#doublesix

Double Six Developer Log 001

Hello there! After quite some time, I’m finally able to really unveil my TTRPG system project: Double Six!

What is it?

Double Six is a TTRPG system I’ve been slowly working on since June 2021. You ever just make so much homebrew for a game/world that your brain just asks “Why don’t you just make your own system? Why be bound to someone else’s rules?” In some ways, it's an homage to the systems I’ve played. Others, it's new things I’ve come up with. What I hope you will find it to be is fun!

How it works

While it functions similarly to a d20 system, Double Six is a 2d6 based one! Your rolls to do things will involve rolling two six sided dice. Your Crit Fails are on double ones (“Snake Eyes”), and your Crit successes are the namesake of the system - double sixes! Some rolls may even just check your roll for evens vs odds. In fact, the entire system runs off d6s! This isn’t to say you can’t bring your other dice for fun (we love dice, too!) but the premise of Double Six is this: you need only a pair of six siders, a way to track your character, and your imagination.

Where we’re at currently

At this point in time, I’m closing in on the second and final of what I dub a “Chassis Test”, or pre-alpha. Essentially a private test to ensure things (still) work as I envision following the year or so I took off to learn and absorb new systems, following my departure from the D&D scene. (Mainly Pathfinder 2e!) While it will still be a while after that, the Alpha would follow! (Aiming for later 2025)

Terms & Stats

Expertise

Starting at 2 and increasing every odd rank thereafter (3, 5, 7, 9). Works as proof of your proficiency, as well as Double Six’s scaling mechanic alongside Rank.

Vitality Points

The measure of your body’s ability to recover, equal to your Stamina and half your Job HP scores. Provides you with your Healing Dice (HD) when recovering during a rest. Also used to track death and death-like effects. Also used to power most healing spells. You can spend them at rest to recover HP, use them when hit with a healing spell to recover HP, etc.

Game Guide

Known as a Game or Dungeon Master in other systems, the Game Guide is, well, your guide to the world within your imaginations! Game Guides set up and adjudicate sessions, overseeing the game as well as being the “player” behind NPCs, antagonists and other assorted creatures!

The Seven Attributes

These all start at one during creation, with one exception. Stats otherwise range from 1 to 6.

Might (MGT) - Measure of your personal strength and destructive capacity. Often influences many skills, and almost all damage rolls in Double Six. Synonymous with Strength on other TTRPG systems.

Agility (AGI) - “A TEST OF YOUR-” ahem. Agility is the measure of your coordination, and swiftness of (re)action. Synonymous with Dexterity in other TTRPG systems.

Stamina (STA) - Your personal staying power, Stamina represents wellness and perseverance of the body. It influences an array of things from skills to HP growth to all-important Vitality Points. Synonymous with Constitution in other TTRPG systems.

Wit (WIT) - Your raw IQ, or smarts. Often tied to decision making and puzzles. Synonymous with Intelligence in other TTRPG systems.

Judgment (JDG) - Whereas Wit is your brilliance and intellect, Judgment is your ability to make good decisions,  and the like. Street smarts, if you will. Synonymous with Wisdom in other TTRPG systems.

Presence (PRE) - Personal magnetism. The ability to relate to others. Coming off as slick or endearing. That certain je ne sais quoi. That’s your Presence. Synonymous with Charisma in other TTRPG systems.

Magic (MAG) - The only Attribute in this game that can be zero! (Indicating a Mundane character) Magic is the measure of your mastery and aptitude over all things magic, influencing MP growth, spell damage, and may have some other uses as well…

Dynamics

Got a problem? Use your Dynamics! Intended to fuel acted/described actions, dynamics serve a variety of purposes! (That will probably get its own section!) All players are allocated 3 Dynamics points (5 for Lucky characters!) that refresh on a long rest. They’ll allow you a variety of things, chief among which will be re-rolling a check. But, they’ll have… other uses as well. Stay tuned!

Renown is how well you are known, and can often influence others. In Double Six, your Renown, along with Reputation's Tags, fill what would be Alignment in some other TTRPGs.

Reputation is a series of behavioral terms/tags your character earns throughout their adventures that loosely define their actions and motivations. These are handed out by the Game Guide, and a list can be found in Chapter 12: Game Guide’s Workshop. What kind of adventurer will you be?

Movement encompasses the rate at which all beings can move. Squares in a Double Six map are 2 meters each. Movement is sub defined by method.

Critical Hits occur on a “Double Six”, being two sixes. Ultimately, this increases your success level by 1. Note that beating any check by 6 or more will also increase your success level by 1! (Critical Failure -> Failure -> Success -> Critical Success) In and of itself, a Crit will double your damage.

Fumble(s) happen on double 1s AKA “Snake Eyes”. If this is an attack, it automatically misses. Fumbles also occur if you miss a check by 6 or more, being the mirror of Critical Hits.

Goals

I started this project to maybe see if I could make my own system and have it be a place where my own homebrew and ideas could flourish. With all that has transpired in the community since 2023, however, I hope it can become part of the growing systems in the hobby, perhaps giving rise to more new ideas!

A system that in theory, is reasonably approachable, while still having a satisfying level of play and fun. Thank you for listening, and I hope you’ll be a part of this journey!

A Macaquecest edit/graphic thing I made awhile back, sorry if it sucks I haven't edited consistently in forever

Art by @macaquecest

“Turning Point”

Just like the way point breaks in the ocean landscapes reach out and grab the wave energy, swinging it into the bays for all of us to enjoy, there are different things in life i’ve come across that do similar things.

Whether its a new career, new group of mates, moving into new towns, new relationships or even just new states of mind.

All these things swing your existing energy into a new direction, for better or for worse.