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Category Archives: PbtA Design

pyramid on a promontory on an alien planet

Designer Diary for Planet of the Week

After a thorough review of dozens of science fiction PbtA games, and after hacking the last two TTRPG systems we played quite a bit, I decided to create my own game with exactly the vibe I wanted. Why a new system? Well, I’d just published Reflections on PbtA Design, so it seemed apropos to design a game from scratch rather than just hack up an existing system.

Flashback neon sign

Flashback Moves

Most roleplaying games take place linearly, but some embrace the tropes of fiction and lean into narrative tricks like flashbacks. For instance, in a movie, one of the main characters will say to the others that they have a plan, and then the next scene will flash forward. You won’t learn what that plan is until later, as you see it unfold or as you see a flashback. If that fits your style of play, here’s a move you can add to your game.

Featured Posts

  • Monster of the Week’s Mystery Countdowns

  • The BASIC Programming Atari Cartridge was the Worst Commercial BASIC Ever

  • Tactical Moves in PbtA Games

  • Top 15 ST:TNG Episodes, in Chronological Order

  • Using Microscope for World Building for a Campaign

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