TheDevinTeam
@thedevteam.itch.io
Hyper-focusing on RPG design, Scroll & Steel (out now!), PBTA, Pathfinder 2e, etc.
he/they, free Palestine, blocks AI slop
he/they, free Palestine, blocks AI slop
There’s lots of great stuff here but I especially love this answer about what people usually get wrong about PBTA.
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
There’s lots of great stuff here but I especially love this answer about what people usually get wrong about PBTA.
Good thing I got the window seat!
November 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Good thing I got the window seat!
Watching election results tonight from Tennessee like
November 5, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Watching election results tonight from Tennessee like
I really appreciate the way making a physical reference sheet invites you to condense and concentrate mechanics and concepts.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
November 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I really appreciate the way making a physical reference sheet invites you to condense and concentrate mechanics and concepts.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
It’s the afternoon now…
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
It’s the afternoon now…
You’ll enjoy this response to a comment I made pointing out that PF2 *does* have significant attrition.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
November 3, 2025 at 3:06 AM
You’ll enjoy this response to a comment I made pointing out that PF2 *does* have significant attrition.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
I’m making tokens and I think my cat wants to play with them.
November 1, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I’m making tokens and I think my cat wants to play with them.
My costume this year is a normal everyday journalist.
Wait, is that someone in trouble!?
Wait, is that someone in trouble!?
November 1, 2025 at 2:33 AM
My costume this year is a normal everyday journalist.
Wait, is that someone in trouble!?
Wait, is that someone in trouble!?
I don’t know about you, but I think the scariest horror films are the ones based on a true story.
October 31, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I don’t know about you, but I think the scariest horror films are the ones based on a true story.
Scroll & Steel doesn't have the Names and Look sections often found in PBTA games, and that was a missed opportunity.
I've been making some quickstart playbooks, and I've really enjoyed adding these elements in. I think they do a lot to challenge assumptions you might automatically make.
I've been making some quickstart playbooks, and I've really enjoyed adding these elements in. I think they do a lot to challenge assumptions you might automatically make.
October 31, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Scroll & Steel doesn't have the Names and Look sections often found in PBTA games, and that was a missed opportunity.
I've been making some quickstart playbooks, and I've really enjoyed adding these elements in. I think they do a lot to challenge assumptions you might automatically make.
I've been making some quickstart playbooks, and I've really enjoyed adding these elements in. I think they do a lot to challenge assumptions you might automatically make.
Love when a mechanic perfectly recreates a story beat.
![Pointed Question [one-action]
You ask a question that charms or needles someone in just the right way. Ask a question of a non-allied creature that you can see. Attempt a Diplomacy check against the creature’s Will DC. The creature is then temporarily immune for 1 hour.
Critical Success The target must directly answer your question. It doesn't have to answer truthfully, but you gain a +4 circumstance bonus to your Perception DC if the creature attempts to Lie to you. [highlighted]Whether it answers truthfully or not, you glean something from its body language, and it is off-guard to the Strike you make using Devise a Stratagem against it before the end of your turn.[end highlight]
Success As critical success, but the circumstance bonus to your Perception DC is +2.
Failure The target can refuse to answer you as normal.
Critical Failure The target can refuse to answer you as normal, and its attitude toward you decreases by one step due to your aggravating attention.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cv35qcosmyolzqbe5dknsob7/bafkreigckezhsnpy7kcvje6lfcex5w7abihfmqgmhr3on5asxbaj3uj4ou@jpeg)
October 30, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Love when a mechanic perfectly recreates a story beat.
Scroll & Steel update: I've been updating the Fighter and I'm proud of how this move is developing.
First version (on the left) is fine. Makes you better at fighting.
But the new version speaks to what I want the Fighter to be. You're not just good at fighting; your life is centered around it.
First version (on the left) is fine. Makes you better at fighting.
But the new version speaks to what I want the Fighter to be. You're not just good at fighting; your life is centered around it.
October 30, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Scroll & Steel update: I've been updating the Fighter and I'm proud of how this move is developing.
First version (on the left) is fine. Makes you better at fighting.
But the new version speaks to what I want the Fighter to be. You're not just good at fighting; your life is centered around it.
First version (on the left) is fine. Makes you better at fighting.
But the new version speaks to what I want the Fighter to be. You're not just good at fighting; your life is centered around it.
I was especially proud of this combo. He can analyze the situation, and if there’s not an opportunity to attack, he can take a defensive approach and command someone else to attack in his stead.
Also this is yet another example of a Dungeon Meshi character whose strength comes from their knowledge.
Also this is yet another example of a Dungeon Meshi character whose strength comes from their knowledge.
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 AM
I was especially proud of this combo. He can analyze the situation, and if there’s not an opportunity to attack, he can take a defensive approach and command someone else to attack in his stead.
Also this is yet another example of a Dungeon Meshi character whose strength comes from their knowledge.
Also this is yet another example of a Dungeon Meshi character whose strength comes from their knowledge.
Kabru may appear to be a Fighter, but he’s actually an Interrogation Investigator. The way he gains an edge on the battlefield is by analyzing the situation and making a plan.
He’s also able to gain a ton of Diplomacy skill feats to show how he’s a natural at getting people on his side.
He’s also able to gain a ton of Diplomacy skill feats to show how he’s a natural at getting people on his side.
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Kabru may appear to be a Fighter, but he’s actually an Interrogation Investigator. The way he gains an edge on the battlefield is by analyzing the situation and making a plan.
