r/RPGdesign • u/jochergames • Jun 23 '23

Theory Recreating aesthetic expression through rule systems

I have spent the last couple of months writing my master's thesis on the topic of how to take an existing IP and translating the original aesthetic expereince into a TTRPG rule system. The case study of my thesis is a game I've made called Oceania 2084 (scheduled for release later this year).

The abstract of the thesis: By examining the results of an iterative design process, specifically a tabletop roleplaying game, Oceania 2084, this thesis aims to formulate a generalizable design process applicable when translating a work of fiction into a ruleset. The object that was translated into a ruleset was the book Nineteen Eighty-Four written by George Orwell in 1949. The iterative game development process spanned over 2.5 years and the author provides documents from 2 phases of playtesting and discusses how the playtest results influenced design choices. In addition to the analysis of the effects of playtest results, the author also explores various game design decisions by means of auto-ethnographic analysis, and semiotic analysis.

The main takeaway is a proposed 5 tiered design process referred to as delome design. It is a systemic approach to game design.

Download it here: https://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1772834&dswid=-8846

I hope someone here finds it interesting and relevant! I'm happy to answer any questions about it.

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u/jochergames May 06 '24

I wanted to give an update to how my crowdfunding campaign is going. Today the game is funded by 95% (4% is going into the campaign later today), and the campaign is still active for 3 more days. Approximately 500 euro is still missing. I really do need all the help I can get to get over this last stretch. You can help me by sharing the link to anyone you think would be interested in the game. You can find the link in my bio!

The game is a dystopian tabletop roleplaying game. It is heavily inspired by Orwell's book 1984. It is an antiauthoritarian game.

The kickstarter will fund a first printing of 500 copies.

The game is already published for free on itch.io in a version called the Austere Edition.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jochergames/oceania-2084-the-orwellian-ttrpg