MacGuffin

MacGuffin is a TTRPG system that embodies what I have loved about the various systems I have played while trying to be as uncomplicated as possible. I love rules and systems and negotiating special circumstances, but I personally think that is a very fun aspect of TTRPGs. However, I know the barrier for entry to a lot of tabletop games is the time it takes to learn the system. To make it as simple as possible, this game system has three key elements that represent how you interact with any game you play through your character:

1) your character has skills they can use to accomplish goals and that represent what your character knows and has done.

2) An element of unpredictability aids your character and all your allies, a MacGuffin; something mystical but not inherently magical that just might solve all your problems but could also make things worse.

3) Your ability to roleplay and interact as your character can allow you to avoid relying on the chance (dice rolls) inherent to skills and MacGuffins.

Sub-systems of rules exist to handle combat—though combat is not necessarily a core feature of the system—items, currency, and character creation.

The intended use of the system is to get a group of 3–5 people into playing a proper TTRPG game session, including session 0 type planning, in as little as 30 minutes. The system is also intended to be modular, serving as only the ground rules to run any kind of game the players are interested in playing. Classical adventure fantasy, science fiction, mystery, horror, romance—any game where you can build your own setting or rely on the setting of an existing work or fiction (or even real life) should be functional. This is not an everything system in the way that 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons gets used as an everything system, the purpose and mission of MacGuffin is to serve as something like a more accessible and modern GURPS.

Optional rule-set, setting, and adventure modules are planned, but will take some time.

The more feedback the core rules receive, the greater the incentive will be to rush production of these modules.