Dweomerdark is a delightful dwarven dungeon delver by deeply dapper et al.

This isn't my friends project and I also happen to think it's pretty rad.

I'm having so much fun making these videos, I'm thinking of making more (of other games) once the Grok?! 2e Kickstarter is wrapped.

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I'd prefer to do other lesser known RPGs, so if you have any suggestions I'd love to here them.

I'm considering running something in the vein of Bill & Ted, and would like a system that handles time travel as something more than a hand wave.

I've been considering something similar mechanically to some PBtA or BitD games, utilizing flashbacks. Any other suggestions?

I made a flip-through video of a POD Print Proof of Grok?! 2e to help show the content, layout, and highlight some interesting elements of the game.

I hope you like it, and please let me know if this sparks any questions!

If you're interested in backing it, the Kickstarter is here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gandergaming/grok-2nd-edition

www.kickstarter.com/projects/gandergaming/grok-2nd-edition

What is Grok?!

Grok?! 2e is a [100% human made] rules-light science fantasy RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world of advanced technomancy and boundless plausibility.

In this world of post-apocalyptic technomancy, nearly anything is plausible.

• Sail across the starry Aether and explore alien worlds.
• Rebel against authoritarian AI alongside trans-dimensional migrants.
• Discover disparate cultures atop hovering isles.
• Survive the chaotic mana-irradiated wasteland.
• Delve dungeons for powerful relics and combat devolved monstrosities.
• Confront the other-dimensional nothingness spawned within the hollow planet.

Inspirational touchstones for the world of Grok?! range from Arzach, Brazil, Discworld, Dying Earth, Fantastic Planet, Flash Gordon, Heavy Metal, Space Team, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Labyrinth, Wizards, and countless others.

The unique game system was developed with inspiration from both OSR/NSR and narrative tabletop RPGS, most notably Fate, Cortex Prime, Freeform Universal, Index Card RPG, Cairn, Electric Bastionland, Ultraviolet Grasslands, and Savage Worlds.

Grok?! 2nd Edition is content complete, and will be printed as a 240-page full-color hardcover, complete with Refined Core Rules, an Expanded Setting, a Full Campaign, Solo Rules, GM Toolkits, and a full complement of add-ons: a Quickstart Guide, GM Screen, Pregen Character Pad, System Reference Booklet, and Coloring Book.

The Setting

• Planet Grok was once a haven for trans-dimensional migrants, and a bastion of advanced technomancy, until a cataclysm splintered the world.
• Now, long abandoned travelers sail across the vast Aether between planets, struggling to survive the abyss of space and the hostile alien lifeforms they’ve awakened.
• Rebel indentured citizens revolt against the deranged AI that controls the deteriorating space station, called the Simulacrum, that encapsulates and irradiates the planet.
• Eccentric and isolated societies maturate within inverted cities that float among the clouds on Hovering Isles.
• Mutant vagabonds traverse the Wastelands for salvage, inundated with phosphorescent radiation from the space station above and hunted by monstrosities from below the surface.
• Devolved monstrosities haunt the labyrinthine Underworld passages, coveting the relics of immense power long abandoned within.
• And all the while, within the Nether megacity in the center of the planet, ancient other-dimensional gods and their eldritch brood offer worship to the Voidstar from which they were cast: an infinite nothingness that threatens to consume reality.

Why Grok?!

• Expansive setting. A world of boundless plausibility and streamlined rules that cater to adventures of nearly every type.
• Rules light. Draws heavy inspiration from NSR/OSR and narrative games alike, offering a versatile and intuitive system for any setting.
• Universal Action Resolution. Uses a single resolution system for all character actions, whether fighting a mechalizard, casting a magic spell, or repairing a flux-decombobulator.
• Description Based Modifiers. Descriptive Aspects are integral to the resolution system, allowing anything to have mechanical impact on an Action's success.
• Player Facing Rolls. Ensures fast action resolution with constant player engagement, where every roll matters.
• Slot Based Resources. An Asset Slot system distills resource management of inventory, spells, damage, and temporary effects, into a single cohesive system.
• Open License. The SRD is licensed under Creative Commons, allowing you to freely hack and publish your work based on the game.

What's In A Name

Grok, both the term and the game, existed before Elon named his AI slop-bot.

Ultimately, I chose to keep the name for several reasons:

• I'd rather ensure that fans of the Zine recognize the 2nd Edition as a continuation and have the opportunity to enjoy it.
• I'd rather keep my artistic integrity and trust my gut, even if the cost is losing out on potential new readers.
• I'd rather stand futilely opposed to the titanic weight of societal influence that the billionaire class has over the world. I know that sounds grandiose and naive, so to put it bluntly: Elon can kick rocks.

I'm an indie developer with a niche tabletop game. My work isn't going to take the world by storm regardless of its name.

I like the name, and I'm keeping it, market share be damned.