Note: This is one of several articles that looks at other games (Würm by Chaosium) comparing what they do with Born from Ice. The intent is not to critique or find fault, but rather to try to present the scope of prehistoric tabletop RPG options that are available, and show the unique things that Born from Ice brings to the … Read More
Why 5e?
5e is the Perfect Platform for Born from Ice Often, I’m asked, “Why base this game on 5e?” It’s a fair question. Dungeons & Dragons, after all, is a prominent name in the RPG world, and I fully recognize that there are players who prefer RPGs outside the Wizards of the Coast umbrella. This diversity in gaming preferences is fantastic! … Read More
Why No Magic? Making a No-Magic Setting
Moving on from Magic Magic is a cornerstone of most fantasy tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), especially Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). The allure of casting fireballs, healing wounds, and transforming into fantastical creatures is an integral part of the D&D experience. So, why would anyone want to remove such a compelling component from the game? That’s the question I grappled with … Read More
Historical Accuracy and Gameplay in Born from Ice
How To Make A Game Historically Accurate A major question I wrestled with while designing Born from Ice was, “how do I make a game historically accurate?” This isn’t a new question for game designers, because while it sounds simple and innocent (and maybe even easy to answer), it actually opens up a whole lot of secondary questions that end … Read More
Equipment in the Stone Age
A Glimpse into Our Ancestors’ Ingenious Weapons and Tools The Stone Age, spanning millions of years, was a time of profound innovation and adaptability. As I delved deep into research for Born from Ice, I found myself constantly in awe of our ancestors’ sheer resilience and inventiveness. The tools and equipment they devised, often from rudimentary materials, played pivotal roles … Read More
Totem Paths: The Evolution of Subclasses
When I first envisioned a world where every class could embrace any path, I knew I was onto something exciting. I wanted players to feel liberated, unrestricted by the confines of traditional subclasses. In my last blog post, I talked about designing a new class system, and alluded to this Totem Paths system. Let’s dive in and take a closer … Read More
Designing New Classes for Born from Ice
Creating a new 5e game without magic created some major hurdles. The first major hurdle is that classic D&D is entirely tied to the magic systems, and all of the classes are built around magic as a core of the game. To that end, it became clear very early on that Born from Ice needed entirely new classes that could … Read More