Gaining Advantage 017: Accessible Benefits from TTRPG

Gaining Advantage: Making Lives Better through tabletop role-playing games; Wyrmworks Publishing Logo; Disability symbol with wheelchair wheel replaced by d20; Brain with embedded d20; photo of Katriel Paige

How can the TTRPG industry teach the rest of the world about accessibility? We welcome Katriel Paige to talk about their work in accessibility.

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 02:46 Interview: Katriel Paige
  • 30:24 Wrap-up

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Katreil Paige Links

Wyrmworks Publishing




The Kickstarter is done. Sort of. Now what?

Hi, wonderful patrons! I know I’ve been quiet lately here on Patreon, and before that, I’ve been talking a lot about the Limitless Heroics Kickstarter, and now that it’s done, what’s next?

Of course, first of all, it’s far from done! If you’ve been watching the conversations in the Discord (Feel free to jump into the conversations!), everyone is busy creating characters, making artwork, writing additional pieces — over 200 magic items and so much more! We set July as the target date and are on track for that, and here’s a Patreon-exclusive teaser draft just for you that I just finished based on a backer submission! (Note: it hasn’t gone through our extensive editorial process yet, so expect it to change.)

GleamForth Wayfinder

Wondrous Item, Legendary

Follow the Gleam, and find your way. Hold me leftward lest you stumble. Let the third eye guide your path. Look to your heart to find your Truths. Center me, and I will bring you home though the darkness envelop you.

This labyrinthine eye provides protection and direction to those who would be lost without it. Unlike most prosthetic eyes, you hold this one instead of inserting it. When held in the left hand, it provides 5′ blindsight. When so held, you cannot use that hand for any other purpose. As an action, you can hold it mid-forehead and cast the find the path spell once per day. Once per day, as your action, you touch the heart of a creature you can reach that is charmed, frightened, or possessed by a celestial, an elemental, a fey, a fiend, or an undead. The creature you touch is no longer charmed, frightened, or possessed by such creatures. When held at the solar plexus, once every seven days, you can cast either plane shift or teleportation circle to your home. Your home need not have a teleportation circle inscribed, but when you acquire this eye, you must declare your home location as the destination of this function.

Pre-Orders Open

If anyone missed the Kickstarter (or knows someone who did — feel free to pass on this link), you can get the pre-order here, and use the coupon code LHPATREON to get $2 off! (Yes, you can share this coupon code along with the link!)

But then what?

We have a long to-do list that keeps getting longer, but picture this: imagine the city version of Limitless Heroics: a campaign city that explores concepts of accessibility where characters can have all the typical urban adventures while encountering what accessibility in its various forms would look like in a high fantasy setting! I’ve already received interested notes from accessibility advocates and universal design firms interested in helping with this and several writers and artists eager to work on future Wyrmworks Publishing projects, and if it’s well received, we can keep adding pieces to create a campaign world with different locations that explore and teach about all kinds of issues, all while having grand 5e adventures! Add in some miniatures based on some of the 50+ characters being designed for Limitless Heroics, and you have something truly unique that helps you improve others’ lives!

Tied to that big project, I have a collaborative project in the works that I can’t discuss yet, but it’s a partnership with at least one well known figure in the D&D space whose name is attached to some official D&D adventures. That one is just in the idea stage right now (We’re both pretty busy at the moment but hoping to get started on it later this year), but when I can say more, you’ll be the first to know! (OK, besides my wife. She hears these things first.)

And, I have some great guests lined up for future Gaining Advantage episodes, so expect more of those soon!

Thanks so much for your support! You’re helping make all this happen!

All the best!

Dale




Gaining Advantage 014: Fantasy Accessibility with Fay Onyx

Gaining Advantage: Making Lives Better through tabletop role-playing games; Wyrmworks Publishing Logo; Disability symbol with wheelchair wheel replaced by d20; Brain with embedded d20; Writing Alchemy Logo (cartoon image of Fay against a magenta planet background) logo

How can we make our fantasy worlds more accessible, thus encouraging more accessibility in the real world? Dale and Fay Onyx nerd out about disability, accessibility, and TTRPGs.

Fay Onyx is a queer, nonbinary, disabled writer, podcaster, game designer, and disability consultant whose work focuses on intersectional disability representation. Ze creates resources to help storytellers and game designers represent disability respectfully, including a Q&A series, a Decolonizing Games Resource List, and a series of articles about harmful disability tropes. Hir podcast, Writing Alchemy, has an actual play series about the adventures of disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically ill heroes. Fay is also working on Magic Goes Awry, a high fantasy roleplaying game that has detailed character creation with a rules-light core mechanic that creates plenty of magical mayhem.

