My game Holypunk is a Gothic Fantasy TTRPG. My design philosophy is simple: “Create a game where backstory… your origin… it all matters.” Frankly, I think I’ve achieved that.

My game is essentially split into TWO core systems. One that uses playing cards, and one that uses Tarot. Of course, if you don’t read the text linked above, just know that you can very easily run a tarot only game. (I wanted to decrease the barrier for entry that GMs had.) Also, I know legibility is a problem. I’ve just recently done an overhaul so tips are welcome.

Here’s the deal: I’d like to know the “odds,” which is better. I personally think my Core Resolution Mechanic is fairly simple. However, during play-tests there has been some contention over which of the systems is “objectively better.” Think back to the alignment chart. For chaotic characters, they’re basically playing Blackjack. For lawful characters, it’s a “take the lowest” system. (I did this instead of “take the highest because face cards being bad is more recognizable and fits the game’s anti-oligarchy themes.)

I basically have 3 questions:

1. Which do you prefer? Tarot or Blackjack?
2. Which is easier?
3. If you know the statistics, please, which is more favorable.

You’ll need to click the links above that say Core Resolution Mechanic AND split if you want a full handle on the odds.

Addendum, to make it more clear I’ve changed some terminology in the rulebook. With Blackjack you can stop drawing cards whenever you want. Having 5 Wrath doesn’t mean you must draw 5 cards. It means you can draw 5 cards. In the blackjack deck, drawing 5 cards isn’t always ideal, but after you’ve already busted or when there are less cards in the deck, you can keep drawing until you get the joker. Drawing the joker will always be a success, even after you’ve already just.

Addendum II, if it was still not clear after reading splitting the deck. I have since added: “You will only draw from one suit at a time in this game.”

Flavor Stuff, skip if bored

I’m not exactly trying to make them equal, I can’t do that. The idea is that the type of card tells a different story. I consider the blackjack deck to be more… Middle of the road. Draw too little cards and it’s bad news, draw too many and it’s good, but not better than tarot. In those middle areas? Now we’re talking.

Even then, in those middle areas, it’s a bit mundane. Your odds lean more towards the middle. Meanwhile, the tarot gets good a lot better with a lot cards. It’s like rolling with 2d6 vs a 1d12. D12 has more explosive potential, but 2d6 is more reliable.

That was my personal interpretation, my intent. Much like music, my interpretation means fuck all. People see it differently. Someone else interpreted the playing cards to be “underdog favorable.” Whereas tarot is more about stomping down the iron heel. I love this interpretation!

However, I think the reliability has confused people into thinking it’s “better.” More often than not, you’re min-maxing. The middle of the line (i.e. drawing 2-4 cards) isn’t really something you care about. In that regard, playing with Tarot will always be “better” and perhaps that’s the tradeoff for it being the less fun system —according to popularity polling. I have no problems with this.

My bigger problem is that I don’t actually know if the Blackjack system is even better in those middle areas. Maybe it’s only better in the min areas whereas tarot is better in the max areas, also fine. However, I’m certainly not willing to have it be worse at all levels. Dangerously, it might even be better at all levels. I ran some stats and got to a level that “seems fine,” but statistics aren’t my thing. Dice I can do, but cards? So many unpredictable variables.

Greetings, my game Holypunk is a gothic fantasy game where you get to play as the monster; you’re set to be executed by the creed. I need your help, how do I design enemy stat blocks for my game.

To an extent, I’ve been enchanted by the idea of playing my game. I know I want to run my game, but that’s because I made it. Games with stat blocks to choose from, imo, are just always easier to run. I want that for my game.

Since you play as monsters, I want the enemy stat blocks to mirror classes. I’m just blanking on how to neatly put them together. Most games can separate enemies by type. Whether they’re draconic, elemental, humanoid, etc. Sometimes it’s instead separated by environment, like whether they’re arctic, infernal, or even cave dwellers. I don’t particularly think my game can do that

Instead, I’m thinking of separating the enemies by “classes.” So far, commenters have suggested:

Brute

Support

Mage

Priest

Hunters

It sounds like separating by “fighting style” is the way to go! However, if you have general layout ideas, that’d be great. I find this part to be perplexing. However, even simple suggestions like: Paladin or Cleric is a “must have” go a long way. Sorry if this post has been a little confusing, I’m trying guys.

