Thinking of making a tabletop trpg and wanted some advice on rulebook planning/conceptual linking software

[MRT144]

I'm starting to sit down and write a rulebook and playtest the game I've been mulling over in my head. Basically I am using microsoft word and outlining ideas and branches and stuff but its becoming apparent I need a quick way to get to where I want to go in the rulebook. I need to create index references on the fly and need a sketch pad for ideas (not a literal sketchpad mind you, just a place to put ideas and cross them off as i try them without it being set in stone). Is this possible in word?

thanks.

[ZEE]

lol.

[KrazyHorse]

Use latex

[Hauldren Collider]

I'm starting to sit down and write a rulebook and playtest the game I've been mulling over in my head. Basically I am using microsoft word and outlining ideas and branches and stuff but its becoming apparent I need a quick way to get to where I want to go in the rulebook. I need to create index references on the fly and need a sketch pad for ideas (not a literal sketchpad mind you, just a place to put ideas and cross them off as i try them without it being set in stone). Is this possible in word?

thanks.

I think MS Office Visio can be used to make the sort of diagrams you want, but I haven't used it myself before.

[Hauldren Collider]

Use latex

LaTeX

[Sava]

bareback

[Dinner]

Best of luck but sales of table top RPGs seem to be going down as the internet generation mostly seems to want to play MMOGs and, let's face, that are millions of nerds out there who all have dreamed of doing this but precise few who have actually successfully published. Still, digital publishing and mico publishing does now make it cheaper than ever to get into the publishing business and find customers so there is hope. Everyone should have a dream where they roll the dice and try to make it big and this might be your chance. Best of luck too you, young man.

[MikeH]

. I need to create index references on the fly ... Is this possible in word?

thanks.

Yes. Google Word Index.

[kentonio]

There's a program called Articy Draft that would probably help you quite a bit. I believe they do a trial version. It's like Visio but tailored for game design, and has some quite nice additional features.

[MRT144]

Best of luck but sales of table top RPGs seem to be going down as the internet generation mostly seems to want to play MMOGs and, let's face, that are millions of nerds out there who all have dreamed of doing this but precise few who have actually successfully published. Still, digital publishing and mico publishing does now make it cheaper than ever to get into the publishing business and find customers so there is hope. Everyone should have a dream where they roll the dice and try to make it big and this might be your chance. Best of luck too you, young man.

For those that dont program, tabletop is their domain. Although this might be a great time to self teach. I realize that there are some meta concepts where you need a 3rd party to keep players honest on secret or esoteric info.

[MRT144]

For those that dont program, tabletop is their domain. Although this might be a great time to self teach. I realize that there are some meta concepts where you need a 3rd party to keep players honest on secret or esoteric info.

Also this is a passion project so financial success is like a 4th tier consideration.

[MrFun]

I'm starting to sit down and write a rulebook and playtest the game I've been mulling over in my head. Basically I am using microsoft word and outlining ideas and branches and stuff but its becoming apparent I need a quick way to get to where I want to go in the rulebook. I need to create index references on the fly and need a sketch pad for ideas (not a literal sketchpad mind you, just a place to put ideas and cross them off as i try them without it being set in stone). Is this possible in word?

thanks.

What about using Word in the outline view for some of the material?

[Lorizael]

When writing novels, a lot of my writer friends use a piece of software called Scrivener. It does what I think you want to do.

[MrFun]

When writing novels, a lot of my writer friends use a piece of software called Scrivener. It does what I think you want to do.

Hey, thanks. I went to google this software, and it looks amazing. I might buy a copy at some point.