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 02:39 Interview: Fay Onyx
  • 42:40 Wrap-up

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Wyrmworks Publishing




Phobias

Book & Kindle displaying cover: As our heroes fight the hydra, we see just some of the variety of symptoms represented in this book. The paladin has a prosthetic arm to assist with their amputation. The barbarian rages from their wheelchair, providing mobility for their paralyzed legs. The ranger, whose body is more accustomed to an aquatic environment just as someone in the real world may be more comfortable in a quieter or darker sensory environment, finds ways to compensate and keep fighting. The wizard’s vitiligo may not be thought of as a disability, nor should it be, yet many in the real world experience severe discrimination due to unusual skin pigment — how many celebrities, corporate executives, or politicians do you know with visibly irregular skin?

How can you represent phobias in 5e that reflect real world experiences? Grab this free D100 table of phobias and resources to implement them in your game.

Or use the one click generator in the Lair.



Download at DriveThruRPG
Download at DriveThruRPG



Gaining Advantage 011: Accessibility at the Table with @JesseMcNamee

Gaining Advantage: Making Lives Better through tabletop role-playing games; Wyrmworks Publishing Logo; Disability symbol with wheelchair wheel replaced by d20; Brain with embedded d20; photo of Jesse McNamee

How can the tabletop gaming space be more accessible? We welcome Jesse McNamee to discuss that question — how it has and how it could be more.

  • 0:00 Introduction & Announcements
  • 07:49 Jesse McNamee Interview
  • 29:40 Appreciation

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Jesse McNamee Links

Twitter: @jessemcnamee

Wyrmworks Publishing




Braces of Blades

Metal leg braces with daggers strapped to the sides

Get a free sample from the Limitless Heroics project: Braces of Blades, an assistive device for those with leg weakness, designed for use with crutches.



Download at DriveThruRPG
Download at DriveThruRPG



Limitless Heroics Tables: Using Disability in DnD

Book & Kindle displaying cover: As our heroes fight the hydra, we see just some of the variety of symptoms represented in this book. The paladin has a prosthetic arm to assist with their amputation. The barbarian rages from their wheelchair, providing mobility for their paralyzed legs. The ranger, whose body is more accustomed to an aquatic environment just as someone in the real world may be more comfortable in a quieter or darker sensory environment, finds ways to compensate and keep fighting. The wizard’s vitiligo may not be thought of as a disability, nor should it be, yet many in the real world experience severe discrimination due to unusual skin pigment — how many celebrities, corporate executives, or politicians do you know with visibly irregular skin?

Free Preview Explanation

Welcome to the free preview of Limitless Heroics. This page provides tables and instructions for adding traits.

Players & GMs may use this form to communicate their preferences as to which of these to include and avoid in their game.

Download an illustrated PDF with these tables and a guide how to implement it at your table free at DriveThruRPG. Check back here soon for a random generator that turns these tables into a single click.

The full book includes descriptions and full game mechanics for each trait. Each trait also includes assistive options, magical assistance, and real world examples.

LIMITLESS HEROICS yellow letters against swirling black, magenta & cyan background. 5e compatible shield lower left. Book with cover of 4 disabled heroes fighting a hydra on the right.
Missed the Kickstarter? Order now!

100% of content creators hired for this book are disabled, neurodivergent, and/or have mental or chronic illness, and the variety of art styles intentionally reflects the diversity of experiences and expressions of these conditions.

Roll for Traits

Players can either roll for a random disability or discuss disability as part of their character concept with their GM, choosing specific traits, Frequencies, and IEs, keeping tropes to avoid in mind.

Game Masters especially who want to include a realistic percentage of disability in a game world’s population may find these random generators useful to provide a varied population. Fantasy worlds don’t need to have the same clusters of traits that we see in real-world experiences, but it’s also beneficial to use real-world clusters (diagnoses, both common and rare, and which vary by region or get organized differently by different cultures) to better understand the experiences of those around us, which again is why the tables allow you to “choose or roll.” Maybe you’ll do a little of both, or maybe you’ll use your first roll to find a real-world experience that includes that trait and learn more about it.

This suggestion also applies to the traits’ IEs and Frequencies. Instead of using tables to determine these, you may choose a frequency that ties into the narrative that you’re telling together, deciding in advance instead of leaving it to dice rolls.

Many people are afraid to represent these experiences in their games for fear of inaccuracy, but absence isn’t necessarily better, so we designed this book to get you started, to provide guidelines so you could feel free to add this inclusion creatively and respectfully.

Chance of Traits

15–20 percent of people worldwide in real life have some form of disability. In a world with less medical, therapeutic, and nutritional science but additional magic threats, the rate of disability is likely higher. GMs should decide the rate in the campaign world, but consider 20 percent to be the base rate. Roll 1d20, 1–4 indicating a disability. Any given population within that world should expect roughly the same percentage with possible variations based on environment and any number of other factors.

