Create Your Own Adventure Table Top
(Isekai Adventure: The Death King)
- Genre: Fantasy ARPG
- Type: CYOA
- Engine: Paper and Pen
- Tools: Word
- Duration 12 Weeks
- Roles:
- Quest branching dialogue writing, design and implementation
- Character and Enemy design
- Battle mechanics design
- World building
Goal
- Design a narrative-focused project with documentation tailored for the Dungeon Master (DM) and players.
- Create branching dialogue and story choices that will seamlessly lead to new paths and available gameplay.
- Design various characters, including visual imagery, stats, and skill sets.
Overview
1. Created game world’s foundations, including lore, setup, classes, and mechanics.
2. Created branching dialogue and story choices, including narrative and scripts. Tested in Twine.
3. Designed player characters and enemy troops.
4. Designed character stats and skill sets.
5. Designed enemy troops stats and skill sets.
Linear and Branching Dialogue: Creation Process
Branching Story and Dialogue Tree
Designed a branching story tree in Twine to optimize for:
- Connected dialogue threads
- Variable checks that lead to the dialogue or other parts of the quest
- Included following HUBS for branching design considerations
- Choice HUB – Players offered one or more choices
- Narrative HUB – The following narrative based on the choice selected
- Gameplay Hub – The following gameplay
Branching Narrative System
Designed branching narrative and scripts that are optimized based on player actions and interactions in real-time
- Made sure the choices
- are clear to the the DM and the players
- have opposite actions and outcomes respective of each choice
- lead to gameplay
- Simple polar opposite choices that lead to various outcomes
- Implemented the branching dialogue and story choices into the game
Designed Respective Quest Characters
Character Designs
Crafted six compelling characters with unique backstories, motivations, and character arc that promoted growth and could motivate player decisions across various gameplay quests.
- The main characters include a Lizardman, Demon, Vampire, Lycan, Elf, Ogre, friendly NPC allies, and antagonistic NPC enemies
- Researched, designed, and fleshed out all characters
- Commissioned an artist for character designs
- Finalized character designs, personalities, stat sheets, and skill sets
Main Characters Movesets
Move sets for each character were designed based on their bio and weapons equipped, if any. Crafted stats and skill sets for each character that included:
- Attributes
- Basic and special attacks
- Class Skills
- Skills available to learn with skill points
Campaign Narrative, Script, and Choices Sample
Crafted narratives and scripts that would progress the story and move the game forward.
The design steps were as follows:
- Campaign starts with Script 1.
- Two choices are presented.
- Based on the choice selected, a Narrative Path is chosen.
- Each Narrative Path has its own narrative and scripts, annotated by in-game triggers and page numbers.
Worldbuilding
World Lore
A group of teens (or young adults) have a tradition of playing a tabletop roleplaying game every two weeks. The game has been going on for several months, and each player has a character they’ve developed from day 1. By the half-year mark, the Dungeon Master (DM) wants to spice things up and looks in their attic for any materials or literature that can inspire some new ideas for the upcoming story/questline.
While searching the attic, the DM finds an old and dusty book in a box. The archaic designs of the cover poke their curiosity and they open the book to find the text is in latin. Nothing a little Google translate and research can fix.
By the next game meet, the DM has managed to translate a little of the first few pages, but not enough to understand what they mean. When they start the game, they want to read a line of latin that they think will give a more surreal effect to their environment/surroundings for a more immersive gameplay experience. The group agrees.
At first, their surroundings start to introduce audible sounds and sensations. The players feel a sense of adventure rise as they see their characters portrayed as an overlaid visual to each of them, like an avatar. Then, suddenly, the world before them washes away.
The group appears in a foreign land. The DM is nowhere to be seen, and the players now embody their characters as if they were always real and exist in this world.
Game Setup
Players get introduced to all characters and decide who is who. Can discuss amongst themselves or role six-sided die to assign characters if more than one player wants to be one of the characters.
Pass out character sheets and copies of script.
Game is progressed by following the narrative story and reading the next part in the narrative or the respective script of Narrative Path 1 or 2 when referenced.
Example
Read Script 1, followed by Narrative Path 1 on page 5, or Narrative Path 2 on page 132 based on player choice at end of Script 1 (as seen above).
Social Media Coverage
Isekai Adventure: The Death King was first announced on LinkedIn.
Isekai Adventure: The Death King was announced as a published game available to play via the Anzir Act platform on LinkedIn.
Recommendation Letter
My play through of Isekai Adventure: The Death King with a group of friends was more fun than I expected. The layout of the game from start to finish was full of creativity and well thought out mechanics by the author, a developer of two indie games according to their portfolio. A fan of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, I was looking forward to playing the game. I admit, it was a little different than other homebrew campaigns I’ve played in the past. Nevertheless, the author put together a perfect introduction to the game and a Game Manager manual that gave the would-be Dungeon Master and players plenty to work with.
