I have been finally learning how to use Affinity Publisher, which I've had since the release of V2, and started a short booklet of rules set for running osr/nsr-style game in Finnish. Mostly just to combine some of my favourite things from games I've run past year or two, and to have something I can give to the kids I've run games so they can start running their own with ease. After two nights of working at it, I realised that I have much more fun time doing the whole thing at once, compared to just writing text and editing it until it's ready.

Going into all at once, I can see how the text should look like, what information is extra fluff, and how much the layout and visuals help making things clear. It's easier to get the blob of abstract, half-formed thoughts into coherent collection of ideas when there's more than just words to use for the task. And, browsing and editing Public Domain art is always good times.

Anyways, the plan with the codified rules and guides is to have bunch of short booklets that I can then mix and match based on what kind of game I want to run. the basic rules are super simple and short, in the style of ItO, Cairn and Knave, with one or two narrative mechanics stolen from Whitehack and PbtA games. Another booklet could have procedures and rules for more tactical, grid-based combat, dungeon delving, and resource management.

At the moment, I have most of the main mechanics down, and a third-iteration character sheet ready. For playtesting, I'm planning to start with The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford and Waking of the Willoby Hall.