Number and Category of Traits

Many disabilities have multiple traits. Choose or roll on the following table to determine the number of traits your character has. If replicating a real-world cluster or more than one in the same character, you can increase or decrease the quantity.


d20Traits
1–71
8−122
13−153
16−174
18−195
206

Next, determine whether those traits are physical or mental. The first trait is equally likely to be physical or mental. (Roll d20: 1−10 = physical, 11–20 = mental) Subsequent traits are more likely to be in the same category, so add or subtract 2 cumulatively to the roll for the category of each additional trait. (e.g. 4 traits: First roll = 18 (mental), so the next roll would be 1–8 physical and 9–20 mental. Next roll = 10 (mental), so the next roll would be 1–6 physical and 7–20 mental. Next roll = 4 (physical), so the final roll would be 1–8 physical and 9–20 mental.) No matter how the range adjusts, a roll of 1 is always physical, and a 20 is always mental.

Impact Extent (IE)

Each trait can vary in the impact of its expression. Roll on the following table to determine the impact of each trait. See the individual trait descriptions for impact explanations. Unless otherwise stated in the description, any saving throws required by the adverse effects are DC 8 + (IE). Note that the term “impact” and the Extent labels are used for mechanical shorthand to cover a wide variety of traits, but these terms aren’t always appropriate descriptors for their real-world counterparts. Players are encouraged to use more accurate descriptors or just the mechanical number. (e.g. Many neurodiverse traits are not appropriately described as “Acute” or with negative connotations; sensory disabilities, such as visual impairment, may be better described as “Complete” at IE 4.) If a trait causes an additional experience without a listed IE, choose or roll on this table for the new experience’s IE.

Pushing Through and Masking

You can use significant effort and concentration to force yourself overcome the challenges associated with many traits, temporarily reducing the IE penalties of a trait by expending one Hit Die per IE until the end of the encounter or for 1 minute, whichever is longer. This only affects ability checks, not saving throws, and all rolls to maintain concentration while pushing through are made with disadvantage. You also have advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks to conceal your trait.


D20IE
1–9Mild (1)
10−15Moderate (2)
16−18Substantial (3)
19–20Total (4)

Frequency

Traits can come and go, sometimes appearing instantly and disappearing as quickly. Others appear and disappear gradually over the course of days. Some can disappear for months or years and suddenly manifest again, and some never go away. Choose or roll on the following table to determine the duration of each trait. (Note: This may not be applicable to many traits. e.g. missing limbs don’t generally come and go without magic. Players and GMs should use discretion for this table and see the trait description.)

All trait descriptions assume the effects only occur while the trait is active, unless otherwise noted.

Variant Rule: Plot Arc-Based Timing

For traits with Periodic Frequency or those that change over extended periods of time, instead of rolling for a number of days between changes or saving throws, depending on the trait description, make the change or roll based on the story arcs in your campaign, such as a climactic moment or after a major event when everyone is recovering. The players should decide how trait timing will be handled when implementing this system.


d20TimeFrequency
1Roll TwiceA trait may not fit one of these patterns exactly. Roll twice, and decide how they might combine, such as a trait that is Triggered but fluctuates in IE like Chronic or Frequent but only Periodic throughout a given day.
2RemissionThe trait begins absent. It will recur in 1d100 days, taking 1d4 days to reach full effect. On a roll of 95−100, roll again and add the rolls together, repeating for each roll of 95−100. At the end of the time period, the trait gradually disappears over 1d4 days, then roll the same way for the duration of remission.
3–7PeriodicThe trait fluctuates. It will recur in 1d20 days, rerolling cumulatively on a 20, taking 1d100 hours to reach full effect. On a roll of 95–100, roll again and add the rolls together, repeating for each roll of 95–100. At the end of the traits, they gradually disappear over 1d100 hours.
8−13TriggeredThe trait is triggered randomly or by one or more stimuli (or absence of a stimulus, like withdrawal) as determined by a discussion between the player and GM. The trait lasts as long as the stimulus is present plus 1d100 minutes, extended as above unless otherwise noted. (For absence of stimulus, the trait begins after 1d100 minutes and lasts until the stimulus is restored.) Note that some stimuli may be unknown to the character and seem random until discovering the triggering stimulus.
14−17FrequentThe trait occurs more often than not but has periods of inactivity. Roll 1d20 every morning. The trait is present all day unless rolling a 19 or 20.
18−19ChronicThe trait is always present, but if the Extent is more severe than mild, roll 1d20 each morning. The trait for the day is 1 Extent less on a roll of 15−19 and 2 Extents less on a roll of 20 with a minimum of mild.
20DegenerativeThe trait starts out Mild and gradually becomes Acute in 300d100 days. Once a degenerative trait becomes Acute, the character must succeed on seven daily DC 10 Constitution saving throws or gain a permanent level of exhaustion.Note: Degenerative conditions even in a fictional character, can be emotionally taxing. This RPG is a game, and such a bleak prognosis may take the fun out of the game, and this would work counter to the goal of this book, so the GM should always give a player the choice to reroll this result for the player’s own mental health.That said, the author's own father struggled with a degenerative disease for decades and lived with its accompanying disabilities, and he lived a heroic life in service to others. Many a tale can be told of heroes who finish their quest and ride off into the sunset, knowing their days are numbered, but that lives are meaningful however long they last. 

