Adventure Calendar unwraps a holiday RPG one day at a time
No disappointing chocolates here.
One-page indie RPG whizz Grant Howitt has announced a new collaboration with artists and designers called Adventure Calendar. One new piece of the holiday-themed setting will be revealed each day leading up to Christmas in the form of random tables.
Like any advent calendar worth its salt, 25 random tables will gradually unveil a creation that can “mesh together to build an evolving setting and campaign for your favourite fantasy RPG”, according to Howitt. Players also have the option of plucking their preferences; no one table is dependent on the other, providing amuse bouche amusement.
Even the rules are optional. “Hell, don’t even roll dice – just pick the entries you like. I’m not your dad. I’m not going to tell you what to do,” Howitt says in the explainer.
The calendar offering for December 1st is a random table of spell effects that have been altered by the highly festive air. Instead of preparing a spell (or however your system of choice works), you can roll on the table to end up with effects like “Animate Tinsel” or “Stone to Gingerbread”. Our top pick might be “Mull Liquid” - because why just protect yourself from poisoned beverages when you can spice it up in the process?
Adventure Calendar is a collaboration with several other indie tabletop names: Dungeonator designer Rollin Kunz; artist Kanesha Bryant; Rowan MacColl, who illustrated the Over the Garden Wall comic; designer Beck Michalak and Annabelle Lee, designer of You Got a Job on the Garbage Barge.
Grant Howitt might be best known for his many one-page RPGs, such as Honey Heist, along with design work on the games of Rowan, Rook and Deckard, including Spire and Heart: The City Beneath.
Rules and guidelines for using and adapting Adventure Calendar, along with the new daily table, can be found on its official page. The tables will remain free-to-play individually, though the complete calendar will be available as a pay-what-you-want PDF after December 25th.