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General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Worlds of Design: How Long Should Your Rulebook Be?
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<blockquote data-quote="Sacrosanct" data-source="post: 8140280" data-attributes="member: 15700"><p>I've written rules for boardgames, and I've written rules for several RPGs. It really does vary. Probably by personal preference as well. Most of the rpg rulebooks I've written are all encompassing--no separate book for players, GMs, etc. So those are around 300 pages or so, with well over 2/3 of that devoted just to monsters and magic items (a lot of page count goes there, as well as spells). I really try to keep big rule books under 400 pages. More than that, and the heft is just too much and page count is intimidating. My boardgame rules are under 20 pages or so. That's the hardest challenge, as a lot of things go to the cutting room floor. Only the most critical rules need to be in, and things must be kept simple.</p><p></p><p>Currently I'm working on Chromatic Dungeons (an OSR clone), and I'm up to about 200 pages and have just started monster entries (and still have magic items left to go). Everything else is written. Then again, I'm intentionally trying to keep rules fairly simple, like a cross between B/X and 2e. Give the guidelines and structure, then let the individual GM decide rulings based on playstyle preferences.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sacrosanct, post: 8140280, member: 15700"] I've written rules for boardgames, and I've written rules for several RPGs. It really does vary. Probably by personal preference as well. Most of the rpg rulebooks I've written are all encompassing--no separate book for players, GMs, etc. So those are around 300 pages or so, with well over 2/3 of that devoted just to monsters and magic items (a lot of page count goes there, as well as spells). I really try to keep big rule books under 400 pages. More than that, and the heft is just too much and page count is intimidating. My boardgame rules are under 20 pages or so. That's the hardest challenge, as a lot of things go to the cutting room floor. Only the most critical rules need to be in, and things must be kept simple. Currently I'm working on Chromatic Dungeons (an OSR clone), and I'm up to about 200 pages and have just started monster entries (and still have magic items left to go). Everything else is written. Then again, I'm intentionally trying to keep rules fairly simple, like a cross between B/X and 2e. Give the guidelines and structure, then let the individual GM decide rulings based on playstyle preferences. [/QUOTE]
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