Main Takeaway: Mainstream RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder offer detailed mechanics, corporate resources, and global reach, while indie RPGs such as Apocalypse World and Blades in the Dark prioritize storytelling, niche themes, and creative mechanics. Both approaches have distinct trade-offs in terms of creative freedom, audience reach, and production constraints.
Key Insights:
- Mainstream RPGs: Focus on tactical depth, brand consistency, and large-scale production. Challenges include balancing complexity with accessibility and adhering to established lore.
- Indie RPGs: Emphasize narrative, emotional depth, and streamlined rules. While offering more flexibility, creators face financial risks and limited resources.
- Production Models: Mainstream games rely on big teams and budgets, while indie creators often self-fund through platforms like Kickstarter.
- Themes and Mechanics: Indie games explore niche topics (e.g., LGBTQ+ stories, psychological horror) and introduce mechanics like "fiction-first" systems, influencing mainstream design.
For Designers: Choose your path based on your goals - whether it's creating a focused indie game or contributing to a broader mainstream project. Start with small, manageable projects, playtest effectively, and study both types of games to refine your approach.
For Players: Explore both mainstream and indie RPGs to discover what suits your preferences - whether it's tactical campaigns or rules-light storytelling. Use resources like the TTRPG Games Directory to find games tailored to your interests.
Indie vs Mainstream RPG Design: Key Differences and Trade-offs
The RPG Company That Blew Our Minds! | SIXMOREVODKA Designer Interview
Designer Backgrounds and Experience
We had the opportunity to speak with two designers from very different corners of the RPG world. Sean K. Reynolds, with more than 25 years of experience, is a veteran of mainstream RPG design, having led projects at Paizo for Pathfinder. On the other hand, Vincent Baker (D. Vincent Baker) is an indie design trailblazer, best known for creating Apocalypse World and the "Powered by the Apocalypse" system, which has deeply influenced indie game design. Both designers are highly decorated, with multiple ENnie Awards and contributions to million-selling titles, yet their varied experiences highlight contrasting approaches to tackling design challenges.
Work on Mainstream Projects
Reynolds' career showcases the structured and meticulous world of mainstream RPG design. During his two decades at Paizo, he played a key role in shaping Pathfinder 1st Edition. His contributions include writing for the Inner Sea World Guide and over 50 Adventure Paths, such as Curse of the Crimson Throne. His work was a balancing act - crafting intricate rulesets for tactical combat while expanding the game’s rich lore. These efforts often culminated in massive rulebooks, some exceeding 500 pages. Beyond Pathfinder, Reynolds also left his mark on Dungeons & Dragons 3.5, contributing to the Book of Vile Darkness and Fiend Folio, where he developed mechanics for new classes and creatures.
Working within a large team of over 20 developers, Reynolds adhered to rigorous playtesting protocols that stretched over years. His focus was on balancing complexity and accessibility. For example, he simplified skill checks while ensuring the tactical depth that Pathfinder players love. At the same time, he maintained brand consistency across more than 100 published books, a feat that required meticulous attention to detail and coordination.
While Reynolds thrived within the structured frameworks of mainstream design, Baker's indie projects took a completely different path.
Work on Indie Projects
Baker's work flips the script on traditional RPG design, prioritizing narrative and emotional depth over complex mechanics. His 2010 release, Apocalypse World, introduced "fiction-first" mechanics built around a simple 2d6+stats system. This system encouraged storytelling by linking game mechanics directly to the narrative. A key innovation was the use of character templates, or "playbooks", which are designed to foster character-driven stories rather than combat-heavy gameplay. The game's success gave rise to the Powered by the Apocalypse framework, which has since been adapted into dozens of indie RPGs. In 2021, Baker co-designed Thirsty Sword Lesbians, applying these mechanics to explore themes like sapphic melodrama, using elements such as "afflictions" and "joys" to create emotionally resonant gameplay.
Unlike the structured environment of mainstream projects, Baker’s indie work allowed for a level of creative freedom rarely seen in larger studios. His games are concise, often spanning just 10–50 pages, with streamlined rulesets. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter played a pivotal role, with over 1,000 backers supporting his vision. This approach enabled him to delve into niche themes, including queer relationships and emotional intimacy, creating games that resonate deeply with specific audiences.
Design Challenges in Indie and Mainstream RPGs
The path a designer chooses - whether working on indie projects or mainstream titles - has a profound impact on every aspect of the creative process. From the themes they tackle to the rules they craft, the challenges differ significantly between these two approaches. Let’s take a closer look at how creative freedom, accessibility, and production demands play out in each arena.
Creative Freedom vs. Brand Constraints
When working on established franchises like Pathfinder, designers like Reynolds face the challenge of staying true to decades of lore and mechanics. Any significant deviation risks alienating long-time fans, so the creative process often revolves around maintaining consistency within the existing framework. This can limit opportunities for bold innovation.
