Foreword xiii Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Tabletop Role Playing Game (TTRPG) Design 5 Chapter 1: Introducing TTRPG Design 7 Chapter 2: Surveying the TTRPG Landscape 21 Chapter 3: Learning TTRPG Design by Playing 31 Part 2: Establishing the Building Blocks of Your TTRPG 43 Chapter 4: Choosing Your Genre 45 Chapter 5: Building Your World 61 Chapter 6: Designing Your Heroes 77 Chapter 7: Creating Cool Adversaries and Non-Player Characters 93 Part 3: Developing Your TTRPG's Mechanics 107 Chapter 8: Examining Mechanics and Why They Matter 109 Chapter 9: Rolling with Dice 119 Chapter 10: Exploring Alternatives from Cards to Blocks 127 Chapter 11: Taking Action in Your TTRPG 135 Chapter 12: Fighting a Good Fight 153 Chapter 13: Choosing a Mechanic and Putting It to the Test 165 Part 4: Crafting an Unforgettable Adventure for Your TTRPG 175 Chapter 14: Finding Inspiration for Your Adventure 177 Chapter 15: Plotting Your Adventure Narrative 191 Chapter 16: Composing Immersive Descriptions 207 Chapter 17: Creating Encounters 217 Chapter 18: Building Heart-Pounding Climaxes and Meaningful Conclusions 231 Part 5: Completing Your TTRPG Design Quest 245 Chapter 19: Polishing Your Game: From Edits to Layout 247 Chapter 20: Playtesting Your Completed TTRPG 257 Chapter 21: Assembling Your Production Team 267 Chapter 22: Publishing Your TTRPG 277 Chapter 23: Promoting Your TTRPG 293 Part 6: The Part of Tens 303 Chapter 24: Ten Essential Rules for TTRPG Design 305 Chapter 25: Ten Helpful Hints for Finishing Your TTRPG 309 Appendix: On Spells and Superpowers 313 Index 323.