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TTRPG Tuesday: Is This What I Do Now?

Hello no one.  New year, new whatever.  I’m back with another TTRPG Tuesday! Mostly I want to talk about the thing I threw together over Christmas break instead of getting ANY playwriting or boardgame writing done: Star Baker!

Yes, based on a joke tweet and the response, I got it into my head to design a Great British Bake Off TTRPG, and over the course of about six days  and six pages, that’s what I did.  I actually quite like the system, despite having followed a few dead ends and doubling back.  It’s got a lot in common with Riders, but it definitely honours its subject and may also owe a little to what I’ve heard of Blades in the Dark (namely the flashback stuff).  But I think this one could have legs, as well as a broader civilian appeal than any of my other stuff, and I’ve got feelers out with a graphic designer friend to explore the possibility of collaborating on a polished version to release on itch.  I think it’s on my end it’s a bit overdesigned at present, and could do with some paring down; and even after that, I’d like to break what’s left up even more to make it a really approachable, digestible RPG.  I read recently about how much the best RPG manuals have in common with recipes/cookbooks, and this is EXACTLY the game that should strive for that.

All in all, I aim this year to get out at least three games published on itch; I think if I can start with Star Baker and What Makes It Move, I could then follow with Riders, maybe another Company mission, perhaps a pre-gen setting or a module for Spectres of Brocken? This could be my year for TTRPGs, by which I mean I’m so hopelessly burnt out on many of my other passions and I have a bunch of existing material that would just need editing rather than creating from whole cloth, so perhaps I can cheat my way to a feeling of fulfilment.  Who knows? I exist on fumes.  Til next time, whenever that is!

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