Today, I released a new update to my TTRPG project, The Planar Vagabond’s Guide to the Multiverse, adding a handful of new spells, monsters, magic items, and races.

Plus, after nearly a year away from playing, I’m super-excited to run an all-new Halloween survival-horror one-shot this year called Escape the O.V.T.!

“Who will survive, and what will be left of them?”

@itsericwoodward@itsericwoodward.com Hmmm 🤔 What is this exaactly?

@prologic@twtxt.net It depends on which part you’re asking about…

First some quick context: I’ve been into tabletop role-playing games (ex: Dungeons & Dragons) since I was a teenager, and I’ve been playing and/or running games for most of the last decade (mostly on Discord for the past few years, as my players are scattered around the country).

The Planar Vagabond’s Guide to the Multiverse is a website where I’ve collected much of the material I’ve written or adapted into my custom RPG ruleset, HOSR (Heroic Old-School Roleplaying), and I just published some new stuff there. 🤩

While most RPGs are played as “campaigns” (over multiple gaming sessions), a one-shot is an adventure that can (theoretically) be finished in a single-night (3-5 hours of gameplay). I’ve done horror-themed one-shots around Halloween for years, typically based on the classic gothic adventure, Ravenloft. But this year, I’m running something new(-er) called Escape the O.V.T.!, and I’m being intentionally cagey about it because I want it to be a surprise for my players.

Does that explain it? I’m happy to go deeper on any of it. 🙂

@itsericwoodward@itsericwoodward.com I think so, what I was mostly confused about is the website itself. It has a lot of content and verbiage. Can the game be played on the website? Or is it table-top played? 🤔

@david@daiwei.me Ahh, I’m only confused then because I’ve never seen anything quite like this, nor have I played and role playing games on a table-top either.

@prologic@twtxt.net Yes, @david@daiwei.me is correct - it is a website with (most) everything one would need to run a fantasy tabletop role-playing game, either in-person or online. I use a service called Roll20 which provides a “shared” tabletop with virtual maps, dice, and character sheets that all the players can see (and I can control). It’s really alot of fun - it’s basically adult make-believe, but with a shared set of rules and a “game master” to keep the story moving. 😁

@david@daiwei.me Thank you! I’m not brave enough to play in public, but I know several people who do. I basically only play with friends or friends-of-friends.