On the other hand, indie creators like Baker enjoy far more creative freedom. With games like Apocalypse World and Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Baker has explored inventive systems and tackled niche or even controversial topics - queer romance, psychological horror, and anti-capitalist themes, to name a few. These are areas mainstream publishers might shy away from due to concerns about broad market appeal. However, this freedom often comes with a trade-off: indie games typically reach a smaller, more specialized audience.
Rules Complexity and Player Accessibility
Mainstream RPGs like Pathfinder and Dungeons & Dragons are known for their extensive rulebooks, which include detailed tactical combat systems, intricate character progression, and countless customization options. While this depth can provide a rewarding experience for dedicated players, it often creates a steep learning curve for newcomers. For those new to the hobby, diving into such systems can feel daunting.
In contrast, Baker’s indie games lean into simplicity. For example, Apocalypse World uses a straightforward mechanic based on rolling 2d6 and adding stats. Many indie RPGs condense their rules into just a few dozen pages, making them quick to learn and easy to play. This approach minimizes preparation time and allows players to jump into a session with minimal effort. However, the trade-off is that these streamlined systems may not support the intricate, long-term campaigns or tactical depth that some players crave.
But the differences between mainstream and indie RPGs don’t stop with rules - they extend into the production process as well.
Production and Financial Pressures
Mainstream RPG projects, like those Reynolds works on, involve large teams of specialists - developers, editors, art directors, layout designers, and marketers. While this collaboration results in polished, high-quality products, it also slows decision-making. These projects often follow strict schedules tied to corporate deadlines, such as quarterly release targets. This pressure can lead to rushed supplements or expansions, even when the core system might benefit from more refinement. Individual designers in these settings often have limited control over the final product’s presentation or timing.
In indie design, it’s a completely different story. Designers like Baker often juggle multiple roles, handling everything from game design and writing to layout, marketing, and community engagement - sometimes while working part-time. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter shift the financial risks directly onto the creator. Delays or insufficient funding can force difficult compromises in areas like artwork, page count, or production quality. While mainstream games benefit from larger budgets and higher sales expectations, indie creators operate on tight margins, where every dollar has to be carefully allocated. These financial and logistical pressures influence not only how the game looks but also the core philosophy behind its design.
The balance between creative ambition and practical constraints defines both indie and mainstream RPG design, shaping the games we play in fascinating ways.
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Opportunities for New Ideas in RPG Design
The evolution of roleplaying game (RPG) design continues to thrive as creators experiment with mechanics, themes, and playtesting methods. Designers are finding innovative ways to push boundaries, often inspired by the unique challenges they face. The interplay between indie developers and mainstream publishers is reshaping how games are structured, experienced, and enjoyed.
New Mechanics and Themes
Indie RPGs often act as creative laboratories, introducing mechanics that eventually influence larger publishers. Take Apocalypse World by D. Vincent Baker, released in 2012. This game popularized the "fiction-first" system, now widely recognized as Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA). Here, the narrative takes center stage, guiding outcomes instead of relying heavily on traditional dice rolls. This approach has since been adopted by many games and inspired collaborative worldbuilding sessions, such as the "session zero" mechanics now common in mainstream titles like Dungeons & Dragons.
Another standout is Blades in the Dark (2017) by John Harper, which replaced conventional initiative systems with an "engagement roll" to create a more cinematic flow. The game's success - raising over $300,000 on Kickstarter - shows how crowdfunding allows indie creators to take risks that larger publishers might avoid. Tools like the procedural oracles in Ironsworn further illustrate how low-prep systems can deliver rich storytelling without overwhelming game masters.
These advancements in mechanics set the stage for exploring deeper, more nuanced themes in RPGs.
Representation and Changing Themes
Thematic innovation is another area where indie RPGs are making waves. Many smaller titles are tackling LGBTQ+ stories and other underrepresented perspectives, often through rules-light systems that prioritize emotional depth and personal expression. This shift has influenced larger publishers like Wizards of the Coast and Paizo, encouraging them to expand their lore to be more inclusive.
Indie designers are also exploring psychological and unconventional storytelling. For example, Bluebeard's Bride (2017) by Whitney "Red" Snyder uses player-driven horror to evoke dread and unease. The game's success - winning multiple ENNIE Awards and selling over 10,000 copies on platforms like itch.io and DriveThruRPG - has influenced the horror RPG genre by emphasizing atmosphere over combat. Other titles, like Monsterhearts 2 with its "Strings" mechanic for social drama, and Mothership, which dives into sci-fi existentialism, highlight how indie games are pushing thematic boundaries.
Community Feedback and Playtesting
The way designers gather feedback has also evolved, with indie and mainstream developers taking distinct approaches. Indie creators often rely on crowdfunding platforms to connect directly with players. This allows for rapid experimentation, as seen in games like Thousand-Year-Old Vampire, which uses diceless mechanics, and card-based systems that encourage creative storytelling.
Mainstream publishers, on the other hand, tend to follow more structured quality assurance processes, involving larger testing pools and extended timelines. However, the influence of indie methods is becoming apparent. Games like Fiasco and Microscope demonstrate how collaborative worldbuilding and player-driven narratives can reduce the traditional dominance of game masters, a trend that larger publishers are beginning to adopt.