Variant Rule: Good and Bad Days

In addition to overall trends in Frequency, many Traits have a fluctuating IE. Roll 1d20 after a long rest for each applicable trait.

d20 Effect
1–7 Good Day: All IE-related penalties are reduced by 1 (Minimum 0)
8–17 No change
18–20 Bad Day: All IE-related penalties are increased by 1 (Maximum 4)

Trait Descriptions

Physical Traits

For each physical trait, choose or roll to determine appendage or organ system (50/50 chance for each). Then roll on the appropriate table.

Appendage


d20Appendage
1–2Face
3–5Ears (Roll again: 1−12 = 1 ear; 13–20 = 2 ears)
6–8Eyes (Roll again: 1−12 = 1 eye; 13–20 = 2 eyes)
9Nose
10−12Mouth
13Neck & Back
14−16Arms & Hands (Roll again: 1−12 = 1; 13–20 = 2)
17−19Legs & Feet (Roll again: 1−12 = 1; 13–20 = 2)
20Teeth

Face


d100Trait
1−10Diverse Face Shape
11–25Face Cleft
26–45Face Color Difference
46–60Face Paralysis
61–80Face Rash
81–85Tumor
86−100Face Tremor

Ear(s)


d20Trait
1Diverse Ear Shape
2Hyperacusis (sound sensitivity)
3Diplacusis (double hearing)
4–5Ear Discharge
6–7Dizziness
8−12Hearing Loss
13−15Ear Pain
16–20Tinnitus

Diverse Ear Shape

One or both of your ears has a shape that’s unusual for your ancestry. Choose or use the following table to determine the unusual shape and effects. This is a permanent condition.


d20Trait
1Diverse Ear Shape
2Hyperacusis (sound sensitivity)
3Diplacusis (double hearing)
4–5Ear Discharge
6–7Dizziness
8−12Hearing Loss
13−15Ear Pain
16–20Tinnitus


d20Ear Shape
1−10Miniature or Missing
11−12Dangling Earlobes
13−14Aquatic
15−16Musoid
17−18Fennec
19–20Forked

Discharge

A substance leaks out of your ears. Roll on the table below for the nature and effects of the substance.


d20Discharge
1Acid
2–6Blood
7Light
8−14Pus
15−16Smoke
17−19Sweat
20Venom

Eye(s)


d100Trait
01Akinetopsia
02Aquatic Vision
03–10Blindness
11−17Cataract
18Clairvoyance
19–24Colorblindness
25–29Discharge
30–32Eye Color Difference
33–34Ocular Diversity
35–39Eyelid Spasms
40Microvision
41–43Missing Eye
44–48Moisture Deficiency
49–54Night Blindness
55–59Eye Pain
60–62Partial Field Blindness/Agnosia
63–64Palinopsia
65Periscopic Vision
66–71Photosensitivity
72–93Refractive Difference
94–99Involuntary Eye Movement
00Thermal Vision

Discharge

A substance leaks out of your eyes. Roll on the table below for the nature and effects of the substance.


d20Discharge
1Acid
2–6Blood
7Ink
8–9Oil
10−15Pus
16−19Tears
20Venom

Eye Color Difference

Your eyes are colored outside the usual range of hues typical for your people according to the following table.


d20Eye Region
1–3Pupil
4−10Iris
11−17Sclera (Whites)
18–20Entire eye

Ocular Diversity

One or both of your eyes are shaped or located outside the range typical for your ancestry. Choose or roll on the following table. Note that this is usually a permanent condition and does not fluctuate, but the player and GM are welcome to determine a magical version that fluctuates based on the Frequency table above. Example stimuli include sunrise/sunset, seasons, or stress.


d20Ocular Diversity
1–3Location
4–5Eyelid Difference
6–8Bulging
9–10Sunken
11–13Oversized
14–15Undersized
16–19Pupil Difference
20Side Placement

Partial Field Blindness/Agnosia

You’re unable to see or recognize certain areas or features. Choose or roll on the following table.


d20Visual Difference
1–8Closed Angle Vision
9–14Open Angle Vision
15–16Humanoid Agnosia
17–18Animal Agnosia
19–20Topographical Agnosia

Humanoid Agnosia

You are unable to recognize a specific part of a humanoid body or distinguish it from others according to the following table.


d20Feature
1–8Face
9–10Fingers/hands/claws
11–13Hair
14–16Clothing
17–20Voice

Nose


d20Trait
1–8Anosmia
9−12Discharge
13−16Difference
17Horn Growth
18Hypersensitive Smell
19–20Nasal Echo

