#penflower ink

[abandonhopegame]

-Abandon Hope- is looking for beta readers and testers

The initial draft for the game has been completed and we are now ready to gain feedback with regard to the game and its mechanics. The game uses the Four Points Game System by Penflower Ink, which gives players two options to perform an action - use points from a particular stat pool or roll the die!

If you are interested in being a beta reader or possibly beta testing the game, please email us at gakuenmysteryclub@gmail.com with the follow information:

Your Name

Best way to contact you (Email, Tumblr DM, etc)

A small introduction and why you'd like to help out!

Responses will go out next week by Tuesday, October 17th! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send an Ask!

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hi there! Do you happen to know any good ttrpgs that can be run with 3 people (gm included if there's a gm) virtually and is light on math/crunch? Bonus points if it's scifi or fantasy. Double bonus points if there's minimal prep

THEME: Light 3-player Games

Hello friend, I’ve got a number of fantasy-themed games that you might like to check out. If you want some non-fantasy options, check out the bottom of this post!

Wickedness, by Nightling Bug. 

Wickedness is a peculiar tabletop game written for exactly three players and one tarot deck, with no dice and no GM.  Together, you'll form a coven between three mystical archetypes (the innocent and gentle Pure Heart, the volatile, revelrous Wild Spirit, and the uptight, scholarly Old Soul) and try to keep your world of magic and mystery in balance with the mundane world, in spite of its ignorance, poverty and violence.

This game uses tarot cards and draws a lot of inspiration from Belonging Outside Belonging Games, so there should be little to no math or crunch required. As a GM-less game, you might want one person to read the book ahed of time, but character generation and setting are figured out at the table, at the beginning of the session. I like the fact that the author provides pick-lists to choose from: it means that players will have a quick list of options to choose from rather than writing a bunch of abilities out of thin air.

The playtest in the game page shows three people playing it virtually, possibly on Roll20, so it looks like running it online is totally doable!

What’s So Evil About Necromancy? By Tyler Magruder.

Take the role as the product of necromancy (undead), the practitioner of necromancy (necromancer), and the guide (GM) and trade roles multiple times over the course of play.

What’s So Cool… games are pretty rules-light most of the time: you write down a few details and descriptions for your character, and roll 2d6 whenever you want to do something risky. You get +1 for advantages, and -1 for disadvantages. 8 or higher? That’s a success!

What’s So Evil About Necromancy? builds on this framework and adds bits and pieces that allow players to switch roles throughout the course of play. The game is meant to be expandable, so if you want to write lore or expand upon the rules, there’s room for that! The game is pretty light so running it online should be easy, especially since there’s very little character maintenance as written.

 If you want more ideas about how to play with necromancy, or if you want to flesh out a setting to play in where necromancy is rampant, you could flip through In Play Issue 2: Necromancy, by FKR Collective, for ideas. 

QuestFellows, by Penflower Ink. 

QuestFellows is a GM-less collaborative story-telling and role-playing game for 2 or more players, based on the Four Points RPG System. QuestFellows combines the atmosphere and themes of classic high fantasy adventure, with a narrative, player-driven and fully cooperative role-playing experience.

This game is what you want if you’re looking for a classic fantasy game. It’s GM-less, so like other GM-less games, it should expect the group to learn how to play together, which usually lend themselves to little prep beforehand. It also provides you with form-fillable character sheets and game instructions that allow for online dice-rollers. This is an excellent option for folks who want an setting akin to the stereotypical fantasy world but who don’t want to give one person the burden of being a GM.

POWER | WISDOM | COURAGE, by UnabashedlyRose.

POWER|WISDOM|COURAGE is a GMless game for three players about being chosen by the Light to face off against the Shadows and save your home from destruction. 

It's also a game about defying expectations and resisting the control of any of these so-called gods. 

