Create your own epic tabletop adventures
Tabletop role-playing games (also known as TTRPGs) are social games that often center on playing fictional characters in a story or adventure. Designing TTRPGs For Dummies is an introductory romp into the creative and magical world of the game design process. This fun book guides you through character creation sheets, rule setting, worldbuilding, and beyond.
With this book at your side, you'll roll for initiative by learning what roleplaying games are, the history of TTRPGs, how to take an idea and turn it into a playable game, and how to perfect gameplay experiences. A great TTRPG is full of creativity, surprise, and storytelling. This easy-to-follow guide teaches you the secrets to creating immersive worlds of your own.
Inside
- Explore the exciting world of tabletop roleplaying games and create your own
- Follow step-by-step instructions on fleshing out your game idea, testing it out with players, and improving the overall game experience
- Get tips for designing a compelling game world, creating rules that keep games moving, and handling unexpected player choices
- Find out how and where to publish your completed TTRPG
Designing TTRPGs For Dummies is your magical guide to creating fun adventures you can play with friends and even share with the world.
Table of Contents:
Foreword xiii
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started with Tabletop Role Playing Game (TTRPG) Design 5
Chapter 1: Introducing TTRPG Design 7
Chapter 2: Surveying the TTRPG Landscape 21
Chapter 3: Learning TTRPG Design by Playing 31
Part 2: Establishing the Building Blocks of Your TTRPG 43
Chapter 4: Choosing Your Genre 45
Chapter 5: Building Your World 61
Chapter 6: Designing Your Heroes 77
Chapter 7: Creating Cool Adversaries and Non-Player Characters 93
Part 3: Developing Your TTRPG’s Mechanics 107
Chapter 8: Examining Mechanics and Why They Matter 109
Chapter 9: Rolling with Dice 119
Chapter 10: Exploring Alternatives from Cards to Blocks 127
Chapter 11: Taking Action in Your TTRPG 135
Chapter 12: Fighting a Good Fight 153
Chapter 13: Choosing a Mechanic and Putting It to the Test 165
Part 4: Crafting an Unforgettable Adventure for Your TTRPG 175
Chapter 14: Finding Inspiration for Your Adventure 177
Chapter 15: Plotting Your Adventure Narrative 191
Chapter 16: Composing Immersive Descriptions 207
Chapter 17: Creating Encounters 217
Chapter 18: Building Heart-Pounding Climaxes and Meaningful Conclusions 231
Part 5: Completing Your TTRPG Design Quest 245
Chapter 19: Polishing Your Game: From Edits to Layout 247
Chapter 20: Playtesting Your Completed TTRPG 257
Chapter 21: Assembling Your Production Team 267
Chapter 22: Publishing Your TTRPG 277
Chapter 23: Promoting Your TTRPG 293
Part 6: The Part of Tens 303
Chapter 24: Ten Essential Rules for TTRPG Design 305
Chapter 25: Ten Helpful Hints for Finishing Your TTRPG 309
Appendix: On Spells and Superpowers 313
Index 323
About the Author :
Martin Buinicki, PhD, is a Professor of English at Valparaiso University and Lead Writer at Gaming Honors, a tabletop role playing game company. He has written and co-written several RPG modules and teaches courses on game writing.