Nose Discharge

A substance leaks out of your nose. Roll on the table below for the nature and effects of the substance.


d20Discharge
1–3Blood
4Honey
5–10Mucus
11–13Pus
14Smoke
15–20Tears

Nose Difference


d100Difference
1–15Bulbous
16–26Enlarged
27–34Elongated
35–39Hanging
40–49Hooked
50–54Inverted nostrils
55–67Fissures
68–75Porcine
76–85Recessed
86–100Warped

Mouth Traits


d100Trait
01–05Dysgeusia
06–24Mouth Discharge
25–26Mouth Color Difference
27–31Mouth Difference
32–51Moisture Imbalance
54–55Mouth Deterioration
56–65Mouth Pain
66–95Speech Impediment
96–100Tongue Difference

Dysgeusia


d20Taste Alteration
1–5Amplification
6–10Disruption
11–13Discrimination Modification
14–20Sensitivity

Sensitivity


d6Taste
1Sweet
2Sour
3Bitter
4Salty
5–6Spicy

Mouth Discharge


d20Discharge
1–4Blood
5Cold
6Fire
7Gas
8–11Mucus
12–19Saliva
20Smoke

Mouth Difference


d100Mouth Difference
1–15Chin Shape Difference
16–27Jaw Dislocation
28–37Lip Absence
38–42Minimal Opening
43–48Mouth Location Difference
49–63Misaligned Jaw
64–78Oversized Mouth
79–100Tooth Difference

Chin Shape Difference


d20Chin Shape
1–4Bulbous
5–6Curled
7–8Forked
9–13Missing
14–18Oversized
19–20Pointed

Tongue Difference


d20Difference
1–6Extended
7–9Forked
10–16Minimal
17Prehensile
18Proboscis
19Symbiotic
20Vampiric

Neck & Back


d100Trait
01−15Spine Difference
16–30Growth
31–32Neck Length Difference
33–57Pain
58–60Ridges
61–62Spina Bifida
63–89Neck/Back Stiffness
90–94Swallowing Difficulty
95–96Tail Difference
97–100Vocal Cord Difference

Vocal Cord Differences


d20Vocal Cord Difference
1–4Noisy Breathing
5Pitch Irregularity
6Reverberation
7–10Silent
11–16Uncontrolled Volume
17–20Wheezing

Uncontrolled Volume


IELoud VoiceQuiet Voice
1Conversational volume; can’t talk quieterConversational volume; can’t talk louder
2Always project your voiceAlways mumble
3Always yell as loud as possibleAlways whisper
4Always talk louder than humanly possibleAlways whisper so quietly that enhanced hearing or very close proximity is needed to hear

Arm(s) & Hand(s)


d100Trait
1–8Finger Difference
9–12Hypersensitivity
13–22Missing Arm or Hand
23–32Muscle Control
33–42Pain
43–52Arm/Hand Paralysis & Numbness
53–72Arm/Hand Stiffness
73–77Strength Control
78–92Hand Tremor
93–100Weakness

Finger Difference


d20Finger Difference
1–4Shape Diversity
5–8Missing Fingers
9–10Overgrowth
11–13Polydactyly
14–15Syndactyly
16Talons
17–18Undergrowth
19–20Webbed

Leg(s) & Foot (/Feet)


d100Trait
01−10Atypical Toes
11–20Difference
21Hypersensitivity
22–31Missing
32–41Muscle Control & Gait Difference
42–60Leg/Foot Pain
61–70Leg/Foot Paralysis & Numbness
71–85Lower Body Stiffness
86–95Leg Tremor
96–100Leg Weakness

Toe Difference


d20Toe Difference
1–3Atypically-shaped
4–10Missing toes
11–12Overgrowth
13–14Polydactyly
15–16Syndactyly
17Talons
18–19Undergrowth
20Webbed

Foot Difference


d20Foot Difference
1–7Arch Irregularity
8–9Claw Heel
10–13Clubfoot
14Hooves
15Prehensile Feet
16–20Toe Walking

Teeth


d20Trait
1–2Discoloration
3–6Difference
7−13Missing
14–20Pain

Tooth Difference


d20Tooth Difference
1–6Buck Teeth
7–8Fangs
9–14Oversized
15Sabertooth
16Shark Teeth
17Tusks
18–20Undersized

Organ System


d100Organ System
01−10Skeletal
11–25Nervous
26–35Muscular
36–47Endocrine
48–62Immune
63–77Cardiovascular/Circulatory
78–91Integumentary
92−100Digestive

Skeletal


d20Trait
1–4Altered Growth
5–7Calcification
8–10Skeletal Difference
11–16Dislocation
17–19Disproportionate Growth
20Flexibility