Conclusion: Lessons for Designers and Players
Indie and mainstream RPG design each come with their own set of advantages and challenges: indie games offer creative freedom and the chance to explore niche themes, while mainstream projects provide stability and access to larger audiences. Indie designers often juggle self-funding, marketing, and the uncertainty of income, but they gain personal ownership of their creations. On the other hand, mainstream work offers professional resources and established fan bases, though it requires sticking to strict brand guidelines and production processes that can limit experimentation. This balance, discussed throughout our Q&A, is key to understanding the different paths in RPG design.
The main takeaway? Designers should weigh these tradeoffs carefully before diving into a project. By clarifying their goals early - whether it's crafting a focused indie game with a unique theme or working on a broader, mainstream-friendly design - they can make deliberate choices about scope, audience, and production. For players, it's helpful to recognize that while mainstream RPGs deliver familiar frameworks and expansive content, indie games bring fresh ideas, unconventional mechanics, and underrepresented themes that can breathe new life into the gaming experience.
Tips for Aspiring Designers
For those looking to break into RPG design, here are some practical steps to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities:
- Start small. Create a short game or a hack that reflects your vision and aim to finish it within 6–12 months. Keep your project manageable by limiting its scope - use simple layouts, keep page counts low, and focus on mechanics that deliver a single, clear play experience. Avoid overloading yourself with stretch goals, custom art, or full settings that may exceed your budget or timeline.
- Playtest smart. Run short, 2–4-hour sessions with new players and pay attention to what rules actually get used. If something doesn't see play, consider cutting it.
- Study the field. Play both mainstream games like D&D 5E and Pathfinder as well as influential indie titles like Apocalypse World, Blades in the Dark, and Fiasco. This will help you decide which elements to embrace or leave behind in your own designs.
- Manage expectations. Treat RPG income as a side hustle, at least initially. Track your time, set realistic goals, and communicate your project's scope clearly. A hybrid approach - self-publishing small games while freelancing for larger publishers - can help you build a portfolio, diversify your income, and gain experience with both indie and mainstream production styles.
Finding RPGs to Play
While designers hone their craft, players can expand their horizons by exploring a variety of RPGs.
When choosing a game, think about what matters most to you: genre, complexity, campaign length, or the balance between storytelling and mechanics. The TTRPG Games Directory is a great resource, offering detailed descriptions of mechanics, themes, and playstyles for a wide range of tabletop RPGs. Use tags like "one-shot friendly", "beginner-friendly", or "GMless" to find options that suit your preferences, or filter by genres such as Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Horror, or Space Opera.
To make informed choices, browse curated lists of top-rated games, read community reviews, and check specifics like page counts and session lengths to gauge the time commitment. Start with low-cost PDFs or quickstart versions to try out different play styles - whether you're into tactical campaigns, rules-light improv, journaling games, or cozy slice-of-life adventures - before committing to pricier hardcovers. Subscribing to newsletters from directories like TTRPG Games Directory can also keep you in the loop on both major releases and up-and-coming indie gems.
FAQs
What are the biggest design challenges for indie RPGs compared to mainstream ones?
Indie RPGs often operate with tight budgets and smaller teams, which forces designers to think outside the box when it comes to mechanics and storytelling. Instead of aiming for massive worlds or flashy graphics, these games tend to cater to niche audiences, delivering distinct gameplay experiences where creativity takes center stage.
Mainstream RPGs, by contrast, face the challenge of crafting systems that can satisfy a wide audience. These large-scale projects demand a balance between depth and accessibility while coordinating efforts across extensive teams. With so many moving parts, maintaining consistency and ensuring the game is approachable becomes a top priority.
How do indie RPGs and mainstream RPGs influence each other?
Indie RPGs have a knack for introducing new and daring concepts - whether it's through inventive mechanics, experimental storytelling, or tackling bold, unconventional themes. These fresh approaches often push the boundaries of what's possible in gaming and encourage mainstream titles to adapt and grow, keeping players engaged and excited.
Meanwhile, mainstream RPGs play a crucial role in setting the stage. They establish widely accepted standards, popularize genres, and refine features that resonate with broad audiences. This creates a solid foundation for indie creators to experiment with, adding their own creative spin to familiar ideas. Together, indie and mainstream RPGs fuel each other, driving the evolution of tabletop gaming as a whole.
What should new RPG designers think about when deciding between indie and mainstream projects?
New RPG designers should begin by clearly defining their goals and taking stock of the resources they have at their disposal. If you’re drawn to indie projects, you’ll enjoy the perks of creative freedom, quicker development cycles, and lower initial costs. That said, indie ventures often come with challenges like limited marketing reach and tighter budgets.
For those leaning toward mainstream projects, the advantages include wider exposure, bigger budgets, and access to stronger support systems. However, these benefits often come with trade-offs, such as longer development timelines, higher funding requirements, and the need to follow strict industry standards, which can sometimes limit creative flexibility.
Think about what matters most to you - whether it’s crafting a unique, personal game or contributing to a larger, more established framework. Choose the path that best matches your vision and the resources you have at hand.
