory

The dungeon ecosystem doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I think Tolkien has a fix. Wandering Monsters Don't Make Sense I love the formula. In the cold depths, something approaches, and it wants to eat you. Deep underground, you tread carefully, then stop as you hear heavy footsteps. Or perhaps those aren't feet? …

No Introduction Necessary

Apr 22, 2023 · 3 min read · RPG BIND Theory Memoirs

It's been commented that BIND has no introduction, saying 'what is a roleplaying game?', and I don't think it needs one. Of course, nobody's picking this thing up in a 90's game store, et c., but I feel we have a deeper problem. I think that no RPG - including D&D - really needs an explanation of 'how to do …