TheAlkaizer
Game Designer
Hi!
I have no idea if this is the kind of topic that's allowed on ENWorld, but as there's many folks here with publishing and design experience, I figure I might ask.
Short background, I work as a game designer in the videogame industry. I'm pretty confident in my abilities and methods in that context, but I've started working on two TTRPG projects lately. One by myself, and one with a coworker. I'll focus on my personal project even though I've hit the same wall in both projects.
So far, I've been doing pretty good in navigating these new waters. There's many aspects to designing a TTRPG and I'm doing pretty good with many of them: creating the setting, establishing some core design pillars, identifying the level of complexity I'm interested in, identifying some of the systems needed for the fantasy of the game to be fulfilled, identifying existing versions of these systems, what I like about them, what I dislike about them.
However, the one aspect that I really have trouble navigating and which is kind of unique to TTRPG (to a certain way) is their resolution systems. I'm not a stranger to understanding some of the nuances and differences that a d20 system has over a dice pool system for example, but I absolutely don't fully understand all the subtleties. I have to either create one or borrow an existing one and it's hard for me to identify what I'm looking for in a resolution system? There's broad qualities like a system that allows for a lot of granularity in bonuses and progression, one that's fast, etc. But in the end I'm looking at similar options like a 2D6 system, or a 1D6 system and I'm struggling to see why I would choose one over the other?
Alot of the design thoughts that I have are more focused on the layer above the resolution system. I don't want to just blindly pick, I feel there must be some criterias that allows at least to move in a direction intently and explore a more defined space.
Anyone has experience with this challenge? Designed their own system? Had to choose one? Why did you choose that one?
Thanks!
I have no idea if this is the kind of topic that's allowed on ENWorld, but as there's many folks here with publishing and design experience, I figure I might ask.
Short background, I work as a game designer in the videogame industry. I'm pretty confident in my abilities and methods in that context, but I've started working on two TTRPG projects lately. One by myself, and one with a coworker. I'll focus on my personal project even though I've hit the same wall in both projects.
So far, I've been doing pretty good in navigating these new waters. There's many aspects to designing a TTRPG and I'm doing pretty good with many of them: creating the setting, establishing some core design pillars, identifying the level of complexity I'm interested in, identifying some of the systems needed for the fantasy of the game to be fulfilled, identifying existing versions of these systems, what I like about them, what I dislike about them.
However, the one aspect that I really have trouble navigating and which is kind of unique to TTRPG (to a certain way) is their resolution systems. I'm not a stranger to understanding some of the nuances and differences that a d20 system has over a dice pool system for example, but I absolutely don't fully understand all the subtleties. I have to either create one or borrow an existing one and it's hard for me to identify what I'm looking for in a resolution system? There's broad qualities like a system that allows for a lot of granularity in bonuses and progression, one that's fast, etc. But in the end I'm looking at similar options like a 2D6 system, or a 1D6 system and I'm struggling to see why I would choose one over the other?
Alot of the design thoughts that I have are more focused on the layer above the resolution system. I don't want to just blindly pick, I feel there must be some criterias that allows at least to move in a direction intently and explore a more defined space.
Anyone has experience with this challenge? Designed their own system? Had to choose one? Why did you choose that one?
Thanks!