TTRPG Rulebook Organization

TTRPG Rulebook organization

Hello TTRPG fam, I'm facing a common challenge while writing my latest rulebook, and I'm curious about your thoughts.

How do you prefer to organize the order of rules in your TTRPGs? In my current draft, I have references in earlier chapters to concepts that aren't fully explained until later. Putting these ideas first disrupts the natural flow of the rules, but I also want to avoid constant "see page XX" references.

I'm considering a few options:

A "quick start" guide at the beginning

Sidebar explanations for referenced concepts

A comprehensive glossary of terms in the front

Detailed index at the back

Restructuring the entire rulebook (a last resort)

As both designers and players, how do you balance comprehension with readability? What ways have you found effective for introducing complex concepts without overwhelming new players or constantly redirecting readers to other sections?

I'm interested in hearing about your solutions and experiences. How have you tackled this issue in your own designs? What approaches have you appreciated in other rulebooks?

Let's talk

Evil Hat are running a public playtest of The Dagger Isles! Remember that place that somehow manages to not have a lightning barrier? Well, we're getting a whole book about gaming there! Blades in the Dark is expanding beyond Duskvol.

You can register interest below. I have just done so and am excited to see the playtest.

Google Docs

Dagger Isles Playtest Principles

Thank you for your interest in playtesting The Dagger Isles, a supplement for Blades in the Dark. Please read over these principles and, if

I am stuck between 'd12Core' and 'The Flux Engine' for my new tabletop RPG. The first describes an important mechanic, the second captures the spirit. Which one grabs your attention more and sounds more interesting?

At the heart of the game is the Flux Dice, a d12 that can dramatically swing the outcome of any action. It adds an element of surprise and uncertainty, where the best can fumble, and novices might pull off the near impossible.

If you want to see what it is all about, the beta has been out under d12Core for a while, it is free and will always stay free.

itch.io

d12 Core - Playtest by Chaosmeister

Explore unknown worlds full of wonder and mayhem.

A one-page Player Character Emulator

Second release in a week, somebody STOP ME

'Triple-O' is my take on a one-page Player Character Emulator

⭕ Run published adventured modules as a solo GM! ⭕ Test-run your world-building, adventure, or prep ⭕ Emulate allies or hirelings

Spread the word! 😊💗

itch.io

Triple-O by Cezar Capacle

One-page character emulator. Play solo as the GM!

A Sprinting Owl Manual For Making TTRPGs

So I wrote a guide to making TTRPGs.

It's taken me a couple of weeks, plus a lot of feedback from valiant community members, and it's been revised from about 20 pages to 67.

It covers theory mostly, but it has workbook sections and it gives a basic runthrough on the whole process from initial concept to feedback on the published release.

If this is something you think might be useful to you, or to someone you love who has been afflicted by rpg design, feel free to take a look.

(It's available for free, just hit the button under Community Copies.)

itch.io

A Sprinting Owl Manual For Making TTRPGs by kumada1

Procedure and theory for TTRPGs.

Expanding the 6Q-System

Hey TTRPG family,

Since a lot of you seem to like my free game 6Q, I've been kicking around some ideas for setting modules for it, and I'd love to get your input. I'm currently considering eight different settings, each with its own unique flavor. Take a look at these summaries and let me know which ones grab you the most:

🌆 Cyberpunk Megacity: Navigate a neon-drenched domed metropolis where climate control has gone haywire and micro weather haunts the districts. Help claw back control of the very weather from the corrupt corps exploiting it.

🐉 Mythic Fantasy Realm: Explore a world where forgotten gods walk among mortals and ancient magic pulses through the land. Your choices will shape the destiny of a realm teetering between rebirth and oblivion. May the fog spare you.

🪐 Space Opera Fringe: Carve out your legacy on the edge of known space, where alien mysteries and human ambition collide. The key to uniting worlds may lie in the unlikliest of friendships.

🕴️ Supernatural Investigation Agency: Join a clandestine organization tasked with keeping the supernatural hidden from the public eye. Balance maintaining the veil under which society operates with uncovering otherworldly truths that threaten reality itself.

🏜️ Post Apocalyptic Reconstruction: In a world ravaged by catastrophe, lead the charge to rebuild civilization. Your choices will determine not just survival, but the very nature of the society that rises from the ashes.

🎩 Steampunk Conspiracy: Unravel a web of secrets in a world of brass and steam, where science and the occult intertwine. Your inventions and deductions could topple empires or usher in a new age of enlightenment.

☀️ Solarpunk Utopia: Shape the future in a world that has overcome its greatest challenges through technology and social change. Explore the complexities of maintaining harmony while striving for perfection.

🏡 Slice of Life Community: Build connections and navigate personal growth in a close-knit community. Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary as you help shape the lives of those around you.

I'm genuinely curious to hear which of these resonates with you. Your input will be a big help as I expand 6Q. I can't promise I will nail every setting as some of these are challenging for me and outside my expertise. And of course details may change. I hope to get to every setting in due time, but your choice tells me what I will work on first. Cheers!

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments - I'm always interested in hearing your ideas and what you'd like to see.

Thanks for being part of this journey with me. Please repost if this interests you, I would love to get as much input as possible! Looking forward to seeing what you all think.

itch.io

6Q SYSTEM SRD - Powered by FU by Chaosmeister

Setting agnostic 1pg TTRPG based on FU. Just answer six questions to play.