Listener ‪@jasonsumma1530‬ asked what Ryan would change about the Core Rulebooks if Renegade Game Studios released 2.0 versions. This is NOT an announcement that Essence20 2.0 is a thing, just speculation with the benefit of hindsight on the ideal layout of an Essence20 Core Rulebook.

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Show Notes

This topic was suggested by @jasonsumma1530 on YouTube, who asked: 

“IF you could do a CRB 2.0 for any of the original three, what would you change? Would it be possible to condense it all into one slightly larger book since most of the rules are pretty much the same? Would it be better to do something similar in the line of DnD where you have a GMB (Game Manager Book) and CB (Character Book) with all of the updates in each”

Topic: The Core Rulebook 2.0  

The Essence 20 system has been learning, maturing, and bringing everything that it has learned into its new products. If Ryan was going to apply everything that he’s learned to developing a CRB 2.0, what changes would he make and how would that improve the GM and Player experience. 

What is a Core Rulebook and what importance does it hold to a gaming system? 

• Set the tone 
• Establish the setting 
• Establish credentials 
• Explain the rules
• Provide options

Redesigning the CRB

• Goals for a redesign
  • What would be your goals for a redesign?
  • One Core Rule book or one for each Property?

• One chapter at a time
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
    • Foreword
    • Introductory Essay
  • Chapter 2: Essence20 Essentials
    • What Is An RPG
    • Essence20 Essentials
    • Character Creation
  • Chapter 3-5: Influences, Origins, and Roles
    • One chapter for each of the games big three options, in the order that makes the most sense for the setting. 
  • Chapter 6: Essences, Defenses, and Skills
    • Include rules for Skills Tests
  • Chapter 7: General Perks
  • Chapter 8: Equipment
  • Chapter 9: Setting Specific Chapter
    • Zords, Converting, Magic, etc. Possibly more than one chapter.  
    • Contacts
    • Factions
  • Chapter 10: Conflict
    • Combat
    • Challenges
    • Stress
    • Exploration
    • Size and stuff
  • Chapter 11: For Game Masters
    • What is a scene? 
    • Telling a story
  • Chapter 12: Threats
  • Chapter 13: Adventure

Shout Outs

• Latest Essential Builds: John Cena
• Next: You tell Ryan!
  • Eleven (Stranger Things)
  • Benoit Blanc (Knives Out)
  • Klaus (Klaus)
• Maester Aelix’s Transformers chargen videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MaesterAelix 
• G.I.Joe Headcast: https://www.youtube.com/@G.I.Joe_Headcast The Energon Protocols with Erik Smith 
• Thank you Patrons for keeping our lights on.
• Thank you Wordburglar for the use of Letters From Snake Eyes part 4. 

Although Ryan works for Renegade Game Studios, this podcast and the network that hosts it are not affiliated with Renegade Game Studios.