Essential Builds Archive

Welcome to Essential Builds, the blog that rebuilds popular culture icons into combat capable Essence20 characters. Today this article is being written by Carlos Cabrera, developer for the Welcome to Night Vale Roleplaying Game using Essence20 that you can...

Ice or snow, Essential Builds is ready to go! Welcome to Essential Builds, the blog where no Essence20 build is too big, and no pup is too small.  I’m Ryan Costello, one of the designers of the Essence20 system...

He’s the best there is at what he does, and what he does is combine the ruggedness of a jeep with the deployable blades of a knife block.  Welcome to Essential Builds, bub, the blog that turns popular culture...

Deadpool is everywhere these days. He’s destroying box office records like they’re fourth walls, is on one of the most aggressive, bizarre, and creative promotional tours ever, and on his typical boatload of merch. You can’t even order a Coke...

You’ve never heard of My Lennium Falcorn? It’s the friendship that made the Magic Run in less than twelve sparkles. Welcome to Essential Builds, the blog that punches popular culture icons into the hyperspace that is Essence20.  I’m Ryan...

Normally Essential Builds turns popular culture icons into Essence20 Player Characters. We’re doing something different this time. This is my first PC for a fully casual Essence20 campaign. I’m not playtesting or promoting or even GMing. I’m building a...

From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend. The legend of Pidge, Voltron’s only pilot with the fashion sense to coordinate his uniform with his lion.  Welcome to Essential Builds, the blog that...

Welcome to Essential Builds, the blog that mashes up popular culture characters with Essence20 rules. Sometimes, those popular culture characters have already been mashed up, leaving us with some kind of science-fantasy mutant.  I’m Ryan Costello, one of the...

Cue John Williams’ The Raiders March! Welcome to Essential Builds, the blog that puts popular culture characters into an Essence20 Player Character museum. I’m Ryan Costello, one of the designers of the Essence20 system and an author on the G.I....

With the Superbowl this Sunday*, it’s time to carry on the tradition of The Fridge, Capt Grid-Iron, Centiback, and Laceface by bringing a football player to the world of Hasbro’s action and adventure brands. Welcome to Essential Builds, the...