Hello chatters, I have a few specific questions about my game. Holypunk is a Gothic Fantasy TTRPG that uses tarot to resolve most conflicts. Its main purpose is to serve as a trans allegory. In my game you get to play as monster, set to be exercised by the creed. As an example, a player of mine wanted to play the “Haunted Armor” origin. Every haunted armor gets a knight, so she’s set to play as an Iron Maiden with a corpse inside as her knight. As a party, they are tasked with insurmountable task of slaying a night omnipotent God. The actual rules section is only 18 pages, which I think is good. There’s some empty space I’m hoping to fill with art or… something. Feel free to only answer as few questions and you’d like. They’re ranked in importance to me. If you answer only question 1, it’d be a big help. Honestly, the last 3 questions are for overachievers. If you see a question is already answered in the comments tho, feel free to answer a different question.

Question 1.

Does the attribute system in my game make sense? Is it redundant with the suit system? I’m sure at least one of these are true, but I really don’t wanna change all the attributes.

Maybe I can meet in the middle and do something like PbtA: Put Wrath and Temperance under swords, Charity and Lust under Pentacles, Envy under cups, and Diligence under wands.

Question 2.

If there’s one thing about me, you tell me something doesn’t have whimsy and up the wall. Apparently the health system lacked whimsy before. Now, I fear I’ve gone and made things over complicated—never good. Does this section make sense anymore?

Question 3.

Is initiative in my game too complex? Is it too simple? Hopefully, it’s just right now. I’ve since pulled back on things that make it too crazy. Like wrath got added instead of diligence if adrenaline was too high.

Question 4.

I think major travel is fun. I worry it’s one of those nothing burger rules. It might even be a bit too confusing. Does this section even make matter?

Question 5.

Does temperance in combat make sense? Should I just avoid the trouble and kill off card duels. It feels climactic, but consulting a table doesn’t. I also have an optional rule based off this that’s less important; does goal-posting make sense?

Question 6.

This one doesn’t really acquire any additional context. I’m thinking of adding origins. However, from this point on I want to do them in batches. For example, monsters from Cthulhu Mythos, monsters from pantheons, monsters from 2666, etc.

In the Pantheon example, which monsters would you personally like to see? I’ll definitely make a Sphinx and Chimera, but what else should I add? “Focus on what you have” is an acceptable answer too. After all, I’m told this game is a far cry away from being playable.

Question 7.

Are my sections named appropriately? For example, the Major Travel section feels meh. Should I name it Major Expeditions? It’s small, but it might be important.

Question 8.

I have a section in my game called planetarium. Gameplay is vaguely similar, but it’s strictly for improv based one-shots. As you can imagine this section gets the least feedback so it’s the most messy. It unfortunately makes some assumptions on knowledge. Like, how many tarot decks should there be?

Question 9.

Should I just scrap the optional rules, or should some be core rules? They’re optional, so I don’t worry about them much, if at all.

(Not really a) Question 10.

If you catch any horrendous grammar, lmk. I started using the em-dash and semi-colon a lot after taking a 2–300 level grammar class.

A Reminder

If you require context, the first paragraph has the link to my full game. Each paragraph should provide a link with the particular section I’m asking a question about. That said, I’ll respond to any questions you have. I appreciate any and all feedback. I truly apologize if it ever appears that I don’t, lmk. Even if it comes from very random places, I’ll take it. I have some fillable character sheets on Universal Character Sheet; I do not have an itch.io or Kickstarter.

I can’t believe I’m saying this… but after years of refining the mechanics… It’s time to finalize this game.

