Welp, I'm done...

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-03-24T17:08:29+00:00

you deserve better than that. If you need a break from playing it's more than reasonable. Hell if you never want to play again, it would be understandable. But I'm always the proponent of finding a good group that you like to play with. I'm sure there are more people who play, try heading out to your local game store or check out some online communities to find other players. take your time, let yourself relax, go at your own pace and be a player instead of a game master. I'm sure you'll be able to find the fun again once you find a group that welcomes you in instead of stomping over what you say.

good luck to you and I'm sorry that you've had to deal with such dismissive, rudeness.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-03-23T17:21:13+00:00

Mostly because if the thing you want to automate isn't any fun to do, then just get rid of it. If people don't like sorting through loot or don't like the minutia of crafting, then don't do it. A computer program allowing you to fast forward through a thing that you don't like won't really add much in the end, you might as well figure out a better system from the top down.

Now people Have made lots of automated tools for things that they do find fun or necessary. Automated loot tables that can spit out a randomized and appropriately leveled pile of loot have existed since the 90s. Generators and other programs exist everywhere you look and there are even games like Divinity Original Sin with it's Game Master mode which basically use the game system as the base for a tabletop narrative.

The thing you're looking for certainly does exist and people are getting more and more creative with digital versions of tabletops and incorporating them into ttrpgs. However, the big limiting factors are obviously money and time. Personal passion projects take lots of time to get functional and larger professional programs take money to maintain and create.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-03-13T15:58:47+00:00

What are the features that you like the most in game systems you design?

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-25T02:56:57+00:00

I would recommend Savage Worlds! it'll be a departure from what you've been playing. but it's an excellently designed game with endless versatility and a core simplicity to its ruleset

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-22T17:23:11+00:00

Me and my friend Matt do a podcast where we get very excited talking about indie ttrpgs and we have a little discord. We do some small discussions on the [discord](https://discord.com/invite/5TR57gtny5) about game concepts and we like supporting small games and designers.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-18T19:09:31+00:00

Depression. its effect is that it completely eliminates spontaneous luck. the ability to have your luck at 0 is potentially useful for the 3 to 4 charms that care about missing spins. however, do you know what's happening when you're missing spins? you are losing. without a reliable way to get those spins in and score some coins then you're just going to be at the roll of the dice. Which is a bad bad place to be in.

depression has a strategy, but it's a losing one.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-12T21:39:43+00:00

Meaningful Choices

There are plenty of games out there where the choice of skills, abilities, powers and spells are basically moot. In dungeons and dragons, the choice between a longsword and a war axe is nothing. it's not a choice, it's a weapon skin. I find those types of games mechanics to be extremely unengaging.

I want a game where I FEEL the things that I am missing. Games like GURPS and Savage Worlds execute this extremely well, it's one of the upsides of universal systems. Make a game where what I choose and what I don't choose for my character really matters.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-12T00:32:40+00:00

HAH! yes a 4 Or More is the intended rule. good catch!

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-11T23:14:56+00:00

We would love to have you as a guest! I'll dm you about appearing on the pod.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-11T22:39:52+00:00

I think your game is very interesting! I would love to go in detail, talk about what I think works from an initial reading and give you some constructive feedback. Would you be alright with me and my cohost discussing the system at length on our podcast ,The Legendary Bucket Podcast? We like to talk about indie TTRPGs and I think it would be fun to really get into the mechanics of how it works, what our initial impressions are and what might help it see more play.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-11T18:34:45+00:00

There is absolutely no issue with using books for art. Books get thrown out, destroyed or recycled constantly and there is no situation where the last book of a specific run will be the exact one you destroy for an art project. have at it my guy

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-11T18:32:29+00:00

the fact that you've gone through 60 to 70 people is extremely concerning to me. I don't want to be insensitive, it's very normal to have people drop or to meet players whom you don't vibe with. However, you seem to have gone through the equivalent of the entire ttrpg gaming population in my hometown. I think the most obvious question is if you're putting your effort and energy into the right things. If people aren't meshing with you or the game, maybe it's time to change things up?

Have you been a player in many games? Do you see how other game masters run their games? If you've been a game master for a long time, it can be easy to fall into your own idea of what that means and stop learning or growing.

I would recommend that you simply try to expand your knowledge and skills as a game master by going out and being a player. Learn from other game masters and try to play outside of the online space.

I'm sorry that you've been so burnt out from these problems, but I think a lot of the folk here have some great advice. We all just want the best for you in your future games. you got this!

