Design

  • Rules Sketch: Spell Duels

    Like, I just wrote a whole psionic duel system, and I want a cool one for wizards and priests as well. They operate differently from one another, and I’m inclined not to do a priest duel, but honestly the most memorable duel I’ve ever run was between two clerics in 5e, so that seems silly.… Continue reading

  • Rules Sketch: Psionic Duels

    Starting to draft out a few spells for Advanced Fantasy Battles. I’m not sure if I’ll actually build out a bestiary or a spell list in total, but a few examples are probably necessary, and perhaps any fans can pad them out as they draw from the original sources for a more complete list. I… Continue reading

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  • Rules Sketch: Monk Class

    I’m chipping away at the AFD ruleset now, and I can’t help but feel like I want to add in those missing classes: Barbarian, Monk and Psionicist. Monk is the last one! Our template for classes is looking like this, on Version 0.15 of Advanced Fantasy Dungeons, this is the Fighter class: Gain proficiency in… Continue reading

  • Rules Sketch: Psionicist Class

    I’m chipping away at the AFD ruleset now, and I can’t help but feel like I want to add in those missing classes: Barbarian, Monk and Psionicist. Our template for classes is looking like this, on Version 0.14 of Advanced Fantasy Dungeons, this is the Fighter class: Gain proficiency in a weapon of your choice… Continue reading

  • Rules Sketch: Ability Scores, Part II

    I’m noodling away at the AFD ruleset, picking at problems. One potential problems is this distribution: Another potential problem is that these don’t all match up with the definitions for Ability Scores: I’m going to experiment with asking you a few questions! If I didn’t give you an answer, answer in the comments! Answer the… Continue reading

  • Megadungeon as an Overworld

    I started a low-pressure megadungeon. It’s the opposite of Dungeon23: I don’t have to do anything on it if I don’t want to, but if I’m stuck on something else I can go and just fill out a room or a faction or add an encounter or something. It feels a lot more feasible to… Continue reading

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  • Rules Sketch: Barbarian Class

    I’m chipping away at the AFD ruleset now, and I can’t help but feel like I want to add in those missing classes: Barbarian, Monk and Psionicist. Our template for classes is looking like this, on Version 0.14 of Advanced Fantasy Dungeons, this is the Fighter class: Gain proficiency in a weapon of your choice… Continue reading

  • New Year’s Resolution Mechanic!

    Warren challenged the DIY elf game blogosphere to create an all new resolution mechanic! My upcoming Bridewell uses tarot as randomisation, so I thought a tarot resolution mechanic would be cool! Give everyone a hand of three tarot cards. When a challenge that offers significant consequence of failure occurs, clarify what success and failure indicates,… Continue reading

  • Writing Dungeons Without Dice

    I have two processes for dungeons: In one, I draw a map, then figure out what’s in it. In the other, I figure out what’s in it, and draw the dungeon to match those ideas. The second is really hard, because I usually only have one or two ideas for a full dungeon level. So,… Continue reading

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  • Intro to Game Design Carnival

    Over on the Dice Exploder discord, someone was asking about the canon of Game Design, and we all agreed it was pretty fruitless an exercise. So, Sam D suggested we do it personally as a personal canon is more meaningful, I suggested a Blog Carnival, and I proceeded to forget about it until Sam posted… Continue reading

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