This game pulls greatly from the themes of Legend of Zelda, with a focus on a trio of heroes and reincarnation, as well as going to fight against a devastating Darkness. The three characters are provided with predetermined stats according to the virtue they most embody, as well as a series of pick-lists to determine their motivation and background. The setting feels pretty abstract, so you can decide the details of it by yourselves, or perhaps with a world-building game to accompany you, such as Questlandia 2nd Edition, by turtle bun.  If you want a game that is epic in scope, this might be the game for you!

Games I’ve Recommended Before

Poutine: Deep Dish Nine, by The Kinematic Cafe.

Anyone Can Wear The Mask, by Jeff Stormer.

[goblincow]

Just read the most recent newsletter from @penflowerink.

Short, sweet & socialist as ever, with some cool news about their upcoming micro game, a brief touch into political news, a new podcast from @fndungeonmom called Game N' Gab which I look forward to listening to, and @capacle is crowdfunding their game Nexalis and using Penflower's character art that they put together for the anti-"AI"-art-theft TTRPG Art Asset Jam that we ran recently!

So that's exciting to see, I'm always glad to find even more reasons to be proud of the work we did promoting that jam!

Anyway it's a good newsletter & I think you should subscribe as a little treat (plus all the links are in there, because it's a good newsletter):

[cjlinton]

Indie TTRPGs as Teas

The Coven at the End of the Lane by Jessica Marcrum (@angrynerdgirl03) as Kusmi Tea Earl Grey

BALIKBAYAN: Returning Home by Rae Nedjadi (@temporalhiccup) as Hawaiian Islands Tea Hibiscus Honey Lemon Green

Lost Post by Phillipa Mort (@mortphilippa) as Be Well get heart No. 12 Herb Tea

Come Rain Come Shine by Penflower Ink (@penflowerink) as Pinky Up Glow Herbal Tea with Turmeric & Ginger

[wildmelora]

starting to work on my updated character notebook for Briar 🌸

(art by @corvophobia and modular character sheet printouts by penflower ink)

[chronivore]

Greenjackers! by Penflower Ink

[oddnumberofeyes]

Artists wishing to participate in this Jam are encouraged to submit any art assets (old or new) they have made that they think could be useful for indie TTRPG designers, who need artwork for their games.

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hi there! Any suggestions for a cozy, low-stakes, slice-of-life game? (Ideally involving woodland creatures and a utopian society, but I understand if that narrows the field too much!)

Theme: Woodland Community

My dear dear friend, I love it when I am able to tell you that there is a TTRPG exactly for that - and a few more for fun!

Come Rain, Come Shine, by Penflower Ink.

Take care of each other, and of the land.

Grow what you need and share all you can.

Move with the seasons, their rhythm and time.

You'll flourish, together, come rain or come shine.

Come Rain Come Shine is a GM-less, collaborative story-telling and role-playing game, based on the Four Points RPG system, and inspired by Solarpunk.

In a group of 2 or more, the players create and share the roles of animal-folk characters, as well as the community they inhabit. They work together to accomplish tasks and overcome complications, in order to help their community flourish.

Come Rain Come Shine blends story-telling and role-playing by letting players decide if they wish to take on a task as a community, or as a small group of characters, drawn from a shared character pool.

This game uses a resource called Energy Points, or EP, to generate levels of success. These points exist in both community pools and character pools, reflecting how characters depend on the community and vice versa. Your characters will take animal traits and abilities that may help them in specific situations, as well as invent a profession that helps recognize the animals’ role in community. If you like this game and want to make it about dinosaurs specifically, there’s a Dinosauria supplement that’s totally worth checking out. 

If you purchase the TTRPGs for Trans Rights in Florida bundle, congratulations - you already own this game and the Dinosauria supplement!

Briar & Bramble, by Freddie Taylor-Bell.

Man came to our woodlands with axes, hounds, and fire.

They tore down the old oak, where the birds made their nests.

They built upon the glade, where the deer used to roam.

They cast us to the wind and forced us from our home.

Only together may we wayward souls find a new place to call our own.

Play as a community of wayward animals in search of a new home in Briar & Bramble, a community focused roleplaying game crafted in the heart of the English woodlands.