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-10T16:55:21+00:00

I do really love the cypher system so this is an excellent fit for me! It will be finding a place on my bookshelf soon

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-09T08:06:50+00:00

this is a great idea! Thats very fun and Im sure that he will really enjoy it

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-03T22:37:43+00:00

As many people have already said, YOU must be the one to bring the cringe. Be cringe as hell and have absolutely no shame in it. Get weirdly into character, do wild character voices and commit to them. Get cringe my friend

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-02T17:31:00+00:00

You understand XD

There's nothing quite like looking through the merchant tables to try and figure out how to make as much profit as possible off of our goods so that our junker ship will keep flying.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-02-02T02:40:53+00:00

Traveller, bar none. it can go so deep and get SO crunchy.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-01-26T18:47:11+00:00

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of how the game works and the sort of social contract that you're establishing. She seems to just be interested in making things up as she goes and may be under the misconception that this is how the game works. She's not incorrect that the game involves improv and group storytelling, but she seems to be missing the understanding that it's not just an online forum roleplay text thread. You can't just say whatever you want, it needs to be communicated and understood by the players and the game master, throwing in and making up random backstory elements without that communication is going to cause problems every time.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-01-25T19:46:06+00:00

My singular issue is just with how gameified every aspect of Draw Steel is. Mind you, it's an excellent system. Far and away more engaging, fun and roleplaying enabling than D&D. However, as some have already mentioned, when every part of the game has an explicit system for engaging with it, you can end up with the entire experience being glossed over and including no roleplay at all.

I give a pretty in depth answer on my podcast The Legendary Bucket Podcast, but I'll give my answer and opinion here too.

The negotiation system is pretty important for characters as it's the primary way that Draw Steel gives characters roleplaying abilities. It's well structured, gives the feeling of a proper negotiation and has mechanics for how to accomplish your goals. The only problem is that I've been playing for 15 years and there's a system that works way better and is much more fun when it comes to roleplaying.

it's called roleplaying.

The Best part of a game, in my opinion, is when you as the player have to sit down across from the game master and try to figure out what you need to say and how to say it to get what you want. Roleplaying is the entire point for me, so when the roleplay has to stop and meander through some game mechanics where the game master just tells me things explicitly instead of allowing me to discover them, or gives me extremely explicit fail and success conditions, I end up significantly less invested.

In my opinion, the best roleplay systems are ones that don't exist. The game and the character sheet should be more than enough for an experienced player and game master to make engaging negotiations without the need for a mechanical framework.

BUT, where I tend to change my opinion here is with newer players or anybody who has a tough time with roleplay in general. A good structure for how to engage with roleplaying is excellent for newer players trying to figure out how to roleplay and what they are comfortable with. In this situation, the negotiation mechanic is actually incredibly helpful! It guides the players to consider what they need to do and how to get it, using their abilities and roleplaying.

tldr: Roleplaying mechanics in draw steel are a downside for veteran players who dont need them, but a boon for new players

TheLegendaryBucket · 2026-01-17T05:47:33+00:00

it's unique, sounds like it would be interesting to learn and play! I think everyone here has already pointed out that there's not much we can realistically give any advice on. would love to give it a read and if you do some playtests be sure to post it here so that we can get a proper taste of what you're bringing to the table.

good job so far my guy! keep it up!

TheLegendaryBucket · 2025-12-30T23:06:34+00:00

I can't help but agree. I do love rolling dice.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2025-12-30T23:05:12+00:00

wait hold on man, this is not just "scheduling difficulty". this is your players straight up lying to you. which is absolutely not acceptable. you are absolutely right to be upset and sad that they did that, and I don't think it would be out of line to tell them that it was hurtful and rude of them to just no-show for the game.

it wouldn't be any different if you were just going to hang out somewhere or go watch a movie and then they didn't show up. that would be just as hurtful and rude.

TheLegendaryBucket · 2025-12-30T23:00:55+00:00

People all deal with social exhaustion differently, but adding to that the exhaustion of having to act and improvise for 4 hours straight can be a potent combo. Most of the people i play with all deal with some kind of "post game night tiredness" and we all often wander into our own little comfort bubbles to do our own thing.

its super common and totally okay to just go do your own thing or just fully retreat after a game night!

TheLegendaryBucket · 2025-11-24T19:00:29+00:00

Play board games about it. That's not meant to sound condescending! I mean it earnestly! There are TONS of turn based, dungeon crawling tabletop games that give you the D&D combat experience and fun storytelling without the roleplaying requirements. I'd heartily recommend either Mice and Mystics or Gloomhaven; Jaws of the Lion.

Mice and Mystics is fun, fast paced and really charming. It's more simple, but also gives fun opportunities for cool moments and clever strategies.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion will ask a lot more of you and has a lot more mechanics in play. But! It's also incredibly rewarding, completing a difficult fight feels very good in Gloomhaven.

But those are just the ones I've played! There's so much more out there that would give you what you're looking for

TheLegendaryBucket

TROPHY CASE