What Sets Inkforged Apart?

• Truly Defined by Dice: Instead of traditional classes, Inkforged uses dice to define your Ikon's Traits and Skills. Assign a die to each Trait (Agility, Brawn, Instinct, Mind, Will) and Skill Group (Adventure, Combat, Magic, Social, Sneaky). This combination creates a unique character build, allowing for a vast array of possibilities. Want a nimble warrior with a silver tongue? Go for high Agility and Social dice! Prefer a wise mage with a knack for stealth? Prioritize Mind and Sneaky! 

• Player Agency: Inkforged puts the reins in your hands. Challenges are resolved through player-made dice rolls, giving you direct control over your actions. The Narrator (game master) rarely rolls for NPCs, focusing instead on guiding the adventure. 

• Negotiate for Success: See a way to use the environment to your advantage. Think your Ikon's Flair could help in this situation? In Inkforged, you can negotiate with the Narrator to lower the difficulty of challenges. This adds a layer of depth to the game, allowing for creative problem-solving and dynamic storytelling. 

• Frequent Incremental Advancement: Forget about grinding for experience points. In Inkforged, you earn Edit Points (EP) throughout the game, which can be immediately spent on character improvements. This could be honing a Trait or Skill, learning a new Ability or Spell, or even picking up a new language. Each upgrade, though mechanically simple, brings meaningful growth to your Ikon. 

How to Play Inkforged

Character Creation

• Prior Life: Before you step into The Realm, you'll need to define your Ikon's past. Choose or roll for their country of origin, upbringing, education, and walk of life. This backstory adds depth to your character and can influence their actions in the game. 

• Flair & Foibles: Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Choose or roll for one Flair (a positive quirk) and one Foible (a negative trait). These add personality to your Ikon and can create unique roleplaying opportunities. Imagine a brave warrior with a fear of spiders or a charming rogue who can't resist a shiny trinket! 

• Reading The Book: Your Ikon's journey begins when they stumble upon a mysterious book. Describe their physical appearance, keeping in mind the Traits and Skills you've chosen. Are they a towering barbarian with bulging muscles or a nimble elf with keen senses? 

• Traits & Skills: As mentioned earlier, assign dice to your Ikon's Traits and Skills. This step is crucial in shaping their abilities and how they interact with the world. 

• Abilities & Spells: Spend your starting EP on Abilities and Spells that complement your Ikon's build. Abilities are learned techniques, while Spells are created through the art of Scrivening. Want to leap across rooftops with acrobatic grace? Pick up some Acrobatics Abilities. Fancy conjuring illusions to bewilder your foes? Invest in the Illusion Spell. 

• Trades & Belongings: Round out your character by choosing Trades (professions or crafts) and purchasing equipment. These add flavor to your Ikon and can come in handy during your adventures. A skilled blacksmith could forge powerful weapons, while a master musician might charm their way into a royal court. 

Overcoming Challenges

Challenges in Inkforged are diverse, ranging from picking locks to scaling cliffs to persuading a stubborn merchant. When faced with a challenge, the Narrator determines its difficulty level. You then roll the appropriate Trait or Skill dice, adding any relevant bonuses. Success means overcoming obstacles, while failure could lead to setbacks or injuries. 

Remember, you can always Negotiate for Success! If you see a creative solution or think your Ikon's unique traits could help, talk to the Narrator. They might lower the difficulty or even change the challenge altogether. 

Engaging in Combat

When diplomacy fails, it's time to draw your sword (or maybe cast a fireball!). Combat in Inkforged is dynamic and exciting. In each round, everyone rolls Initiative, determining the order of actions. You can attack, defend, use Abilities, cast Spells, or even attempt special maneuvers like grappling or disarming. Damage is resolved through dice rolls, and armor provides Damage Reduction. If your Health reaches zero, you take a Wound. Too many Wounds, and you're Defeated! Thankfully, there are ways to heal, from basic rest to magical Spells. 

Community Ink

• Inkforged has been making waves in the RPG community, with players praising its innovative DxD system and engaging setting. 

• Many appreciate the emphasis on player agency and narrative freedom, allowing for truly unique gameplay experiences. 

• The system's simplicity is also a draw, making it accessible to both newcomers and veterans of the RPG world. 

My Ink-Stained Hands-On

My teenage years in the '80s were a whirlwind of battling imaginary monsters and exploring fantastical worlds, and Inkforged truly brings me back. The quickstart guide's adventure and characters offer a fantastic taste of what this game is all about.

Inkforged: A Whimsical Adventure in a Living Book

• Setting: The quaint village of Fisher's Well and the nearby Jennings farm, nestled in a fairytale-like realm, set the stage for this adventure.

• The Mystery: The Jennings farm is under siege by an unknown force, its crops damaged and livestock missing, prompting whispers of a curse among the superstitious villagers.

• Unsettling Events: The Ikons uncover strange occurrences: sounds from the barn's roof, movements in the fields, and shimmering reflections in the darkness.

• The Culprit: The source of the disturbances is a colony of monstrous Pumpkin Spiders, camouflaged among the pumpkins.

• The Ikons' Abilities:

  • The Spellblade: Wields a Rapier and Heal Spell for combat and support.

  • The Warrior: Uses a Morning Star and Intimidating presence for close combat.

  • The Inkforger: Equipped with an Inkforged bow and magic arrows for ranged attacks.

  • The Rogue: Relies on agility, stealth, and a Hunting Knife for quick takedowns.

  • The Scrivener: Employs Earth and Sound Spells for battlefield control.

• The Mother Pumpkin: A challenging Misprint and oversized spider guarding the pumpkin patch.

• Victory and Beyond: Defeating the spiders brings relief and renown, but hints of a corrupted spider and a mysterious fire suggest a deeper plot, inviting further exploration.

Inkforged's tongue-in-cheek tone and whimsical setting truly capture the spirit of those '80s adventures. The unique mechanics add a refreshing twist, and the emphasis on player agency and negotiation is brilliant. It's not just about rolling dice; it's about making choices that shape your Ikon's story, making you feel like the hero of your adventure.

The Final Word

Inkforged is more than just a game; it's a portal to a world where your imagination can run wild. If you loved the thrill of those old-school text-based games like Bedlam and Pyramid on the TRS-80, or if you spent countless hours flipping through "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, Inkforged will feel like a familiar friend with a fresh coat of paint. It's got the same spirit of adventure and player-driven narrative but with a modern twist and a vibrant fantasy setting. 

For those who've delved into the world of tabletop RPGs, Inkforged stands out with its unique mechanics and emphasis on player agency. It's like Parsley, but instead of focusing on collaborative storytelling, Inkforged gives you the power to shape the world with your words. You're not just following a script; you're writing it. So gather your friends, grab your dice, and prepare to write your destiny in the magical world of Inkforged!