{"product_id":"lay-easily-now-pen-roleplaying-game","title":"Play Easily Now (PEN) Roleplaying Game (2nd Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA modular tabletop RPG system for young adults that's easy to teach, fast to learn, and grows in strategy as you play.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Play Easily Now roleplaying game (PEN RPG) is a fast, fun, and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003estrategically satisfying tabletop RPG system\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edesigned by Hoodwink Games to segue roleplaying newbs into games with roleplaying masters. The book is completely written and playtested; all I need is your help putting it into print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRPGs are incredible tools for building community, making new friends, and having an excuse to get together every week. But the task of teaching new players feels insurmountable, and when a casual acquaintance comes to your table and asks, “Hey, this looks cool, can I join?” the answer is either, “Not really, but thanks for asking,” or “If you want to spend a few hours learning, we’d love to have you!”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eThat’s not conducive to making friends.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut people want to play!! One-in-three Gen Z and Millennials report feeling lonely often or all the time, and almost 2-in-3 have observable anxiety and depression. It’s a turbulent time– isolation and loneliness easily creep in when transitioning into college, a new job, a new town, or a new living situation. And game-based community helps–research shows 1 in 3 Gen Z are interested in RPGs and 90% of those who play do it for the community involved. In-person RPG gaming is shown to improve mental illness recovery, improve creative thinking, and create a sense of belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003ePlus, you know, they’re just super fun.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSo Hoodwink Games created PEN, a generic system for telling any story that stories fast and stays fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost easy-to-learn RPGs are easy, but shallow rules and short manuals make gameplay… boring. Close communities are built around weeks and weeks of telling stories together and quickstart RPGs are just too rules-lite to stay satisfying for long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlus, other generic RPG classics like GURPS and Savage Worlds are super fun but still tailored to veteran audiences.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eNo newbie wants to tackle those books alone.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIn practice, once character creation is over and players know what’s going on, maybe the systems are easy enough. But that first hurdle is just too high for casual players just looking for friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eNO! Every textbook, from entry-level algebra to advanced calculus, started by teaching basic concepts.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAnd what is a game manual if not just a textbook? You learn enough to get going, and then you keep advancing as you apply the concepts you’ve already learned. Eventually, you are confident enough to apply ALL the concepts in new and exciting combinations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003ePEN works the same way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eModules advance players through the game, starting with a 5-page spread of rules, description of roleplaying concepts, and seven, pre-built characters to choose from.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eThen, as players play, players advance through the modules at their own pace, adding more complex rules systems and strategic options.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery single step is designed to seamlessly sew roleplaying and mechanics into a tactical, fun, and intuitive ruleset your party will want to return to for years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModule One opens by explaining the concept of an RPG. For new players, the idea of not having a board, cards, or definitive actions can feel a little nebulous. A couple pages succinctly explain the concept of collaborative storytelling through roleplay and give some key tips for staying engaged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNext, seven pre-built archetypes give players an example of where to start, give examples of characteristics, and explain skills to explain how character elements work together to create synergies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLastly, five pages explain the core resolution mechanic and how it applies to general rolls, combat, healing, competitions, and more!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePEN’s original system involves players rolling 3d6, adding the relevant skill, checking the degree of success, and then improving with bonuses and items!\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eEach player gets two actions per turn and a free movement to spend on their character's interactions. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat's all there is to it! If someone wants to learn,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eall you have to do is hand them a character, loot three d6s out of an old game of Risk, and get started!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEVERY. SINGLE. ROLL in the game follows this mechanic, so if a player can add and subtract whole numbers, they can play the whole game. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eEven attacks and defenses boil down to this simple mechanic.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePlayers roll to attack using Strength or Accuracy and roll to defend using either Resistance or Agility. Attacks deal damage based on the degree of success verses the defender but otherwise function exactly the same as every other skill roll--\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eno more need to explain the difference between rolls to hit, damage rolls, attack DCs, and saving throws.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThen, once players roleplaying and gaming with the veterans at your table, they'll be ready to create their very own character! