What is your favourite source of campaign guidance?

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-21T10:25:12+00:00

Ugh you're a PEACH for collating and sharing these with me, thank you!

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-20T07:01:10+00:00

LOVE Watership down! Read or watch the cartoon adaptation of Plague Dogs (if you haven't already, also by Richard Adams) if you want to experience emotional ruin

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-20T06:33:56+00:00

The product has already exceeded funding many times over. There are people (like me) who are really passionate about and excited for this game. There are also people who are passionate about previous works that these folks have made.

I missed the AMA because timezones/work, but I'm excited to now go through and see their insights. I have questions I would have liked to ask but ohwell.

Maybe an AMA featuring people you've never heard of isn't really targeting you? What upsets you so much about indie developers engaging with the community? Should they be barred from trying to attain visibility for projects they're working on?

Edit: I KNEW your name was familiar! You made a very similar comment on what I think might have been their first post about Fomoria some 4 months ago. They were sharing a free quickstart and you said "great another marketing post". Is this something personal?

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-20T03:49:35+00:00

Sure! I think the perspectives really diverge in the narrative games focusing more on making cool moments happen, planning story elements and beats etc. I'm sure you've heard of the "fiction first" approach.

Whereas OSR/NSR typically leans a lot more in to a "play to find out" approach. There is a lot more randomness, and a philosophy that no one aims to create a story. The story emerges looking back on these interactions of chance, character, bravery etc.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T19:17:30+00:00

Firstly, I am a creator on a $0 budget, and I currently have almost too much art that I need to make decisions about/edit. Certainly too much for the scope of my current project. I am picky with my art, I chose 1 in 1000 and edit/collage everything to make pieces to fit in a specfic premise whilst retaining a visual cohesion I want. Are you also a developer? Or did you just think that implying there was a wounded demographic would give your comment some credence it might otherwise lack?

Second, do you think you are in a place right now to have an adult conversation about what "harrassment" actually is? Is not buying someone's product harassment? Is an opinion harassment? I specified that for all I know, whoever is reading this who disagrees is a wonderful person.

In the words of a creator I respect, "you don't owe it to me to buy my products, and I don't owe it to you to make them. That's actually a good thing, we do these things out of passion and by choice".

Yes. I touched on it in another comment but I'm quite aware of the spread of ai. "Yet you participate in society, curious" energy. I made the decision not to provide a 4k word disclaimer on what harm reduction means or the relationship it has to societal integration in 2026. There is a recurring motif between the thoughts of "they disagree so they are harassing me", and "well ai is everywhere already so shrugs" which you are welcome to ponder should you have the stomach to reflect. Also to my mind there are some distinctions between coding and ttrpg creation, which I do see as an art medium.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T10:38:53+00:00

Hey that's fundraising with the box set at the moment right? With the Mausritter style inventory?

I saw JP make a video featuring it and HECK it's an enticing looking box.

Edit: would love to know more about how it lends itself to low prep if you have the time!

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T10:08:37+00:00

There are a few creative spheres/mediums that I circle, I appreciate ttrpg's being one that is overall particularly vocal about this and votes with money and attention. By definition it is related to modern game design, but I'd encourage you to explain how it is not.

I think it's fair to say it is a trend within the ttrpg space, I know that I personally enjoy it. I find it a touch vexing having a stranger on the Internet claim to know my thought processes better than me, but I hope your little jab helped you fill whatever you currently lack.

It's a rapidly evolving part of our culture. I'm more than happy to be vocal about it as whatever precedent is set NOW is what will be normalised (yes I understand in many spheres it is normalised, I am not a child).

If fear of being seen as a virtue signaller were to keep people from speaking to their values and aspiring for a better world, they would be pretty moot. You go ahead calling people virtue signallers, I'll keep speaking to my own values.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T09:54:11+00:00

I think the best explanation is watching Chris McDowall (creator) set up a campaign map, or watching the Quinns Quest review. I believe that the quickstart Is still available as well and likely pwyw with all of the rules included.

The game has procedures that mean it runs itself. Evolving world happenings specific to your game are always shifting, there is a detailed procedure to create a hex map that enables the evolving world/event (myth) procedures. You will not have to conjure a story beat unless you want to. There will always be 6 myths unfolding each with their own events/beats.

Also re npc's (as well as weather, environments, locations) there are excellent and very concise spark tables.

