The Dragon's Den, vol. 1 (Jan. 2024)
Explore24, its status and future & other news
Explore24 Updates
Two weeks have passed since the beginning of the new year, and Explore24 has progressed steadily each day…until now. I have a propensity to write prose when I play solo TTRPGs, and Explore24 has proven to be no different. As such, the process of playing each day can run incredibly long. On the one hand, I’m having an absolute blast. I love the emerging story, the characters, the worldbuilding it affords, and the system I’ve created for the game. On the other, however, are the realities of time constraints, responsibilities, and other obligations. I can’t do it all, despite wishing that I could.
As a result, I have dropped the 1:1 nature of the project. I will always strive for a day of game each day in real time, but I can’t hold myself to it with the responsibilities that I have. Because of this, my daily posts will become as often as possible. I will still be posting the progress of each week on Tuesdays at 10am EST on my blog and provide an update at least once a month through the newsletter. Below are the links to the first two weeks.
Other Projects
I have tasked myself with several projects for 2024. Some, like practicing free-hand ink map drawings, are quick and easy to keep up with. Others, like developing new TTRPGs, take a lot more time and effort. Here are some teasers to what I have planned for the coming year.
The Bronze Islands RPG
The Bronze Islands have been floating round my skull for the better part of two years. Inspired by my own background in the Ancient Greek language (specifically Koine) and love of Greek mythology, The Bronze Islands is a new setting and system inspired by and, in part, built on Ironsworn and Starforged.
You take the role of a Hero who is tasked with Heroic Quests by some higher power—be that a monarch, an oracle, or an Immortal. These Quests help build your hero’s Mythos, the record of their legendary exploits. The concept has blossomed fully in my head, but the details are still in the concepting stage.
Scouge RPG
Inspired by the likes of The Witcher, Van Helsing (both the film and the ARPG video game trilogy), Castlevania, Underworld, Dracula (the novel, and the character’s various depictions in media), among many other dark fantasy books, games, and movies, Scourge sees you embody the worldview of one of three factions: the Eternal Flame, Hunter’s Guild, or Scourge.
The Eternal Flame is a religious cult that seeks to eradicate the Scourge through the use of sanctified tools and purifying spells. The Hunter’s Guild are a group of expert trackers, hunters, and warriors who dedicate their lives to eradicating the menace of the Scourge. The Scourge is actually a broad term applied by their enemies to all of the supernatural beings of the world, both the sanguine and the primal. These supernatural individuals have powers beyond the norm, but at a great cost.
Scourge is currently in the concept phase as well, but is my current obsession. I am toying with also using the Ironsworn resolution mechanic (D6+mods vs 2D10) for this, but may opt for a more traditional PbtA resolution mechanic (2D6+mods) or using the Folly System that I use for Explore24.
Ironsworn/Starforged Adventures
I released Escape late last year on a whim. I had the adventure completed since Summer 2023, but never published it. When a reddit post asked for adventures and I mentioned it, there was a surprising amount of interest and I quickly threw together a pdf in Affinity Publisher and released it. I am astonished at the almost 300 downloads its garnered—with next to no marketing.
My goal is to produce at least two more Adventure Modules for Ironsworn or Starforged this year. If you have any ideas you’d like to see me try to implement, let me know in the comments!
Free-Hand Pen Mini-Maps
Finally, I want to use this year as a way of getting more confident in my pen drawing skills. As such, I’ve racked up 11 mini-maps (drawn in a sketchbook that is about 2in x 1.5in) so far. You can find them all on my Instagram, but I’ll include a few of my favorites here.
The League of Incredible Soloists
These awesome Solo Role-players have been a huge support system for me over the last two years of designing TTRPGs, and writing actual play fiction. Check out all that they are working on at the links below!
Errant Adventures by Steve Morrison
Croaker's RPG Corner by Croaker
Until we meet again upon the Road,
—Eric
The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can...
-JRR Tolkien
Love the maps!