Current Stage: Character Creation

This jam has a weird and cryptic name. Chances are you don't know what you're getting into, and that's ok. To put this plainly, this is a multi stage ttrpg writing jam, with each stage of the jam requiring someone else to write part of the game. It's separated into three stages; Setting, Character Creation, and  Systems. You will start by writing a Setting, which is due by the time 10 days are up in the jam. Then, you'll be given someone else's Setting, and design Character Creation for that for 20 days. Then, you'll switch again, finally finishing with 30 days of writing the Systems. Once you're done, you'll have worked on 3 facets of 3 frankensteinian games, and hopefully you'll have learned something about how you write games; This jam is about collaboration, adaptation, and relinquishing control.

"How Will This Be Managed?"

I hear you ask. The answer to that is simple; join this discord server. This one. Right here. From this server, we'll be managing the shuffling of projects, deadlines, and the likes. It's not technically required for the jam, as there is the community feature, but it is highly recommended and makes things significantly easier for me. If you can't join the server, you can use the jam forums to submit each stage. Stages should be submitted as a google or word doc in the discord (preferably google). The project you are given at each stage is randomly determined.

"What If I Join Late?"

If you join at a later stage, you'll be assigned a project that someone else has already been assigned. You'll both work with the same project, but separately. Try not to discuss what you're planning with each other; allow yourselves to evolve in different directions. If someone leaves early, their project can be picked up by a late joiner.

Setting

The Setting is divorced from the mechanics of the game, simply pieces of lore, worldbuilding, and flavor text. There can be implied mechanics, such as referring to adventurers or mech pilots or any other such thing. These can inspire the next writer of your game; what powers do the adventurers wield? What are the rules for mech combat? These questions are for the next writer to answer. Try to give plenty for the person you're handing the Character Creation off to to work with; describe what sorts of characters might fit into the game, what sorts of abilities, skills, and struggles they might have. Make things interesting, weird, and unique.

Character Creation

Once you've been handed your Setting, you should begin to work on the character creation. Come up with how characters are created, how they fit within the setting, and the rules they must abide by. You're encouraged to imply systems for the next writer to work with. You might write a feature that says "Roll 2 less dice of Stress Checks" or "Gain an additional +2 to take on challenges when Enraged". These should be complementary, not contradictory. Don't write yourself Character Creation rules that no one could make a System for. Try to keep things simple enough that someone could reasonably design a System for them in 30 days.

System

The System is where you have the most freedom, given no one else will be working on the game after you. You can go as far as you'd like, though you should try not to alter the Setting or Character Creation further than necessary. Try to keep the original spirit in mind, and if you can write the System without making a single change to what came before, then you're doing it right.

Have fun folks!