Your game’s premise doesn’t have to be complicated! In Dungeons and Dragons, the basic plot is fighting monsters and picking up loot or treasure.
For example, in the RPG Paranoia, you try not to be killed by other players. The main goal can be internal, too! In the game Nicotine Girls, the characters are trying to get out of a boring town.
For instance, a high fantasy RPG would need a detailed map of the fictional land or kingdom. Realistic settings are also great choices! Call of Cthulhu, Vampire: The Masquerade, and Shadowrun are popular RPGs with realistic settings.
For instance, you might reference Dungeons and Dragons and create a “check” system in your RPG. “Checks” involve rolling dice to see what your character’s stats are. You don’t have to use dice as your game mechanics! Dragonlance: Fifth Age uses a special set of cards, while Dread uses a tower of wooden blocks. [9] X Research source
In Dungeons and Dragons, some character classes are paladin, rogue, monk, and cleric.
If you’re designing a survival-based RPG, you might give players a health bar that shifts depending on the current weather conditions. You might create a bidding or betting system in your game where players wager their currency. You could have players do a round of rock-paper-scissors to compete for resources.
For example, you could let players earn dice throughout the RPG, and let them “duel,” or roll their dice, as a final conflict at the end of the game.
In Dungeons and Dragons, this reward/punishment system is based on getting experience points (EXP), or points that allow players to level up. As players get more EXP, they can level up their characters and get better weapons. If they aren’t successful in battle, they won’t get as much EXP, and won’t be able to progress as quickly.
Wushu is a great example of a rules-lite type of RPG. The rule system is incredibly flexible, and there aren’t a lot of regulations when it comes to combat. Dungeons and Dragons is considered a rules-medium RPG. While there are some pretty firm character and battle guidelines, the game offers a lot of narrative freedom to the players. HERO System is a rules-heavy RPG. The rules and character design are very extensive, but these guidelines feed into a balanced point system.
For instance, you might create a system where players can say and do whatever they’d like unless another player vetoes them. You might make a rule that players can only do 2 total actions on their turn.
For instance, if your players are all level 1, you wouldn’t have them face off a level 20 enemy in the first battle. On a similar note, don’t make the RPG challenges too easy! A chance of risk and failure can make the game a lot more tantalizing.
Dungeons and Dragons character sheets are great references if you’re designing your own tabletop RPG.
For instance, you might have players roll a d20 to see how much damage their weapon does. Once they roll a specific number, the player makes a decision and contributes to their story narrative on their own terms.
A cheap set of dice can cost less than $15, while high-quality or customized dice tend to be pricier. The supplies you’ll need ultimately depends on your game’s mechanics. If your game is dice-based, bring a set of your favorite dice. If your game uses wooden blocks, cards, or another type of mechanic, bring those instead![22] X Research source
Plan on paying extra if you plan on marketing your game through a website, too.