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCharacter creation is both incredibly simple and incredibly customizable. Character creation discards races and classes (in the base system, at least) and instead gives players complete creative freedom: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat's all there is to it, really. It's a simple process, but with 210+ unique characteristics to choose from, \u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eplayers have nearly endless combinations of unique abilities, backgrounds, bonuses, and weaknesses, to create over 2,600,000,000,000,000 possible characters. \u003c\/span\u003eWith all those options, players can recreate timeless archetypes or explore their own unique playstyles! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe module also introduces\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eitems, which are based on general types.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eFor instance, handheld ranged weapons (e.g. hand-crossbow and Colt .45) share the same profile because, relative to their settings, they serve a similar purpose. This massive simplification makes bookkeeping easy no matter where your campaign unfolds!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eSTANDARD ITEMS are also a special innovation in PEN.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eStandard items--Gear, Loot, Food, Clues, and Maps--each grant a mechanical benefit designed to streamline sticky mechanics:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis straightforward approach to items streamlines gameplay MASSIVELY and rewards players for roleplaying!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIt's an efficient take on expendable items that furthers PEN's balance of ease and excitement. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModule Three opens big with a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eTON of flexible options for players creating their own builds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eUnlike D\u0026amp;D and many other RPGs, PEN does not lock players into skill trees of abilities. Instead, players are given freeform systems to pursue item crafting, magic, combat maneuvers, warfare, and NPCs that fit players' own dream builds. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eTo craft items,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003echaracters decide the bonuses they want their item to have, collect materials from their environment to build the item, and make a mechanics roll. Then characters use the table below to expend actions over time until the item is finished!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eMagic also gives players HUGE creative latitude.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Players combine elements, effects, durations, and numbers of targets to create custom spells meeting in-the-moment needs! The more powerful the spell, the harder it is to cast--and the bigger the effect! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut why should arcane characters get all the fun?? \u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003ePEN includes a list of martial maneuvers characters can add to attacks and defenses for special effects.\u003c\/span\u003e These create powerful tactical advantages, giving martial characters an edge over even far stronger opponents by disarming, distracting, parrying, and more! Advanced characters can even combine maneuvers to create signature moves for masterfully dispatching foes. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs characters grow in power and influence, PEN includes rules for commanding armies and gathering Supporters who follow the party around.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eRules for battles elegantly sew army actions into character combat, making for epic, Lord-of-the-Rings-esq moments of heroic character actions, surrounded by carnage! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupporters are similarly streamlined for excitement and ease. Instead of creating detailed NPC profiles that bog turn orders and distract players with extra information, Supporters are simply sorted into types.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eOver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003e20 different Supporter types each give a single unique ability to the characters' parties,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eranging from soldiers to children to chefs to lawyers. Abilities vary from attacks to role-playing benefits, and each Supporter has only one which players can order Supporters to use in a variety of situations. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis system creates simplified, impact-oriented NPCs that spare players the headache of managing multiple profiles while giving the satisfaction of an army of followers. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGame Mastering can be the most intimidating part of an RPG, and most manuals are written assuming the GM already has some idea of what they're doing. But what if you don't? \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eSomebody has to learn the game and teach it, so PEN is written to make session writing as easy as character creation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModule Four describes the step-by-step process for running turns from the GM's perspective AND simple templates for writing exciting sessions. To start right away, PEN includes a complete one-shot for GMs to learn from and launch right into gaming! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso included are random tables for NPCs, traps, and other details, and steps for creating unique, balanced NPCs.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eThese seven pages give GMs all the tools they need to tell an original story right out of the box. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorldbuilding is one of the most exciting parts of GMing, and PEN wants to help new GMs worldbuild well! After GMs learn how to tell a one-session story, \u003c\/span\u003eModule Five teaches GMs how to turn their sessions into longer stories across larger worlds.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTen random tables spark GMs imagination for where players can explore, including options for governments, geography, industry, populations, values, economies, and more! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUsing these sheets, GMs can take their stories and turn them into world guides where players can return session after session for years of evolving gameplay.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hoodwink Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44129987887280,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0597\/3121\/4512\/files\/Play-Easily-Now-_PEN_-Roleplaying-Game-_2nd-Edition_-Bea-DnD.jpg?v=1738037138","url":"https:\/\/www.beadndgames.co.nz\/products\/lay-easily-now-pen-roleplaying-game","provider":"Bea DnD Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}