Stone Scrolls Swords & Sorcery
Hey all,
I’ve just finished putting together the first proper playtest document for my TTRPG, Stones, Scrolls, Swords & Sorcery, and I’d genuinely love some feedback from people who enjoy weird systems, fantasy games, or RPG design in general.
All resources can be found here: https://github.com/badgerette/SSSS.git
The core idea was:
“How do you make a fantasy TTRPG without dice?”
The system uses a modified Rock–Paper–Scissors mechanic for resolving actions instead of dice rolls. Throws build into Best of 1 / 3 / 5 contests depending on character skill and attributes, with draws increasing the intensity of the final outcome. The goal was to create something fast, tense, social, and surprisingly dramatic at the table.
Magic is handled through a freeform Words of Power system where players combine words like Smoke, Bind, Leap, Bone, etc. to create spells on the fly. There are no fixed spell lists, the fiction and intent come first.
The game is heavily inspired by things like Blades in the Dark, Stars Without Number, Quest, Tiny Dungeon, and more narrative-first systems, but with a much lighter and more improvisational feel.
The current document includes:
- Core rules
- Character creation
- Archetypes & pathways
- Freeform sorcery
- Origins/backgrounds
- Harm, travel, coin, and progression systems
- A custom Roll20 sheet
This is absolutely still a playtest document, so I’m mainly looking for:
- First impressions
- Rules clarity
- Things that feel confusing or awkward
- Whether the core mechanic actually sounds fun
- General vibes honestly
Would massively appreciate anyone willing to take a look.
Cheers!