A campaign of six players, all fantasy characters with their own class, stats, and abilities, the players find themselves in a fantasy realm after the narrative introduction. We learned about the state of the world, the characters, and how the game would progress from the very start. Described as a hybrid between Dungeons & Dragons and “Create Your Own Adventure” stories, my group was introduced to the first main choice that would set the theme of the rest of the game in terms of narrative, progress, and level of difficulty. We actually played more than once to see how different choices would play out, resulting in differences between experience points players earned, items received, and changes in narrative respective of the choices we made. It’s always nice to have a little replayability.
Isekai Adventure: The Death King proved to be a tabletop game well worth playing. Simple enough for anyone new to D&D campaigns, but different enough that veteran players would find new mechanics to enjoy, the ability to shape our characters and playstyle throughout the campaign was very fun indeed. The author made it clear how many experience points players earned, as well as any resources they gained at the end of each chapter of the overall story. This gave everyone a chance to plan ahead and keep track of their player’s stats and attributes for developing their character and playstyle based on the list of available abilities each character could learn throughout the campaign.
I’ve played few games where the choices the player makes affects the story and/or the world on consoles before, but on pen-and-paper is quite different. The author did a great job of stringing the different acts in the overall narrative and the scripts together. My friends and I didn’t have any trouble following along and completing the story. We had a lot of fun, and as I said, we played more than once to see how our choices would affect gameplay. Going through a second time, we also had a better understanding of the mechanics and how to develop our characters to make instances of combat more rewarding. Depending on the initial choices made, players could find themselves put up against quite the challenge, but even then, enemy troops were modified depending on those choices to avoid overwhelming the players and putting them up against unbeatable odds of victory.
10/10, would play again.
Game Review
Game Review by Abdullah Khan
Plot
The game’s narrative revolves around a group of teen players who are introduced by a Dungeon Master to a new game task, only to find themselves trapped in a game dimension. To escape and return to the real world, they must complete the challenges presented to them within the game. The concept of being stuck in a virtual world with high stakes creates a compelling sense of urgency and immersion.
Character Development
The character arcs are thoughtfully crafted, with each character evolving naturally over the course of the game. As players progress, they witness their characters grow, forming deeper bonds with one another and becoming more capable as they face increasingly difficult challenges. The narrative does a good job of integrating these personal growth moments into the overall progression of the story.
Dialogue and Writing
The writing is well executed, capturing the essence of how characters interact and support each other as they work together to complete the game’s challenges. The dialogue feels natural, and the team dynamics play a significant role in driving the story forward. The tone strikes a balance between lighthearted camaraderie and the gravity of their situation, which maintains the story’s classic appeal.
Gameplay:
Action-Based Mechanics
The gameplay is heavily action-oriented, featuring a mix of strategic combat, magic use, and interactive challenges. Players are encouraged to engage in both physical and magical combat, which keeps the gameplay dynamic and exciting. The game does an excellent job of offering variety in combat scenarios, including individual fights and larger-scale army battles.
Combat and Magic
Combat sequences are a key feature of the gameplay, and the incorporation of magic adds depth and strategy. The battles are engaging, with diverse enemies and tactical decision-making required. Players must think on their feet to succeed, which adds a rewarding layer of challenge to the game.
Army Battles
In addition to individual combat, players are also tasked with participating in large-scale army battles. These moments feel epic in scope and provide a refreshing change of pace from the usual smaller-scale encounters. Managing these battles requires a different set of skills, which adds another layer of complexity to the game.
Progression
Character progression is handled through skill points and magic potions earned after completing significant achievements. This system rewards players for their efforts and encourages them to continuously push forward. The sense of progression is satisfying, and the growing abilities of the characters keep the gameplay feeling fresh as they unlock new powers.
Game Mechanics and Decisions
The game features a rich blend of combat, exploration, and narrative-driven choices. Players can decide how to approach various situations, such as whether to lie or tell the truth, whether to fight or spare their enemies, and how to navigate the shifting alliances they encounter. Each decision has consequences, shaping the story and influencing the challenges they face.
Battles are frequent, and combat is dynamic, with the characters leveling up and gaining new abilities after each victory. The progression system allows players to enhance their characters’ stats, such as strength and magic, and gain valuable resources like health potions and stamina boosters.
In addition to individual combat, the game also features large-scale battles involving multiple factions, including Lycan and Lizard villages, Demon forces, and a rebel movement. The final act involves army battles that provide an epic scale to the game, offering players the chance to be part of a larger conflict.
Narrative and Character Development
The characters undergo significant development as they interact with one another and face the challenges of the game world. From their initial mistrust of the Lycans to their eventual alliances with various factions, the players evolve, learning to work together and rely on each other’s unique skills. The writing is engaging and emphasizes the camaraderie between the party members, making their successes and failures feel earned.
The Time Elf storyline adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, with the mystery of his identity and powers propelling the group forward. As they uncover more about his backstory and his connection to the Death King, the players become more invested in their quest to find and free him.
Final Thoughts: The game offers an exciting mix of exploration, strategy, and character-driven storytelling. With engaging combat, difficult moral choices, and a compelling narrative that weaves through different realms and timelines, the game keeps players on their toes. The game is a rewarding experience for fans of adventure and fantasy, providing both a rich story and dynamic gameplay that will keep players hooked until the very end. If you enjoy epic quests, strategic battles, and immersive role-playing, this game is definitely worth diving into.