Skeletal Difference


d10Area
1–2Ribs
3–6Arm
7−10Leg

Dislocation


d10Joint Dislocation
1Finger
2–3Shoulder
4–5Ribs
6Knee
7Elbow
8–9Hip
10Jaw

Disproportionate Growth


d20Shortened Area
1–4Trunk
5–7Arms & Hands
8–10Legs & Feet
11–13Arms
14–16Legs
17–20Head

Head. The reduced size of your head causes (IE) other traits according to the following table, each with its own IE.


d6Trait
1Seizures
2Intellectual Disability
3−(IE) on Dexterity checks to balance
4Swallowing Difficulties
5Hearing Loss
6Refractory Issues

Neurological Differences


d100Trait
01Anosognosia
02Aphantasia
03–04Apraxia
05Asomatognosia
06–08Brain Fog
09−15Fainting
16–29Fatigue
30–32Fever
33–34Language Processing
35–40Memory Loss
41–51Pain
52–58Seizures
59–61Sensory Processing Difference
62–74Sleep Disruptions
75–77Slow Movement
78–87Social Communication Disability
88–89Spatial Neglect
90–91Special Interest
92–93Stimulus Processing Disability
94–95Synesthesia
96–100Unrelated Stimulus Reflex

Apraxia


d10Apraxia
1Conceptual
2–3Buccofacial
4Limb-Kinetic (Arm)
5Limb-Kinetic (Leg)
6Ideomotor
7Ideational
8Verbal
9Constructional
10Oculomotor

Language Processing

You have trouble communicating using language, including speaking, understanding, and writing. Choose or roll on the following table. You have 1d6 of the following patterns.


d20Language Processing Expression
1–5Dysgraphia
6Reiterative Agraphia
7Specialist Agraphia
8Dysexecutive Agraphia
9Apraxic Agraphia
10Lexical Agraphia
11Semantic Agraphia
12Phonological Agraphia
13Visuospatial Agraphia
14Alexia
15–16Expressive Aphasia
17Receptive Aphasia
18Anomic Aphasia
19–20Global Aphasia

Memory Loss


d10Symptom
1–2Anterograde Amnesia
3–6Retrograde Amnesia
7Dissociative Fugue
8–0Traumatic Amnesia

Pain


d10Pain Experience
1–5Chronic Pain
6–9Hyperalgesia
10Hypoalgesia

Seizures


d100Seizure Type
1–40Focal Aware Seizures
41–60Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures
61–67Absence Seizures
68–77Myoclonic Seizures
78–82Clonic Seizures
83–88Tonic Seizures
89–93Atonic Seizures
94–100Tonic Clonic Seizures

  • Focal Aware Seizures. You have a strange feeling for (IE)d20 seconds resulting in one of the following experiences.


d8Experience
1Nausea
2Unusual smell or taste: You smell or taste something with no known source. You have a −(IE) penalty on all Wisdom (Perception) checks related to smell and taste for the duration.
3Amplified Emotion (equally likely enjoyable or uncomfortable)
4Myoclonic Seizure in one random arm
5Numbness in one random limb
6Feeling like one random limb is larger or smaller than it actually is: you have a −(IE) penalty on all Dexterity attack rolls; ability checks; and saving throws with that limb for the duration.
7Perception of colored or flashing lights: You have a −(IE) penalty on all Wisdom (Perception) checks involving vision
8Hallucination

Sensory Processing Difference


d6Sensory Processing Pattern
1Sensory Over-Responsivity
2Sensory Under-Responsivity
3Sensory Craving
4Vestibular Difference
5Dyspraxia
6Sensory Discrimination Difference

Sensory Discrimination Difference. You have trouble determining variation in 1d4 subtypes of sensory input. Choose or roll on the following table.


d8SDD Subtype
1Auditory
2Visual
3Tactile
4Vestibular
5Olfactory
6Gustatory
7Proprioception
8Interoception

Sleep Disruptions


d100Sleep Disruption
1–6Confusional Arousals
7Exploding Head
8–17Hypersomnolence
18–40Insomnia
41–44Night Terrors
45–50Nightmares
51–52Sleep Aggression
53–55Sleep Behaviors
56–60Sleep Enuresis
61–62Sleep Paralysis
63Sleep Sorcery
64–86Sleep-Related Breathing Disruption
87–88Sleep-Related Hallucinations
89–93Sleep-Related Movements
94–97Sleep-Wake Disruptions
98–100Sleepwalking

  • Sleep-Wake Disruption Your internal sleep clock does not correspond to your intended pattern. If you cannot follow your internal pattern, follow the rules for Insomnia accordingly.


d101d10 if you have IE 4 BlindnessSleep-Wake Disruption
1–41–3Irregular Rhythm
5–94–7Delayed Phase
108–10Non-synchronized Circadian Rhythm

Spatial Neglect

  • Axis you neglect half of your perceptive field, according to the following table.


