Grid Happy

Role Scene…

I am so freaking jealous. No. No I’m not. I’m mad… at myself.

Part of me wants to steal the concept but most of me knows to sit back and watch the masters build their masterpiece. Ugh! Why didn’t I think of this game mechanic? If only I’d contemplated mech load-outs a little harder, for a little longer. Then I’d be the one making the most amazing masterpiece. Shake it off. It is, afterall, in the right hands.

I am, maybe not so obviously, talking about Celestial Bodies, a game currently in development by Binary Star Games (@binarystargames) and Charlotte (@basilisika). The game is currently being funded on Itch where you can purchase the current (and any future) version. LINK

Of course, as with any late-night scrolling, I had no intention of backing another project. I’d just backed Orbital Blues: Aftershock and was feeling pretty good about some well-placed TTRPG budget dollars. Then I stumbled upon Celestial Bodies.

What immediately hooked me was the load-out / inventory mechanic, which is all based around a simple 6x6 (or smaller) grid of empty squares. As best I can tell the grid serves not one but THREE game functions.

1. The grid limits the amount you can hold. Equipment and weapons are different shapes and sizes. If you can’t fit it in your grid, you can’t have it.

2. The grid allows you to strategically build your mech. What items you place next to each other matters. For example, if you have a weapon that requires power, it needs to be placed next to a power source or it wont work.

3. The grid is hit points. Acting similar to the old board game Battleship, an attacker rolls 2d6 (d66 mechanic, if you’re familiar) to pinpoint a location on your grid that gets damaged. Lose all the squares or power reactor and your mech is down.

The game is still in its early stages but the core concept is there. I’m already imagining friends and I sitting around the table playing this weird TTRPG, Battleship love-child.

I love fresh new ideas. If you’ve seen similar mechanics before, let me know. I’d like to read more games like this.

What I’m Playing / Working On

I planned to run a spooky session of kids at summer camp during the Halloween season, but some scheduling got in the way and Spooky Season (October) ended.

Like any good (aspiring) game developer, instead of playing the game the following week I took the extra time to expand on the story and rules. Soon it became more than a one-shot. Soon after that I’d torn down any resemblance of the original game.

Now I’m building a three arc Kids On Bikes style summer camp adventure using a ‘sneak’ system I've developed. Maybe I’ll be ready to run it next Spooky Season. 😂

(I say I’ve developed the sneak system but more likely it’s been done already and I just haven’t read that game yet. After all, it’s a pretty basic mechanic of rolling a Sneak Die alongside a player’s skill check.)

Creator Corner

I stumbled upon the 200 word RPG website, which is a concept sort of still maintained elsewhere on the internet. Maybe? Regardless I love this concept and challenge all who are reading this to stop what they’re doing and write a 200 word RPG right now!

It doesn’t have to be good, because no one will see it. Unless of course you want to send it to me. If you do I will absolutely read it.

Crowdfunding & Coming Soon

Celestial Bodies by Binary Games (on Itch.io) LINK

Bug Busters by Dieku Games (no thru Nov 28 on Kickstarter) LINK

Grimtooth's Old-School Traps for 5E and DCC from Goodman Games (now thru Nov 28 on Backerkit) LINK

Do Not Adjust Your Set by Ex Stasis Games (coming soon on Kickstarter) LINK

Adventure on the Purple Planet ... And Beyond from Goodman Games (Feb 2024 on Backerkit) LINK

One Breath Left 2nd printing from Stout Stoat (coming soon on Kickstarter)

Wish List / Waiting To Play

Celestial Bodies by Binary Star Games

Veins Of The Earth by Patrick Stuart and Scrap Princess

All of Grant Howitt’s one page games. Do I dare fantasize about playing ALL of them with my Wednesday night group for the next 65 weeks? Yes. LINK

I don’t typically get excited about solo RPGs but there’s something about One Breath Left that has its hooks in me. I’m anxiously awaiting the reprint planned for later this year. It should be said, I’m a sucker for space exploration. LINK

The Quiet Year (and everything else) by Avery Alder LINK

Artefact and Bucket Of Bolts by Jack Harrison LINK

Monsters And Other Childish Things (Monstrous edition) from Arc Dream Publishing LINK

10 Candles by Cavalry Games LINK

Disclaimer: This newsletter has no paid promotions. Everything included is here because I think it’s cool and/or interesting.