Mechanisms For Tabletop Roleplaying
A downloadable project
Mechanisms For Tabletop Roleplaying is a compilation of five articles for refining your rules. The articles are:
- The Countdown Stack is basic advice on using token stacks as timers in your play.
- Temptation Dice gives an easy method for handling extra effort, temptation by dark forces, and other interesting pieces.
- Action Scenery lays out seven options for high action using set pieces.
- The Wrath Count is a simple tracking method for “aggro” in your game.
- Escalated changes your whole game into a vicious soap opera.
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What's your policy on using these mechanics in games we are planning to release? I notice it doesn't include a license or permission section like Schema does.
I would love to use temptation dice and escalation in an Edo era polical intrigue game I'm working on.
Because these are almost purely procedural, the actual mechanics themselves can't be copyrighted (procedures are patent law, not copyright!), just the specific text I described them with. So unless you want to copy-paste the text, no license or permission is required at all.
(If you do want to copy text exactly, let me know, and I'll take a few minutes to dig out the file and paste on the unlicense and CC-BY options; it's on my "do it at some point" list, but never became a priority because of the whole "Mostly not copyrightable anyway" thing).
If it's not too much trouble and on your list anyways that would be great. I'm hoping to rework them, but the project is for a game jam and having the option to copy-paste would be great in case I run low on time.
Aaaaannd, done!
Thanks a bunch, you and your products rock.
I love these. All of these mechanics are really interesting, and I got a couple favourites too!
I do have an issue with Escalated. I live the concept, but the two last items, “abuse” and “murderous” are incredibly uncomfortable. I would certain revisit the choice of words there because those as well as the tone.
Really great job on thiese mechanics! Can’t wait to see more!
Thanks! They're certainly a fun grab-bag of add-ons.
On the Escalated thing... Will need to think on that one. Part of the rationale for naming them that way was as a warning - that these things can get hella dark if you follow them to their ends, and making players aware of this out the gate is helpful. Being ambushed by where that mechanic is taking you seems potentially much worse to me than going "Oh, ew, not for me at all".
I'm working on my first DM campaign and these all look so great and helpful. Clear, concise, not trying to steer into an ideal but providing some guidance. Thank you so much for making these.