TTRPGs

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 Blorb 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 …

Minified vs Minimalist Rules

Mar 19, 2023 · 4 min read · RPG BIND

D&D got a way with a lot of bad habits, because it was the only game in town. People are expected to read the core rules, then the Dungeon Master's Guide, then an adventure. I've copied their style, and only now realized the error of front-loading MAXIMUM RULES. The order of books in this case is: Core Rules …

What the RPG Community Should Steal from FOSS

Mar 17, 2023 · 3 min read · RPG FOSS Development

Software engineers regularly jump into others' open source, and help out, but the RPG community do not do the same, because they do not have the right tools. Look throughout the history of any number of software projects and you'll find a slew of apparently random people, unknown to the software's creator, jumping in …

Deathless RPGs

Mar 2, 2023 · 2 min read · RPG Theory

RPGs where nobody dies really irk me, because they have rules for dying. If you want an RPG where nobody ever dies (or runs out of food, or whatever), then I won't complain...until the rulebook states 'these are the conditions for death'. We have two problems. Problem 1: Fudging GMs Everyone writes up some dramatic …

Drinking Game Design

Feb 9, 2023 · 2 min read · Prattle Design

Standard drinking games are badly designed; if someone does badly, they get drunk, then do worse on the next game, which prompts more drinking. The only people who play drinking games want to drink, but when you lose, you drink, so the incentives don't track anyone's goals. A better drinking game would have a drink as …

Group Rolls

Feb 5, 2023 · 3 min read · RPG Theory BIND

Dice can give unexpected results when groups of people roll. When a group of 5 players need to roll to sneak past a guard, you already know someone will fail, because they have 5 chances to fail. If everyone rolls for Alertness, they will succeed every time, because they have five chances to succeed. The Alertness roll …

Spreadsheets are Great

Jan 27, 2023 · 3 min read · RPG Theory Design BIND

Whenever I'm unsure about a rule, I pull out a basic spreadsheet, and start populating numbers. The image I had for the ghoul spell began with a mage who could raise small things from the dead, like a cat, or dog. Slowly, the dark sorcerer would learn to raise gnomes, then humans, and finally raise undead ogres or …