1d10Neglected Half
1–4Left
5–8Right
9Top
10Bottom

Sense Processing Difference


d10Sense
1–3Sight
4–7Hearing
8–9Touch
10Smell & Taste

Synesthesia


d6Sense
1Vision
2Hearing
3Touch
4Smell/Taste
5Proprioception (movement)
6Mirror

Muscular


d20Trait
01−10Cramps
11–14Fine Motor Control Loss
15–17Gross Motor Control Loss
18–19Hiccups
20Paradoxical Myotonia

Endocrine Differences


d20Trait
1–3Agitation
4–5Delayed puberty
6–8Diabetes
9Infertility
10Intersex
11–14Temperature Intolerance
15–16Vertigo
17–20Weight Difference

Diabetes


d10Effect
1–4Hyperglycemia
5–6Hypoglycemia
7–10Both

Immune System


d20Trait
1−10Allergies
11−12Atraitatic Disease Carrier
13–20Immunocompromised
20Paradoxical Reaction

Allergies


d4Allergy
1Food Allergy
2Venom Allergy
3Airborne Allergy
4Contact Allergy


IEIngestedInjectedContactInhaled
1Rash+10% DamageRashEye Discharge or Nose Discharge
2Nausea+20% DamageRash + Eye Discharge or Nose DischargeRash + Eye Discharge or Nose Discharge
3Fatigue + Nausea+20% Damage + FaintingRash + NauseaShortness of Breath
4Gain 1 level of exhaustion per roundGain 1 level of exhaustion per roundGain 1 level of exhaustion per roundGain 1 level of exhaustion per round

Paradoxical Reaction


d20Effect
1Double Desired Effect
2–3Opposite Effect
4Random Physical (Appendage) Trait
5–7Random Nervous System Trait
8–9Random Muscular System Trait
10–11Random Endocrine System Trait
12Random Immune System Trait
13–15Random Cardiovascular/Circulatory System Trait
16Random Integumentary System Trait
17–18Random Digestive System Trait
19–20Random Complication

Cardiovascular / Circulatory


d20Trait
1Unique Blood Content
2Hemophilia
3–11Hypertension
12−17Shortness of Breath
18–20Vasospasm

Unique Blood Content


d20Unique Blood Content
1–3Acid
4–5Chlorocruorin
6–7Coboglobin
8Combustible
9–12Erythrocruorin
13–14Hemerythrin
15–17Hemocyanin
18–20Vanabins
20Volatile Liquid

Integumentary


d100Trait
01–04Chronic Acne
05–10Discoloration
11–13Keratin Distribution Difference
14–16Nails Difference
17−21Sweat Difference
22–28Blistering
29–43Hair Growth Differences
44–45Hair Material Difference
46–60Fissures
61–67Hyperelasticity
68–74Paresthesia & Phantom Pain
75–100Rash

Chronic Acne


1d20Discharge
1Acid
2–8Blood
9Honey
10–12Oil
13–19Pus
20Venom

Sweat Difference


1d20Discharge
1Acid
2–8Blood
9Honey
10–12Oil
13–19Pus
20Venom

Hair Growth Differences

You have reduced (70%) or excessive (30%) hair growth relative to your ancestry. Choose or roll on the following table.


IEReducedAdditional (Cumulative)
1Missing 50%+ of hair on top of headBody hair noticeably thicker than average
2Bald headNoticeable hair growth in unusual places
3No hair on face & headThick fast-growing facial hair
4No hair on bodyBody; including face; covered in thick hair except nose; palms; & soles

Hair Material Difference


d20Hair Material
1–4Bone
5–6Crystal
7Fire
8–10Moss
11–12Smoke
13–14Spores
15Tendrils
16–18Vines
19–20Webs

Digestive


d100Trait
01–15Acid Reflux
16–30Constipation
31–47Diarrhea
48–80Food Intolerance
81–87Incontinence
98–100Pervasive Hunger

Food Intolerance

Your body is unable to digest certain foods or ingredients, causing (IE) of the following traits. This trait time is always Triggered.


d10Trait
1Abdominal Cramps
2Acid Reflux
3Baseless Emotion
4Constipation
5Diarrhea
6Fatigue
7Nausea
8Rash
9Shortness of Breath
10Lower Body Stiffness

Examples of foods causing this reaction include (but are not limited to) the following.


d10Food
1Caffeine
2Dairy
3Egg whites
4Fermentable Oligosaccharides; Disaccharides and Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAPs)
5Fructose
6Gluten
7Histamine
8Salicylates
9Sulfites
10Yeast

Mental Traits


d100Trait
01Animated Hand
02–04Alleviation Behavior
05–07Amplified Emotion
08Anhedonia
09–11Attention Difference
12–14Baseless Emotion
15–16Confusion
17–18Delusions
19Depersonalization
20Derealization
21–25Diminished Motivation
26–30Disinhibited Social Engagement
31–34Eating Disruption
35–37Emotion Fluctuation
38Plurality
39–42Executive Dysfunction
43–44Hallucinations
45–46Intellectual Disability
47Intrusive Thoughts
48–59Learning Difference
60Obsessive Thoughts
61Personality Difference
62–78Phobia
79–83Repetitive Movement
84–90Startle Amplification
91–95Stimulus Avoidance
96–100Traumatic Flashbacks

