Great ideas an innovation are rampant in the RPG space, and I want to highlight two that I’ve seen recently.
Playing with character sheets
First, over on reddit, user Wabriel shares a brilliant idea for a mech game, where the pilot has a small character sheet that slots into a larger character sheet for the mech itself.
This lets you have some stats that swap out, while the bulk of what the mech can do is unchanged pilot-to-pilot. It reminds me of Into the Breach, and I am always a sucker for a good physical gimmick like this.
Another favorite in the space is A Complicated Profession, where you play as ex-bounty hunters serving on a cruise ship. You build your character sheet out of two halves, the left being your old role and the right being your new. It’s a lovely bit of building, and brings me endless joy. Check this one out!
Building your reputation
What about when you’re running a game, especially a long-running campaign? Luke Gearing has a clever piece of tech at the table: a reputation chart that starts empty and grows alongside deeds over play.
I especially enjoyed Robert Reeve’s takes on the tech, demonstrating how it can build from an NPC having no idea who you are, up to knowing specific tasks someone has done.
He further explains how you can build tables of smaller sizes for NPCs or small towns, use propaganda, lies, and disguises to fill the tables in erroneously, as well as integrate different skills.
Playing with reputation gives players drives (especially if they know about it!) and makes the world feel more lived-in. You can give your gossip (as well as your exploits) teeth.
Keep it coming! Got some tech I failed to spot? Throw it my way, I’d love for this to be a regular feature.