I have NEVER made a TTRPG before. Heck, I have never made a game before either! So, announcing this project and seeing the ecstatic support was exciting, humbling and mildly terrifying in equal measure. But, I am happy to say that seeing the TTRPG community’s support behind this game has fueled my determination to put out the best game I could. 

So here is my Development Log! There will be cross-posting of these logs between my various social media in different formats but all detailed reports shall be here on my itch profile. I am aiming for a weekly update of these Development logs. Without further ado, let me tell y’all what I have been up to! 

I had mapped out key elements in a TTRPG (which we do not have to go through in length here, but if folks want me to elaborate on this, please let me know!) and applied that framework to the vibes I wanted to have in The Beast Within. 

The main concepts I want at the forefront of The Beast Within are:

• The conflict and harmony of the human/animal dichotomy
• Righteous and wrathful justice
• Narrative focused gameplay
• Dynamic and explosive combat
• Unique aesthetic, gameplay and feel for each animal profile

Thus, everything I hope to design in The Beast Within should fit within these key concepts. 

Dice systems. We love our little math rocks! As a dice enthusiast myself, I found myself with choice paralysis. There are so many systems that already work really well like PBTA’s 2D6 dice system, the familiar D20 system, Monte Cook’s Invisible Sun D10 system, etc. All had their pros and cons, but I truly wanted to venture from the comfortable fold and show some love to an often overlooked die: the D12. 

Why the D12? 

• It is often overlooked and underutilized
• The potential for explosive results
• I think they’re neat
• I want to bring something fresh into this game

Now, pending playtests and critical assessments of this die’s efficacy alongside the other mechanics are paramount. There may be a possibility down the line when I consider changing the dice system but I REALLY want to ensure the success of this system and will be working really hard (doing math *shudder*) to make the dream a reality. 

Well, that is all I can divulge for now! Again, I want to thank you all for the love and excitement for The Beast Within! I am so honoured to have you all on this journey with me, and be sure to let me know your thoughts whether that is in the comments, on Twitter or on TikTok!