Autorentext

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.

Klappentext

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.

Inhalt

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