He’s also able to gain a ton of Diplomacy skill feats to show how he’s a natural at getting people on his side.
He’s also able to gain a ton of Diplomacy skill feats to show how he’s a natural at getting people on his side.
All the dice trays I see are big things you have to carry with one hand. We need more small dice trays with lids so you can use them and roll with the same hand (demonstrating here with my old AirPods box).
October 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
All the dice trays I see are big things you have to carry with one hand. We need more small dice trays with lids so you can use them and roll with the same hand (demonstrating here with my old AirPods box).
Marcille is a Wizard w/Cleric archetype. She has healing magic but it’s clearly not her focus.
This party’s composition is biased towards damage, which is why they struggle without their dedicated healer.
Chilchuck was also probably way more effective when he had other big hitters.
This party’s composition is biased towards damage, which is why they struggle without their dedicated healer.
Chilchuck was also probably way more effective when he had other big hitters.
October 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Marcille is a Wizard w/Cleric archetype. She has healing magic but it’s clearly not her focus.
This party’s composition is biased towards damage, which is why they struggle without their dedicated healer.
Chilchuck was also probably way more effective when he had other big hitters.
This party’s composition is biased towards damage, which is why they struggle without their dedicated healer.
Chilchuck was also probably way more effective when he had other big hitters.
Chilchuck is *not* a Rogue because he doesn’t deal damage himself.
Instead, he’s a Commander w/Rogue archetype.
Still gets all the feats to do the trap finding, but if he attacks, it’s to use Guiding Shot before telling someone else to deal the damage (Strike Hard).
Instead, he’s a Commander w/Rogue archetype.
Still gets all the feats to do the trap finding, but if he attacks, it’s to use Guiding Shot before telling someone else to deal the damage (Strike Hard).
October 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Chilchuck is *not* a Rogue because he doesn’t deal damage himself.
Instead, he’s a Commander w/Rogue archetype.
Still gets all the feats to do the trap finding, but if he attacks, it’s to use Guiding Shot before telling someone else to deal the damage (Strike Hard).
Instead, he’s a Commander w/Rogue archetype.
Still gets all the feats to do the trap finding, but if he attacks, it’s to use Guiding Shot before telling someone else to deal the damage (Strike Hard).
Senshi: Thaumaturge w/Wandering Chef archetype
Senshi is a Thaumaturge because he’s most likely to use esoterica (like making holy water). His implements are his pot (shield) and weapon (not the axe, but his knife).
When he shares knowledge, he sounds like he’s bullshitting, so Esoteric Lore fits.
Senshi is a Thaumaturge because he’s most likely to use esoterica (like making holy water). His implements are his pot (shield) and weapon (not the axe, but his knife).
When he shares knowledge, he sounds like he’s bullshitting, so Esoteric Lore fits.
October 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Senshi: Thaumaturge w/Wandering Chef archetype
Senshi is a Thaumaturge because he’s most likely to use esoterica (like making holy water). His implements are his pot (shield) and weapon (not the axe, but his knife).
When he shares knowledge, he sounds like he’s bullshitting, so Esoteric Lore fits.
Senshi is a Thaumaturge because he’s most likely to use esoterica (like making holy water). His implements are his pot (shield) and weapon (not the axe, but his knife).
When he shares knowledge, he sounds like he’s bullshitting, so Esoteric Lore fits.
Rewatching Dungeon Meshi and updating a lot of my Pathfinder 2e builds for the characters.
Laios: Outwit Ranger w/Sentinel archetype
Laios is the tank and uses his knowledge of monsters to avoid their attacks, so Outwit fits him. Outwit also improves his ability to deceive and intimidate monsters.
Laios: Outwit Ranger w/Sentinel archetype
Laios is the tank and uses his knowledge of monsters to avoid their attacks, so Outwit fits him. Outwit also improves his ability to deceive and intimidate monsters.
October 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Rewatching Dungeon Meshi and updating a lot of my Pathfinder 2e builds for the characters.
Laios: Outwit Ranger w/Sentinel archetype
Laios is the tank and uses his knowledge of monsters to avoid their attacks, so Outwit fits him. Outwit also improves his ability to deceive and intimidate monsters.
Laios: Outwit Ranger w/Sentinel archetype
Laios is the tank and uses his knowledge of monsters to avoid their attacks, so Outwit fits him. Outwit also improves his ability to deceive and intimidate monsters.
Games used to do this kinda shit all the time.
October 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Games used to do this kinda shit all the time.
Apocalypse World: Fallen Kingdoms, the never completed fantasy hack of Apocalypse World from the Bakers, had some combat moves that go very hard.
It’s interesting that so many PBTA fantasy games reduce complexity and simplify combat, but here, it’s complex and multifaceted yet still fiction-based.
It’s interesting that so many PBTA fantasy games reduce complexity and simplify combat, but here, it’s complex and multifaceted yet still fiction-based.
October 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Apocalypse World: Fallen Kingdoms, the never completed fantasy hack of Apocalypse World from the Bakers, had some combat moves that go very hard.
It’s interesting that so many PBTA fantasy games reduce complexity and simplify combat, but here, it’s complex and multifaceted yet still fiction-based.
It’s interesting that so many PBTA fantasy games reduce complexity and simplify combat, but here, it’s complex and multifaceted yet still fiction-based.
It’s probably a problem that I have this many games that do the “swords and sorcery fantasy” thing and yet I’m still not tired of the genre.
October 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It’s probably a problem that I have this many games that do the “swords and sorcery fantasy” thing and yet I’m still not tired of the genre.