Explorers of the Weird Unknown

Explorers of the Weird Unknown is the first game I designed by myself. It is a rules lite tabletop RPG inspired by weird sci-fi and pulp magazines of the 1920's up to the 1960's where whole dimensions are procedurally generated. Players are Dimensionauts trapped in alternate dimensions and are running against time to find their way home or die trying.

The basic premise: dimensions are procedurally generated and players must overcome challenges and find the exit to the next dimension before it collapses and traps them forever. The weird meets the unknown and even the game master himself won't know what's coming next, keeping everyone engaged at the table in overcoming this unique twist on the TTRPG genre.

Players: may chose between four archetypes.

• The Soldier with their muscles and weapons
• The Engineer with their wits and their multitool
• The Scientist with their higher intellect and comprehension of the Artefacts
• The Jack of all trades who are rounded and versatile in all situations

The rules: are designed to be simple and intuitive, using a roll under system with only 3 stats (Strength, Agility, Wits) that make it easy to determine what to roll in any situations. Combat is fast and brutal using melee or range weaponry classified by their technological level (Simple, Modern, Futuristic) and a wild card factor is presented with powerful Artefacts that are unpredictable, powerful yet highly dangerous.

For the Game Master: by having difficulty checks player faced, the Game Master can focus on the narrative element of the game to create fun, unique and entertaining challenges using the tables to procedurally generate dimensions and a multitude of challenges for the players to overcome. No games play the same twice.

Why was it made? During my Game Design class during the Autumn 2024 semester, we were tasked by creating a board game from scratch. Explorers of the Weird Unknown is the end product I made, being heavily inspired by pulp magazines, weird science-fiction and various artwork from the last century and my undying love of TTRPG's like Dungeons & Dragons, I aimed in creating a simplified experience for newcomers to those types of games and by having few rules to read to maximize the time at the table, actually playing.

Next steps: The game is currently only available in French but I am planning on translating it completely in English.

Conversion: I am also planning on converting my overall concept and game to videogame form, the overall plan is to make it procedural in generating the levels and scenario's while permitting an overworld navigation system with a skill and problem solving system and also developing a grid, turn-based combat system.

Copilot was used to generate the artwork found throughout and was only used to meet the demands of my class as I am no artist.