Design Unique RPG Rule System
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
I’m building my own tabletop RPG inspired by DnD and Pathfinder, but I want the rules to feel fresh rather than merely reskinned. Right now my biggest hurdle is nailing down the numbers: the progression curves, the way combat interacts with a flexible magic system, and how all of that stays balanced from level one to epic tiers.
Here’s what I need from you:
• A full character-progression framework that covers leveling milestones, branching skill trees, and unlockable abilities that feel meaningful yet stay mathematically sound.
• Clear, engaging combat mechanics that integrate seamlessly with those progressions. Think action-economy tweaks, damage formulas, and defensive options that reward tactical play without bogging things down.
• A modular magic system that scales with the same progression model—spells, rituals, or power-points are all on the table as long as they balance against martial options.
• A living spreadsheet (Google Sheets or Excel) that hosts every table, formula, and toggle so I can stress-test numbers and instantly spot breakpoints. Conditional formatting, automatic CR calculations, or other quality-of-life tools are a huge plus.
I’ll provide my draft setting notes and rough ideas for classes so you have narrative context, but the mechanical side is yours to engineer. Final hand-off should include the spreadsheet, a concise design document explaining the math behind each subsystem, and sample character builds across multiple tiers to demonstrate balance.
If iterative play-testing or future expansion interests you, let’s discuss ongoing collaboration, but for this milestone I’m focused on shipping a rock-solid, balanced rule core.
Here’s what I need from you:
• A full character-progression framework that covers leveling milestones, branching skill trees, and unlockable abilities that feel meaningful yet stay mathematically sound.
• Clear, engaging combat mechanics that integrate seamlessly with those progressions. Think action-economy tweaks, damage formulas, and defensive options that reward tactical play without bogging things down.
• A modular magic system that scales with the same progression model—spells, rituals, or power-points are all on the table as long as they balance against martial options.
• A living spreadsheet (Google Sheets or Excel) that hosts every table, formula, and toggle so I can stress-test numbers and instantly spot breakpoints. Conditional formatting, automatic CR calculations, or other quality-of-life tools are a huge plus.
I’ll provide my draft setting notes and rough ideas for classes so you have narrative context, but the mechanical side is yours to engineer. Final hand-off should include the spreadsheet, a concise design document explaining the math behind each subsystem, and sample character builds across multiple tiers to demonstrate balance.
If iterative play-testing or future expansion interests you, let’s discuss ongoing collaboration, but for this milestone I’m focused on shipping a rock-solid, balanced rule core.