What is Holypunk? Holypunk is a game about monsters surviving “exorcism.” YOU play as the monster. Much of the theming is inspired by the Salem witch trials, Godkiller, and trans allegory. Much like the matrix, there’s a dilemma. The mechanics to their very bone send a message about a dilemma: Conformity at the sacrifice of self-identity or self-actualization in an upstream environment.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my game finally has a selling point! I’m not trying to sell my game, but I do want others to run it. For starters, the dice system is unique. That comes with its own drawbacks of course, but there’s meaning behind that now. Your alignment influences the dice. Your unresolved backstory influences your negative modifiers. Experience is tied into your motivations. I managed to keep these effects relatively small, but the feel is big. The rest of the mechanics? Maybe a little function over form.

Since it’s all finally coming together now, I need to do 3 things.

1. I need to flesh out the narrators; have them interact with each other. (e.g. Nevermore gambles which is why he likes 2d6 so much, Nigel hates monsters but respects the knighthood of haunted armor, Nexus is a sadistic war born freak.) I’m trying to divvy up fairly complex rules in a way that’s super ADHD friendly. That’s why the rulebook has too much color and is a printing nightmare; that’s why there are multiple narrators.

TL;DR: How do I divvy up my rulebook into sections without losing flavor AND giving insight on some of those more complex ideas.

2. I wanna make an index. What exactly are core mechanics you need to reference quickly? “It depends” is an acceptable answer but the game manual is linked if you want to be more specific to my game.

3. I didn’t create this game thinking I’d create something so unique yet functional. I’ve seen some of your projects and they are stunning. I feel… inadequate in comparison. The problem is… that negative perception of my game gets shattered when someone is willing to spend money on my game but can’t. I don’t actually want to profit off of my game, but I do want to get it out there now.

TL;DR How do I get my game out there? Kickstarter, Itch.io, DriveThruRPG, etc. I know these places are good places to do that… But is it really as simple as posting to the platform or is there I strategy I don’t get have.

After his first realization that he’s “over the odds ñow” he showed us he killed 1,663 Axolotls. I can’t confirm all those mobs bred were Axolotls so we’ll be using these numbers.

The formula for this is 1-(1/odds)^attempts. To put things into perspective, after about 832 attempts you’re officially “unlucky.” Still, the 820-830s are 50/50 odds.

After about 1,663 Axolotl’s killed, you have a 25% chance of simply not getting an Axolotl.

Ñow, the number we’ve all been waiting for. After 2,672… 90% of people would’ve gotten it by now.

To restore equilibrium someone would need to fish the “blue” Axolotl in 136/137 attempts.

If you’re seeing this Grian, don’t go to a casino.

P.s. if Grian hasn’t bred any other animals… 6%. Knowing you did that little more off camera, congrats on the nat 1. Ren had 45% odds, so he is lucky but not “very” lucky.

Hey gamers, I’m making a TTRPG called Holypunk. The dice system I’m using is called DOTS, if you haven’t heard of it before… that’s because I made it the fuck up. Still, it’s worth mentioning the name because it truly gives you a feel for my game: Decision. Oriented. Tabletop. Systems. (I suppose DOTTS is acceptable too!)

I’ll give a quick summary of how the dice work. In this game, you make the decision of rolling over or under: 2. If it’s over on ALL dice, something holy happens. If it’s under on the LOWEST dice, something punk happens. If your lowest dice is a 2, you get stuck in limbo: (Shoutout to you guys for helping me come up with the “limbo” mechanic.) You act with hesitation, you will do what you’re trying to do, but it can be interrupted.

I’d skip this paragraph if you’re clear on all that, some people need a deeper understanding of “how to succeed”. When you’re rolling to perform a “Holy” action, to me, that’s just something lawful. If you’re rolling to perform a “Punk” action, that’s chaotic. However, yes, there are times where I can’t decide whether or not an action is chaotic or lawful. In these times, each stat has a bias for “Holy” vs “Punk”. These stats have a Holy bias: Diligence, which is dexterity focused; Temperance, which mental & physical resistance; and Charity, which is the help action. These stats have a Punk bias: Wrath, combat & strength; Envy, intelligence & wisdom; and Lust, it’s the charm stat. If you’re trying to pick a lock, break out of prison, etc., I don’t care what the stat is, you’re rolling punk.

