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The internet asks, “What is SWORDDREAM, anyway?”



It’s time for the emerging movement to give answer. *DREAM is an offshoot of the OSR (Old School Renaissance), but it's more than that.

You’re invited to share your SWORDDREAM in a game jam this July!

Theme: Content Jam/Hackathon

Take an existing game, and create content for it that focuses in on your SWORDDREAM, or any kind of *DREAM. (Yours can be one that doesn’t focus on SWORDs, such as a SNAILDREAM, EGGDREAM, or FIREDREAM but regardless of what you choose, you’re invited to *DREAM with us!)

You may do this using mechanics, content, or a combination of the two. Your submission could be…

a subsystem

a hack

a subversion

a module or scenario

a random table

For example, if your *DREAM is about anti-colonialism, you might make a dungeon that the player characters have to defend from outsiders coming to steal their cultural treasures; you may be dreaming a SWORDDREAM. If your dream is about nurturing community and destroying oppressors, you might make an adventure about an uprising -- a FIREDREAM. If your *DREAM is about high school kids having adventures, you might create rules for playing teenagers in a TEENDREAM. Or if your *DREAM is anti-capitalist, you might create a system of alternate economic incentives that de-emphasize money and traditional treasure -- an ANTI-CAPDREAM.

NOTE: Some folk have been asking how many submissions the game jam accepts...the answer is as many as you like. Woah! That being said, do pace yourselves and don't push too hard. Just have fun and throw together what you like! This is a game jam so what you submit can just be a prototype or an initial draft.



Recommended Games (OSR & more!)

A list of games we love that you should think about hacking. But don’t limit yourself to this list. We include these games because they’re highly hackable and in many cases have good licensing terms for third party creators.

Macchiato Monsters

Troika!

The Black Hack or Whitehack

D&D (any edition)

PbtA (Dungeon World & others) or Forged in the Dark

Offworlders or Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells

Story games: Belonging Outside Belonging, Lasers & Feelings, or Alone Among the Stars

The 9 Principles, or, How Do I SWORDDREAM?

There is no one SWORDDREAM, but anyone who follows the Nine Principles of *DREAM is definitely sworddreaming! What if your *DREAM isn’t a SWORDDREAM? Got a FIREDREAM, or maybe a SNAILDREAM? If you’re down with the 9 Principles, you’re welcome to join in, too!

The 9 Principles

*DREAM stands against hate & prejudice in all forms. We seek to actively oppose bigotry & harassment in gaming communities. We create kind spaces. *DREAM works to be radically inclusive. We seek to support and encourage creators, GMs, players, and organizers from marginalized groups. And we seek to get better at this all the time. *DREAM encourages the use of sensible tools for communication and consent. This includes both conversational consent (in community spaces) and safety tools (at the table). *DREAM opposes harassment and strives for non-toxic discourse. We value best intentions, we call in before calling out, and we start discussions before we make accusations. We seek to empower everyone to curate their space. Above all, we engage sincerely. *DREAM values creators & their work. We support equitable pay for professional creators and fair treatment for hobbyists. *DREAM values a DIY approach to creation. We question gatekeeping, we take alternative approaches when traditional publishing models fail, and we believe anyone can make great games. *DREAM values experimentation in game design & worldbuilding. *DREAM isn't defined by, but is interested in: anti-canons, emergent story, generative worlds, kitbashing, non-violent play options, and more. And it's fine if some of these things contradict each other! There is no one *DREAM. Anyone who commits to these principles is *DREAMing .

Community Standards

Entries may not contain racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or other hate speech.

Entries must abide by itch.io’s rules for selling physical games.

This Game Jam is specifically for material related to Tabletop Roleplaying Games. Video game submissions will be removed. Thanks!

