In my most recent Weekly Geekly Rundown, I mentioned that I worked on a Fantasy Heartbreaker called The Secret Fire and GMaia has expressed an interest in learning more about this game.
I think now more than ever is a great time for game designers to take chances with heartbreaker rpgs. At the very least, it's an exercise in game design and they can release with with little fuss and low stakes with any of the self-publishing options that are out there. If they wanted to make it into something more, gaming communities are quite active, time permitting, and the continual feedback can genuinely help creators develop their heartbreakers into games that balance the professional and personal aspects of the industry.
I have two (or three) systems that I've lamented not dedicating enough time to writing since I graduated from my master's program (as most of my writing has been Substack this past year and a half!) but I at least know there are still places I can turn for help and advice when I am ready to share them for playtesting or editing.
I also find it funny whenever I see complaints about Hasbro's D&D online, as I feel like this newer wave of players can't really fathom the idea that they don't need the rulebook or can just play other games of their own devising.
Great post! Your "some dwarves" approach reminded me of Robert Anton Wilson's "sombunall" ("some but not all") concept.
I think now more than ever is a great time for game designers to take chances with heartbreaker rpgs. At the very least, it's an exercise in game design and they can release with with little fuss and low stakes with any of the self-publishing options that are out there. If they wanted to make it into something more, gaming communities are quite active, time permitting, and the continual feedback can genuinely help creators develop their heartbreakers into games that balance the professional and personal aspects of the industry.
I have two (or three) systems that I've lamented not dedicating enough time to writing since I graduated from my master's program (as most of my writing has been Substack this past year and a half!) but I at least know there are still places I can turn for help and advice when I am ready to share them for playtesting or editing.
I also find it funny whenever I see complaints about Hasbro's D&D online, as I feel like this newer wave of players can't really fathom the idea that they don't need the rulebook or can just play other games of their own devising.
I'll be writing a series of posts on Fantasy Heartwarmers. I'll leave it a bit mysterious what those are, but it should be fun.