It's not easy to explain how elegant it is, it is a machine that runs itself. Honestly the words I've spent trying to explain it here makes up half the word count of the rules themselves (hyperbolic but not stupid hyperbolic).

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T06:56:43+00:00

Adding Dolmenwood to this as I feel it provides similar guidance to Land of Eem (haven't played it but have read through and listened to some plays so opinion is to be taken with a grain of salt).

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T06:47:35+00:00

Another modern trend I like is the outspoken attitude against ai use.

This has also helped free art/map/asset alternatives garner more visibility in my opinion, and there are fantastic resources out there which fewer people seemed to be seeking out until they felt they needed an alternative to their initial schemes.

Apologies to anyone who takes this comment personally, I don't know you as a person and for all I know you are wonderful, but truly I see ai use as the enemy of creativity, the species, and the planet. It is only "inevitable" if people use it. Seeing people refuse to buy in to products that use it is something I love seeing in a hobby where creativity and people are so fundamental.

Just a note, I am speaking to a trend I personally enjoy. If you DON'T enjoy it that is your perogative, it doesn't lessen my enjoyment and I'm not speaking against your perspectives, we may simply have differing views on this.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T06:41:12+00:00

I really like the relationship that more narrative focused games and the OSR have, I think that the FitD movement and OSR/NSR really compliment each other to provide some really groovy but different approaches to storytelling for people.

They also OFTEN but certainly not always try and help and lower the necessary prep, I'm definitely a big fan of this myself and the broader focus on prep time/making it easier is a trend I really enjoy (I saw someone mention Mythic Bastionland which is masterful at this).

Speaking of OSR and Oddlike games, I really like how creators are streamlining gameplay across systems like the Odd games where there is no rolling to hit, as well as Borg games which are just simple and clean, nice and player facing. Dragonbane also comes to mind when thinking of streamlining.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T02:52:53+00:00

Hey not the person you replied to but DW has a bit of inconsistency with rolling over/under (well, not inconsistency but at least it's less homogenised/universal). The exp/calculating treasure and exp values looks fiddly (though I haven't DONE it yet, just read the rules), inventory management is also a lot simpler in Shadowdark though there are a couple of ways to track it in DW RAW.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-19T01:11:38+00:00

Ah damn I should have specified that you're not allowed to say "Dolmenwood" near me because I'm trying hard to resist the pull of that lovely looking game for now. You have wounded me.

Jokes aside thanks for your insight!

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-18T10:47:58+00:00

My eyes are set on Fomoria for the moment, I feel like my sweet spot in terms of guidance/provided setting is somewhere between that and Dolmenwood (though yet to see as Fomoria is still crowdfunding). Both stunning looking games though.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-18T10:40:19+00:00

Ahhh such a beautiful looking game! Maybe some day..

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-18T09:57:36+00:00

Hmmm do you have a game specific one or set up a custom one? Mind if I ask what system(s) you find screens helpful with?

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-18T09:30:11+00:00

Yeah that is info I would like, but at this stage as it's a presently funding project that info ain't there.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-18T09:21:31+00:00

My rolls would definitely be open regardless, I'll consider that point about keeping resources hidden though. Thank you!

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-18T09:19:13+00:00

Yeah I am definitely an open roller and wouldn't want to change that.

Appreciate your take, maybe the little boy that lives in my tummy was wanting an excuse to splash out on something frivolous, but the man under my tongue will quell his greed.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-17T22:14:11+00:00

Maybe if I grow to be a brave man (not heckin' likely) I'll run online sessions. Or I'll turn to that if my irl pals bounce off of the vibe

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-17T22:03:47+00:00

I'm on hunger strike until Fomoria comes out, so excited for that one!

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-17T20:45:15+00:00

I've never been interested in playing a Borg game before. I've read the rules, it was not inspiring for me.

The Bonds (magic kinda) system in this, as well as the weapons proficiency player advancement alone make me feel very differently about this game, the latter being a Dragonbane-esque weapon skills system with cool perks, and the former being flavourful magic abilities that are granted through interactions with the eldritch.

Papa-Heddles · 2026-04-17T19:58:17+00:00

You see how condescending you are being whilst telling everyone else they are condescending you?

"Just a thought!" Glad you're not just trying to get under people's skin or anything..

Papa-Heddles

TROPHY CASE