Hi, gamers! I just discovered Spellbinder: a little free library rpg. It's adorable and I would love to host a game. I have a Discord channel set up for voice chat and a text channel to share notes, questions, etc. I have 3 players interested so far. I'll be hosting at 1pm Eastern time on Sunday, Feb 9. If there aren't enough players, I will postpone to Sunday, Feb 16.
Here's the TLDR: you're all wizards in a post-apocalyptic world where spells need to be hidden in code inside other books. You need to pick up a couple fiction books from any Little Free Library near you (if there aren't any, use a normal library or something random from your bookshelf). Random phrases from the books are used as spells, roll to succeed, and keep taking turns until you accomplish all goals set by the Librarian (host). It's a one-page-rpg, so extremely rules-light, but here's the long version:
OVERVIEW You are a wizard. In your post-apocalyptic world, magic is hidden in ancient spellbooks. The spells inside are powerful but fleeting. When you cast one, it disappears from the spellbook forever.
Spellbinder is a tabletop RPG intended for 4-5 players. One player takes on the role of the Librarian, guiding the story. The others play as wizards in pursuit of lost magic and treasure.
WHAT YOU NEED Three six-sided dice (or an app/website that will do that) A three-minute hourglass or timer set to three minutes Pencils and paper (I'll also make available my text channel in Discord for notes) 2 or 3 books from your local Little Free Library
PLAYERS: GETTING STARTED Describe your wizard: name, appearance, backstory Describe your spellbook: write a short overview of your spellbook. Describe its history, powers, and the ancient wizard who wrote it.
LIBRARIAN: SETTING THE SCENE The game begins with the Librarian describing a scene to the party. A scene should be full of challenges the players must overcome -- from locked doors, to monsters, to belligerent nobles.
PLAYERS: CASTING SPELLS. There is only one action in Spellbinder -- casting spells! The player who rolls highest casts the first spell, continuing down. The Librarian does not cast spells. Begin the ritual. Flip over the hourglass. Find your spell. Open your spellbook to the bookmarked page. Choose and read out a phrase or sentence -- this is your spell. You may keep flipping pages to find a spell you like, but there is no flipping back! If you fail to pick a spell before the timer runs out, the Librarian picks one for you. Roll the dice. Roll 3 six-sided dice to determine how successful the spell was. This involves tallying up successes and complications: 4-6: +1 success 2-3: +1 success, +1 complication 1: +1 complication Describe your successes: Describe everything that went as planned with the spell. The spell has one positive effect on the scene for each success rolled. Remember, successes need to be tied to the phrase you pulled from the spellbook. Deal with complications. The Librarian then describes everything that went wrong with the spell. The spell has one negative effect on the scene (or the player!) for each complication rolled. Again, this is tied to the chosen phrase. End the ritual. Turn to the next page. Bookmark it. You will start here on your next turn.
LIBRARIAN: ENDING THE SCENE Players take turns until the challenges in the scene have been resolved. The Librarian then moves the party to the next scene. When starting a new scene, continue from the last player's position rather than restarting the turn order.
PLAYERS: FINISHING SPELLBOOKS When you have flipped to the final page of your spellbook, its magical powers have been exhausted. It is time to find a new one! (This is why you should borrow 2 or 3 books).
OPTIONAL (If you print out the bookmark provided by Spellbinder, you may choose to do this) Leave your mark. Write the following on your bookmark: your wizard's name, the current date, and the greatest feat accomplished with the spellbook. Slip the bookmark inside the book. Abandon your book. Return your spellbook to any Little Free Library. Place a copy of the Spellbinder zine inside, too (if you feel like it). Select a new spellbook for your next game
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Hi, gamers! I just discovered Spellbinder: a little free library rpg. It's adorable and I would love to host a game. I have a Discord channel set up for voice chat and a text channel to share notes, questions, etc. I have 3 players interested so far. I'll be hosting at 1pm Eastern time on Sunday, Feb 9. If there aren't enough players, I will postpone to Sunday, Feb 16.
Here's the TLDR: you're all wizards in a post-apocalyptic world where spells need to be hidden in code inside other books. You need to pick up a couple fiction books from any Little Free Library near you (if there aren't any, use a normal library or something random from your bookshelf). Random phrases from the books are used as spells, roll to succeed, and keep taking turns until you accomplish all goals set by the Librarian (host). It's a one-page-rpg, so extremely rules-light, but here's the long version:
OVERVIEW
You are a wizard. In your post-apocalyptic world, magic is hidden in ancient spellbooks. The spells inside are powerful but fleeting. When you cast one, it disappears from the spellbook forever.
Spellbinder is a tabletop RPG intended for 4-5 players. One player takes on the role of the Librarian, guiding the story. The others play as wizards in pursuit of lost magic and treasure.
WHAT YOU NEED
Three six-sided dice (or an app/website that will do that)
A three-minute hourglass or timer set to three minutes
Pencils and paper (I'll also make available my text channel in Discord for notes)
2 or 3 books from your local Little Free Library
PLAYERS: GETTING STARTED
Describe your wizard: name, appearance, backstory
Describe your spellbook: write a short overview of your spellbook. Describe its history, powers, and the ancient wizard who wrote it.
LIBRARIAN: SETTING THE SCENE
The game begins with the Librarian describing a scene to the party. A scene should be full of challenges the players must overcome -- from locked doors, to monsters, to belligerent nobles.
PLAYERS: CASTING SPELLS. There is only one action in Spellbinder -- casting spells! The player who rolls highest casts the first spell, continuing down. The Librarian does not cast spells.
Begin the ritual. Flip over the hourglass.
Find your spell. Open your spellbook to the bookmarked page. Choose and read out a phrase or sentence -- this is your spell. You may keep flipping pages to find a spell you like, but there is no flipping back! If you fail to pick a spell before the timer runs out, the Librarian picks one for you.
Roll the dice. Roll 3 six-sided dice to determine how successful the spell was. This involves tallying up successes and complications:
4-6: +1 success
2-3: +1 success, +1 complication
1: +1 complication
Describe your successes: Describe everything that went as planned with the spell. The spell has one positive effect on the scene for each success rolled. Remember, successes need to be tied to the phrase you pulled from the spellbook.
Deal with complications. The Librarian then describes everything that went wrong with the spell. The spell has one negative effect on the scene (or the player!) for each complication rolled. Again, this is tied to the chosen phrase.
End the ritual. Turn to the next page. Bookmark it. You will start here on your next turn.
LIBRARIAN: ENDING THE SCENE
Players take turns until the challenges in the scene have been resolved. The Librarian then moves the party to the next scene. When starting a new scene, continue from the last player's position rather than restarting the turn order.
PLAYERS: FINISHING SPELLBOOKS
When you have flipped to the final page of your spellbook, its magical powers have been exhausted. It is time to find a new one! (This is why you should borrow 2 or 3 books).
OPTIONAL (If you print out the bookmark provided by Spellbinder, you may choose to do this)
Leave your mark. Write the following on your bookmark: your wizard's name, the current date, and the greatest feat accomplished with the spellbook. Slip the bookmark inside the book.
Abandon your book. Return your spellbook to any Little Free Library. Place a copy of the Spellbinder zine inside, too (if you feel like it).
Select a new spellbook for your next game