The Metal Bard

Inventory Management Methods - Poll Results Recently, I have been testing parts of a table-top role-playing game (TTRPG) system that I'm developing by running a dungeon of mine ( Pyramids of the Death Worshippers ). This has been incredibly helpful by allowing me to see mechanics in action from different angles. One of those mechanics is slot-based inventory management. As many other TTRPGs, inventory management is a central part of my game. In my opinion, having a finite number of carrying capacity can set interesting challenges, from having enough rope to being able to carry all of the treasure you just found. There are various methods of managing inventory in TTRPGs, and ultimately it comes down to preference. Yet, it got me thinking about what method different groups are implementing. To get an idea, I ran four polls across TTRPG subreddits, including r/OSR, r/Shadowdark, r/RPG, and r/DnD (herein referred to as OSR, Shadowdark, RPG, and DnD, respectively). A table with the...

  Introduction In the game I'm running, there are 100 keyed hexes ( link to map ). We are over 20 sessions in, and the party has explored less than a third (even less if we factor in secrets). This meant that finding specific things in the island would be rather difficult. I wanted to make sure there were alternative ways to overcome such a challenge. Which there are, such as the oracle (future post). And the party is resourceful; I'm sure they could send a hireling out to explore or gather information, but what if there was also a scout that could be hired specifically for this? This scout could fulfill a few goals: i) gives the players a useful way to spend their treasure; ii) saves the party time by performing concurrent tasks; and iii) provides adventuring hooks. Below is the NPC that I created for this. He is, in fact, the one that helped the party find the manticore  they were looking for. Mortimer (Scout) Location: Redwood Village [0910] - he may occasionally be foun...

  In an earlier post I alluded to some mechanics and procedures that I am using for a hex-crawling game. In this post, I will discuss the base system mechanics and why I chose them. There are many systems out there, each providing a different take on how to play an RPG. Some are focused on combat, some on exploration, and others on storytelling. I believe that the collection of rules, mechanics, and procedures is an attempt by the author to achieve a specific type of gameplay. For my hex-crawling game, I wanted to simulate the difficulty and wonder of overland exploration with an infusion of fantastical elements. I wanted to achieve a feeling of wonder approximating how I imagine Bilbo felt during his journey in The Hobbit . Just like I created an RPG adventure collage by merging independent ideas and content, I decided to do the same for the base systems. Character System: Simplicity. Originally, I wanted to use Old School Essentials (OSE). I liked the simplicity of the chara...

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) provide a wide range of experiences. From embodying a fictional character to exploring fantasy worlds, dissecting mechanics, and creating new content, TTRPGs usually have something for everyone. In my case, I like the creative and experimental process. A hex-crawl is my latest project in which I am trying to integrate individual ideas and pre-made content that I have accumulated throughout the years. A sort of  adventure collage,  if you will. Down the Rabbit Hole One of my joys is reading new TTRPG materials. I enjoy reading many kinds, including full-on campaigns, dungeons, zines, and systems. Each gives me new ideas and perspectives on what is possible at the table. I often imagine how scenarios may play out, what players may do or ask, and how I could implement components in different ways. For example, I was intrigued by the magic casting system from  Dungeon Crawl Classics , the roll-under checks and saves from  Warhammer RP...