In this camaraderie-ridden episode, we’re talking about mechanics for helping other characters in joint efforts. We discuss how teamwork can double the risks, double the rewards, and hopefully say something about the nature of your characters’ relationships in the process.

Violet uses "Stanford prison experiment" as a verb. Freya farms friends. Violet turns over an old leaf. Freya tears and shares.

Our thanks to Charlie, Joey, and Amber for writing in! If you too have a question, idea, or interesting game you’d like to share with us, email systemshoppodcast@gmail.com.

Timestamps

Mailbag - 5:35

Intro & history of helping - 14:34

Design questions - 24:33

Example deep dives - 32:57

Gradual slip into design dreams - 51:11

Games discussed in this episode

(In order of first mention)

Daggerheart

Sar-Stan

Tiles and Truenames

What’s In Your Mouth?!

Super Saviour Squad

The Token Bag Game Jam in general

Armour Astir

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay

Mystery homebrew system by Joey Jones

Ars Magica

Dogs in the Vineyard

DOGS [*1]

City of Winter

Death of a Hero [*2]

Masks

Golden Sky Stories

Empire of the Petal Throne

D&D

Tunnels and Trolls

Traveller

Apocalypse World

Monsterhearts

Blades in the Dark

Genesys

Edge of the Empire

Vampire: the Masquerade

JourneyMon

Interstitial: Our Hearts Intertwined

Vaesen

Heart

Notes and links

Two of the more esoteric entries on the above list can be found here:

[*1] https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/274623/dogs

[*2] https://babblegumsam.itch.io/death-of-a-hero

The two UK TTRPG conventions mentioned are

- http://www.con-tingency.uk/

- https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/

Submissions to the Token Bag game jam can be found here: https://itch.io/jam/token-bag/entries

Its follow-up - the New Year, Old Ideas game jam - has indeed already ended. Submissions can be found at https://itch.io/jam/new-year-old-ideas-jam/entries