A Quick Intro
Brian and Ty are veteran RPG players and designers who have been in the industry for a combined 30 years or so. Both of them want to see new stories and voices in the world, which led to the creation of Grassroots.
What is Grassroots?
Grassroots started as a way to revive an old TTRPG game jam from the mid 2000s. It exists to elevate new TTRPG voices, and create space for weird, fun, and exciting new stories.
The Jam Rules
Participants will submit a 500-600 word Analog Role Playing Game. The form of the game is up to you. It can be a stand alone rule set, a module for an existing system, or a fun add-on for another RPG.
Below, you will find the list of themes, elements, and mechanics you must use in this game jam. You only need to use one thing from each category, and of course can use mechanics etc. that are not listed below. Judging will primarily focus on playability and enjoyability, but use of themes, elements, and mechanics will also be judged.
Themes are high level ideas, overarching and central to the action of the game. This year’s themes are:
- Festival
- Fortune
Mechanics are the nuts and bolts of how your players will play the game. This year’s mechanics are:
- Timer
- Secret Notes
- Rhyme Schemes
- Chess Pieces
- 3 Dimensional
- Dexterity
- Winners/Losers
Elements are smaller thematic touchpoints that participants can use to flavor their game. This year’s elements are:
- A Heist
- A Feast
- The Idol
- The Sun and The Moon
- The Wager
- The Space Race
Submissions
Themes, Elements, and Mechanics will be announced on December 4th, 2025 and the jam will run from December 5th through December 15th. All submission must be submitted by December 15th. Submission may not use generative AI elements in whole or part.
Judging
Entries will be judged after the deadline. Winners will be announced by the end of January. The top submissions will have the option to participate in the Grassroots 2026 Zinequest and have their game published in a Zine.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email grassrootsgamejam@gmail.com or join (https://discord.gg/uTKC9XFaY8) and tag @imadjinn or @kingbee.
Introducing... your judges!!!!
Michael Faulk (he/him) is 1/3 of Arbitrio Games (itch / drivethru). They have self-published three RPGs ("Bad Decisions", "Mythiquipment", and "Black Bag") and written two others for 9th Level Games ("Pigeons Eleven" and the forthcoming "Mount Olympus Community College"). They are currently fulfilling two full-length Shadowdark adventures ("Lost Opus of the Lich Bard" and "Echo Brine"). Michael's work has also appeared in "Level 1" and "The Tragedies of Middle School." He loves horror movies, video games, and weird little RPGs. His favorite game jam game is Jonathan Walton's 2004 entry to Iron Game Chef, "Seadog Tuxedo".
Spilled Coffee Creatives is an NYC-based game design team, made up of Ali Mark (she/her) and Nell Quinn-Gibney (they/them). Past TTRPGS include dark academia game Beneath Hallowed Halls, pumpkin-carving game The Harvest Helpers, video game inspired camp-life simulator Campanions, and chaotic Shakespeare one-shot So Many Horrid Ghosts. In addition to TTRPGs, they also design murder mysteries, escape games, puzzle games, and live experiences. Both come from a background of theatre and love exploring ways to turn their favorite genre niches and pop culture phenomena into interactive worlds for players and participants. Check out their work at spilledcoffeecreatives.itch.io and follow their journey at @spilledcoffeecreatives on Instagram and Facebook, and @sccreatives on Bluesky.
Sean Ireland (he/him) is a game designer, event producer, and former HR manager based in NYC. Co-founder of the game studio Haunted Table and Designer on their first game, the 3-time Ennie-Award-winning Triangle Agency. Creator of The Legend of You, the Personalized Improvised Adventure. Famous in Canada for a day with his "Hadfield at Home" series. Called a "lovable nerd" by The Verge. @seanireland on Bluesky and Instagram