1KM1KT Free RPG Community

Just thought I'd say hi before I start lurking in earnest. I haven't played a pen-and-paper rpg since the 80s, and then mostly TSR products. Last year my son started playing D&D, and I went online to see how the hobby had changed and fell down the rabbit hole.

Reading about homebrew rpgs made me remember how I'd had almost as much fun making up alternate rules as I did playing the game. Something about game design and the intersection of math and storytelling was always fascinating to me. It turns out it still is.

Anyway, lately I find myself tinkering with websites like Anydice and coming up with ideas for game mechanics. I'm not much much interested right now in creating full rpgs with their own color and flavor, just the underlying rules and how they work or don't to create a playable game.

I guess that's it.

Welcome! Being a young 'un, I can only imagine how you perceive the changes the hobby has undergone over the past decades. I hope we'll be able to help you slide back into it, and I look forward to seeing your work, and learning something from your style!

-Joe

Howdy Mr thedroid, welcome to 1KM1KT!

We usually encourage tinkerers to come up with something of a story to go with their games. In your case, playing with mechanics can still sort of be guided by that concept. Maybe you already do this, I don't know, but think about the mechanics that you're playing with in terms of what they do to a story or what they accomplish for a story.

We've attempted at times to try and classify different kinds of mechanics and what they accomplish for the feel of a game. Do they help make the game easy to run? Do they open up tactical choices? Is it a resource mechanic that give the players a feeling that their abilities are shrinking over time? Those are just some broad categories to think about.

Or you can none of the things I just said and still have fun doing it. I only mention the idea because it's a way to tie what you're interested in to things the community here has found interesting in the past.

Thanks for the replies. I have ideas about what type of game a certain mechanic might fit. I just don't think I have the gumption at the moment to really flesh out a game world to go with it. Maybe someday.

For example, I have a dice mechanic based on blackjack that would probably work with the flavor of the Old West or some game set in Las Vegas.

Another idea is for a status tracker that, rather than just counting down from "full" to "empty" the way hit points do, has normal in the middle and can go up or down, which might be good for a "social" game.

And of course I've got concepts for how to make hack-and-slash swords and monsters more interesting, but who doesn't.

Can't wait to hear them.

as one of the mod's I'd like to say "hello and thank you for joining!!" we can't wait to have you join in on the maddness

I've been a way for a bit, so excuse the late message - welcome to 1km1kt.net

There are two big ways to start a game. Begin with a story, and find mechanics to support it - or think of how you want the game to play, and find a setting that encourages those actions. I have to admit that my current big project began as mechanics first - so you're in good company.

Following up on your idea about using blackjack or poker dice, how about taking a look at a pair of games from our archives built on those premisies? Might be some good inspiration. is based on blackjack, and Mr. Pink would probably agree it is well suited for a certain Quentin Tarantino movie. is based on poker dice.

With a degree in literature and creative writing, I can claim to be a decent author. If you've got a collection of mechanics, I can try to work out a story and collaborate on something.

Happy gaming, and good luck with your work.