This is a game that has higher stakes than the other games on this list. The animals characters embodied by the players are at risk of getting hurt, so it’s imperative that the group have a conversation beforehand about the kind of game they are going to play.

As for the system itself, this game is Powered by the Apocalypse, so expect the moves, graded successes, and playbooks typical of this game system. You’ll do things like move to new environments, bargain with NPCs for resources, fight (and flee) with predators, and attempt to hide from threats.Like the other games on this list, there is a palpable emphasis on Community and the link between the group and the individual.

Ramblewood Hearth & Promenade, by JFUR.

A cozy minigame, rules-lite, and quick to learn. This little buddy is based on Over the Garden Wall, Wind in the Willows, the Muppets, and just general Americana.

Play as a raccoon scout playing baseball with your friends, the bicycle pie deliverer, and a harmless old witch. Spend eternal autumn days fishing in the stream and looking for Mayor Vole's lost marbles.

The ruleset is mostly Chris McDowall's Into the Odd/Electric Bastionland with some added flair from John Harper's World of Dungeons and layout inspiration from Jason Tocci's 2400. Content aspects also inspired by Cecil Howe's Forest Hymn & Picnic.

This is the quickest read out of the three recommendations here: it’s only one page. There’s a pretty simplistic 2d6-rolling mechanic, and characters (called Ramblers) are composed of three stats, an expendable resource called Pep, and specialties called Knacks. There’s a little bit of setting established in the listed character backgrounds, but the rest of the tone and setting is up to the table - I’d recommend using a city-building or map-making game to prepare for this game, like I’m sorry did you say street magic, or Ex Novo.

If you want more animal fun, you can check out the TTRPG Animals bundle currently on sale at Itch.io! Offer ends March 30.

[theresattrpgforthat]

Theme: Star Trek Scifi

I run a Lancer game that basically set on DS9 but I was wondering if there were other games out there that focus on the interstellar exploration, political intrigue and action in a post-scarcity interstellar society.

THEME: Star Trek Scifi (Part 2!)

Hello friend! I have another recommendation post with some great Star-Trek inspired RPGS that I encourage you to check out, but here’s a few I didn’t advertise last time!

Star Journeys, by Small Wallet Studios.

Star Journeys: Go Bravely Beyond is a one-page tabletop RPG based on episodic space opera experiences like some of your favourite science fiction shows!  Grab a couple of friends and pick up a copy to play with a few dice and minimal prep.

You are an adventurer exploring the mysteries of deep space. What wonders and challenges are in store? These are the journeys of your starship so bravely go find out!

This is a very quick, very small, very lightweight one-page rpg with just enough flavour to remind you of Star Trek. It’s meant to be lighthearted, rather than exploratory, but it’s great if you want a quick pick-up game and you don’t want to drop a bunch of $$ on something you’ll only play once. There’s also a free adventure called Quick Hops if you want something extra to throw at your play group.

Federation, by Rogue Comet.

Federation is a short and sweet sci fi tabletop RPG where you boldly explore space in the final frontier. Do you like settings like Star Trek, Galaxy Quest, or Orville? This game emulates them all with a minimum of fuss. In five minutes you can read the rules and be playing the game with your friends.

This game is based on Jason Tocci's CC-BY 4.0 24XX SRD. It is by nature a simple game which requires trust in your GM. For even more information about the 24XX series of games, check out the original 2400 game by Jason Tocci. 

24XX games are descended from OSR, so I’d expect more tools available for combat in this game, but there’s more pieces in character creation that I’ve seen in other 24XX games, as well as a unique mechanic called Bonds, that encourages characters to roleplay together to help each-other in upcoming rolls. If your group picks up on this, you’ll likely get some neat roleplaying moments.

Wormholes & Warp Drive, by Wandering Pine Press.