When you’re rolling with Holy die, your dice value increases. When you’re rolling with Punk die, the dice pool increases. (See the DOTS link for a helpful chart)

Before I finally get to the explosion classes, let me explain why I personally think my game needs explosions. With explosions; technically, the starting point is 2d5, not 2d6. This is key because the odds of rolling a 1 on 2d5 is 36%; the odds of rolling 3+ is also 36%; the odds of rolling 2 is 28%. When you re-roll, it does something outside manipulating the dice odds so you can still get the hype moments of exploding AND you get the equal maths. A note: +1 Vice is stronger than +1 Virtue, pretty much always. That doesn’t bother me. The math is there to supplement my game, not dictate it.

So, why explosion classes? Well, as you can imagine, your chances of exploding on a dice go UP when you get a bigger dice pool but they go DOWN when you get a higher dice value. A lot of my game is about quantity vs quality, and I don’t want my game to be so belligerently better for Punk rollers… but it can be if it absolutely can be if you (the player) willingly choose it.

Static Explosions: Belligerently better for punk rollers. Also super simple. Anytime you get the highest number on the dice you get +1 Pride. (Pride is explained at the bottom)

Dynamic Explosions: I’m fairly certain this is the worst one but it is for gamblers. That, and people who just want one dice type not to be so much better than the other. If you play with dynamic explosions, after rolling the highest number on the dice, the subsequent roll gets added OR subtracted from your Pride score. If it’s odds, you subtract, if it’s evens, you add.

Unstable Explosions: This is the most volatile one and it is belligerently better for holy rollers. When you roll the highest number on the dice, the subsequent roll gets added. BUT, if you roll the highest number on the same roll more than once, the SUM of the ENTIRE roll gets subtracted from your Pride score. It’s… brutal.

So what is Pride, some call it “beginners luck” and others call it “sanity” from Call of Cthulhu. I personally call it the “know the unknowable stat,” whenever you meta-game, interact with something truly horrifying, yes, you get punished by losing a percent of your Pride. Probably a d20. However, when you want to succeed a roll, typically after you’ve already failed the check, you can spend a d20 to succeed. You can also spend a d20 to have an item. Depending on the item, it probably costs less, if you the player forgot to write something in your character’s notes but it’s in their character to habe the item, spend pride percentage. As long as you don’t lost 13 in one go, you’re fine. As long as you don’t hit 20%, you’re fiiine. You start with 100%, so you really should be fine… but you will inevitably do one of these two things. My game is all about being monsters, there are no humans. When you lose 13 in one go or hit 20%, you lose touch with your humanity. When you’d typically do something humane, you do something monstrous. (Going over 100% is a choice you actively have to make. If you do, it’s the same as hitting 20%)

That’s all, thanks for the long read. Hopefully this all makes sense. (I know it doesn’t, I’m really trying here, try to be patient with me.) I guess I just have two questions, which of these would you personally pick? Does this system work? It doesn’t work if you can think of something better for dynamic or unstable explosions thats a lot simpler, that’s the main reason why I opened this thread.

Calling all the monsters 🔉🔊 Hey chat, I’m trying to see if the rules here read nicely or not. What’s missing and all that jazz; however, the main focus is the current dice system. It might serve me well to have separate sections for rolling higher & rolling lower and thats a formatting choice I’ll probably make

Virtues & Vices are a huge thing and they’re probably here to stay, I’ve play-tested them and they continue to feel nice and make sense.

The damn modifiers… They make sense to me. I know why they’re there. You? Not so much I assume. Imagine the virtues as like a +1, -1, +2, -2, or +3. I’m gonna need stuff like advantage and disadvantage because the system I’m trying to design, at least for me, demands it.

Is there a clever alternative to just “reroll 1s” for -1 that makes more intuitive sense, or is it once again a communication error and everything sounds cool in theory.

Whelp, thanks for reading here’s Holypunk

Tip for how to do this consistently, wait until you’re at the apex of your jump. Also, I align the petal just above the omnic corpse, you can do this (Omnics, stay underground.)