I think it's fair to say that Adobe's InDesign is the standard publishing tool for RPGs, or at least the most common among the most well-known RPGs. However, it's clearly inappropriate for BIND. BIND's all about working together on an open project, but InDesign is geared to limit that openness. Cash In order to use …

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They say you have to playtest, but they forget that I'm a lazy man, so when it came to travel rules, I didn't feel like simulating a bunch of journeys. So it's time to get the computer to do the work for me. Setup An encounter roll occurs every 1D6 intervals in BIND (where an interval = 'one quarter of the day' = '6 …

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I sometimes feel that collections can imply something shameful, and it's especially potent in RPGs. It has something to do with wanting to horde, rather than use; to own rather than do. I can't fully articulate the feeling, but it has something to do with one thing coming from on high as the 'definitive' idea, the …

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When designing Fenestra, I noticed it had no magical universities. I really mean 'noticed', rather than 'stipulated', or 'invented'. People think that if anything's possible at the start, then it'll all be possible later. Options 'A', 'B', and 'C' are each possible, so perhaps we might select option 'A', and later 'B'. …

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When making things, once in a while you spot a pit-trap laden with spikes, and screech to a halt to think about the route ahead carefully. When making chairs, I guess people test by sitting in the chair. Writers and RPG designers can't get this kind of snappy feedback, so I guess we're all a bit fumbly when testing …

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New RPG creators and tech-startups both enjoy giving themselves the badge of 'open source' without having to open up a single source file. In the tech world, they call the company 'Open AI', and in the RPG space, they call their licence the 'open gaming licence', or simply declare they have an 'open RPG', then let …

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I've decided against having online printing available for BIND. This may change, but here's the thinking so far: Printing means I need to have the book mailed to me, but posting to Serbia means a whole bunch of faff. Of course, a voice in my head reminds me I could always find a way. Send the book to a friend, and have …

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I've rather gone off the notion of 'collectibles'. Collectible RPG books are special because they can't meet the demand. We can't all have a copy of those original D&D books, or whatever swanky thing White Wolf brought out with the expensive full-page art. In this vein, I've been making the campaign book - 'Missions in …

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A lot of the motivation for writing this book was because A,D&D never seemed to live up to its promises. The newer editions were a clear improvement, but never seemed to release the original game's shackles. An image of burly men, bursting through a door, ready to destroy anything in their path covers the AD&D Dungeon …

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RPGs should avoid asking people to roll dice more than once for any result. Aesthetically, multiple rolls don't feel right. Rolling dice should feel like casting rune-inscribed bones across a table. Multiple Rolls Guarantee Success The door is locked, but can be picked with a roll of 18 or higher. This sounds like a …

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