Journeyman

Journeyman

“Play worlds, not rules.”

Journeyman is a drop-in replacement system for running any tabletop roleplaying setting.

It's the distillation of my own personal approach to running RPGs over the years. The story comes first, and the mechanics a distant second.

Back in 2023, I released Journeyman Pocket Edition as a pay-what-you-want version for you to print, fold, and carry in your pocket. This new Build (or Bring) Your Own World Edition provides the same clear and concise rules in an A5-sized zine with a blank canvas on which to describe your table's setting.

There are no stats, no hit points, no levels, no "numbers go up". Resolving tricky situations involves narrative positioning and determining the relative advantage or disadvantage of an action. You decide, collectively, how granular and tactical you want to get.

The simple resolution system can be applied to turn-based action and reaction, or expanded in scope to resolve entire scenes with a single decision. 

Rules Light

Characters are defined using qualitative aspects rather than numbers. These aspects might grant advantage or disadvantage in a given situation, according to the referee's discretion.

For example: Tanner is a middle-aged Zanithian mechanic with a good eye for reading lies and a mean right hook. He's never without TEM-8, his portable diagnostic robot aide.

In risky situations, the referee offers a Devil's Bargain: guaranteed success at a cost commensurate with the character's advantage or disadvantage in the moment. But if the player wants to try to succeed outright, they'll need to roll 3d6 and pick the appropriate results (best two with advantage, worst two with disadvantage, best and worst with straight odds) to try to meet or beat an 8.

When good or bad things happen to the character, they're incorporated narratively. Character progression works the same way, by getting new aspects, new gear, new friends, and new enemies.

Trust Heavy

Playing this way requires a lot of trust from everyone at the table. The players trust the referee to be impartial and fair. The referee trusts the players to fully engage with the world at the table and ensure their characters reflect their conditions.

There are no thick tomes of rules to fall back on if disagreements arise. Doubts and disputes have to be resolved through conversation and shared understanding.

Pledge Levels

$5.00 - Digital Copy

Get Journeyman in PDF, distributed via itch.io. Print it at home and toss it in your bag.

$10.00 - Physical Copy

Get Journeyman in PDF and print. An A5 stapled zine printed by Mixam.

$50.00 - Retailer Order

Get 10 copies of Journeyman in print, ready for retail.

Stretch Goals

None. I want to keep this project as lean and deliverable as possible. I'm only hoping to get a successful print run and spread the word of minimalist roleplaying.

Fulfillment

Journeyman will be printed by Mixam, and I'll ship directly to recipients.

Shipping will be collected after the campaign for those who have backed at a physical reward tier.

IMPORTANT: International shipping will likely be very costly. Please consider carefully before choosing a physical tier if you are not based in the United States. Below is a list of estimated costs for shipping a single zine and VAT (Value Added Tax) rates based on country. For more countries and details visit the following link: 

VAT Per Country | Value Added Tax Rates By Country | USCIB

• US: $5 Shipping/0% VAT
• Canada: $16 Shipping/0% VAT
• UK: $20 Shipping/0% VAT
• EU: $20 Shipping/17-25% VAT
• Australia and NZ: ~$21 Shipping / 10-15% VAT
• Other countries average around $20 Shipping. If you want to know the cost estimate for your specific country, drop me a message!

The Team

Zac Bir - I'm a veteran player and game master with a library of RPGs comprising more rules than I'd ever care to shake a stick at.