In a galaxy filled with advanced alien societies, many work together as one in the Coalition of Interplanetary Lifeforms (COIL). The Lattice, a network of wormholes, is the key to interstellar travel and commerce. But when the flow of a rare and precious resource is cut off, COIL and the Lattice that binds it together is in peril.

As crew members of Lattice Terminus X7Z, you find yourself in a desperate situation. Isolated and critically low on supplies, you must find a way to re-stabilize the wormhole before resources are depleted. Can you find a way to save the Lattice, or will your failure seal the fate of everyone who lives and works on your station?

This is a game directly inspired by Deep Space 9, as well as Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, and Babylon 5. Space is rich, diverse, and full of life, but your dependance on certain elements of space is tenuous and there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. This game is part of a larger volume of one-shot games, all of which are designed to be zero-prep, GM-less, and one-page. This would be a great one-shot for exploring a part of your current campaign that focuses on a different or specific part of the universe - especially if you replace the Wormhole with Blink Gates!

Outward Bound, by Penflower Ink. 

In this game you'll play as one of the six alien species that form the Interplanetary Union, a decentralised space-faring community based on cooperation, exploration and the sharing of knowledge. As citizens of the Union, you have arrived in the Teyn Belt, an asteroid belt permeated by a strange field of unpredictable transformative energy, called 'the Tide'. Explore the belt, find and study new anomalies and maybe even establish first contact with new alien species arriving in Teyn.

Using Four Points, quickly make a character by choosing your Species and area of expertise, then you're ready to start exploring!

This game probably has less political intrigue built into it but when it comes to exploration, you’ve got it in boatloads! The game designer also likes focusing on community and mutual care in their games, so expect a post-scarcity society in this game as well. The designer for this game is also an artist, so expect some really fantastic art inside this book as well.

[abandonhopegame]

Devlog #2: Game Logo and More Updates

A lot has happened since the last time I updated and since it'll be a while before my clothes in the dry are finished, now is a good time for a recap.

Official Logo for Abandon Hope

In an effort to get me to take this seriously, I had a logo made for Abandon Hope. I posted it to the blog already, but thanks to the efforts of graphic design  Didik Wahyudi, the game has an official logo.

I wanted a plain text logo to inform interested players that this is a dark game, since a lot of my inspirations come from horror anime and manga (Occultic;Nine, Another, maybe even a little bit of King's Game, anything by Junji Ito), Call of Cthulu, and the video game World of Horror. I offered a few suggestions and thankfully the designer delivered (I say thankfully because I could be better and finding references!).

This will be the logo used for the game going forward.

Game Development Update

The Game Manual draft for Abandon Hope is currently over 10K words. According to the draft, I started working on it September 10th, and the 10k milestone happened yesterday. So, I've been busy!

Without getting into too much detail, here is what has been worked on so far:

Character classes have been determined, including starting equipment, special abilities, and relationships with the other club members

Titles have been determined. The GM is the "Club Advisor", and the players "Club Members". That's all I'll say.

Game System has been selected - the Four Paths Game System by TTRPG Designer Penflower Ink.

A general idea of combat actions have been determined.

Initial Traits and Status Conditions have been created

Before moving on the GM section of the book, I think I'm going to write a few short story anecdotes for the book. I'm still trying to figure it out, but that's where I am at.

How I'm Feeling About the Process

Designing can be a very fun but very solitary process. In my case, it's also a nerve-wrecking one while I have played TTRPGs before, designing one is a whole 'nother experience. Still, I am in good company. Many of my friends play TTRPGs and some are even DMs, so being able to chat with them about my ideas has been so helpful. They have been so supportive, rooting for me, so I'm glad they are in my corner.

And Finally, When Will You be Releasing This Game?

I'm sure a release is in the cards, but I'm in no hurry to do so. If someone were to corner me and demand an answer, I'd probably say "sometime next year". But to be honest, I'm just enjoying the creative process. I just want to have fun creating something I like. And at the end of the day, isn't that all that matters?

That's all from the desk of the Mushroom Witch. See you all again soon with another update!!

[chronivore]

Outward Bound by Penflower Ink