Alleviation Behavior


d100Stimulus
1–6Aggression
7–10Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior
11–18Cleanliness
19–26Exercising
27–31Gambling
32–33Harm
34–36Hoarding
37–38Hyperawareness
39Kleptomania
40Magic
41–44Material Order
45–47Moral Scrupulosity
48–51Perfectionism
52Pyromania
53–54Real Event
55–57Reassurance Seeking
58–61Ritual Order
62–64Sensory Stimulation
65Shapeshifting
66–71Shopping
72–73Spiritual Obsession
74–90Substance
91–00Workaholism

Baseless Emotion


d10Feeling
1Dread
2Guilt
3Hopelessness
4Irritability
5Loss of Interest
6Panic/Nervousness
7Restlessness
8Suspicion
9Worrying
10Worthlessness

Delusions


d100Delusion
1–6Atmosphere
7–11Awareness
12–17Control
18–22Dysmorphopsia
23–29Erotomantic
30–37Grandiose
38–44Ideas
45–48Imposter
49–55Intensity
56–63Jealousy
64Macropsia
65Macrosomatognosia
66–71Memory
72Micropsia
73Microsomatognosia
74–75Pelopsia
76–82Persecutory
83–88Reference
89–96Somatic
97–98Teleopsia
99–00Quick-motion phenomenon

Eating Disruption


d20Trait
1–4Anorexia
5–7Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake
8–11Binge Eating
12–14Bulimia
15–16Night Eating
17–18Orthorexia
19Pica
20Rumination

Emotion Fluctuation


IEFrequencyDuration
1Every 18d20 days2d8 + 5 days
2Every 9d20 days3d8 + 5 days
3Every 2d20 days4d8 + 5 days
4Every 1d20 days5d8 + 5 days

Hallucinations


d20Sense
1–6Auditory
7–8Gustatory
9–11Olfactory
12–15Tactile
16–20Visual

Learning Difference


1d20Learning Difference
1-5Dyscalculia
6-17Dyslexia
18Dysorientia
19-20Visual Processing

Personality Difference


d100Trait
1–4Anhedonia
5–11Anxiousness
12–14Attention Seeking
15–19Callousness
20–22Cognitive and Perceptual Dysregulation
23–27Deceitfulness
28–31Depressivity
32–34Distractibility
35–37Eccentricity
38–44Grandiosity
45–49Hostility
50–52Impulsivity
53–55Intimacy Avoidance
56–60Irresponsibility
61–65Manipulativeness
66–68Perseveration
69–72Restricted Affectivity
73–81Rigid Perfectionism
82–84Risk Taking
85–86Separation Insecurity
87–88Submissiveness
89–94Suspiciousness
95–97Unusual Beliefs and Experiences
98–00Withdrawal

Phobia


document.getElementById("generate-phobia").addEventListener("click", function() { var phobias = [ "Biomophobia: a specific biome", "Topophobia: a specific location or places like it", "Numerophobia: a specific number", "Ektropophobia: aberrations", "Batrachophobia: amphibians and frog-like creatures", "Thymomenophobia: angry people", "Kallitechnophobia: aristocrats and royalty", "Panoplophobia: armor", "Anthropozoophobia: beast-like humanoids", "Zoophobia: beasts", "Autophobia: being alone", "Catagelophobia: being ridiculed", "Scoptophobia: being stared at", "Aphenphosmphobia: being touched", "Ornithophobia: birds", "Hemophobia: blood", "Bibliophobia: books and scrolls", "Toxophobia: bows and other stringed weapons", "Gephyrophobia: bridges", "Zootryponophobia: burrowing creatures", "Koumpounophobia: buttons", "Wiccaphobia: casters", "Ailurophobia: cats", "Angelophobia: celestials", "Pedophobia: children", "Politophobia: cities", "Ierotikophobia: clerics and clergy", "Kibotophobia: closed containers", "Coulrophobia: clowns", "Trypophobia: clusters of small holes", "Claustrophobia: confined spaces", "Kataskeniphobia: constructs", "Chromozoophobia: creatures of a certain color", "Cornophobia: creatures with horns or antlers", "Pterophobia: creatures with quills and spikes", "Plokamophobia: creatures with tentacles", "Pterugophobia: creatures with wings", "Achluophobia: darkness", "Necrophobia: death or dead things", "Dinosaurophobia: dinosaurs", "Cynophobia: dogs", "Draconophobia: dragons", "Pogonophobia: dwarves", "Stoicheiodiphobia: elementals", "Xotikophobia: elves", "Basophobia: falling", "Neraidophobia: fey creatures", "Daemonophobia: fiends", "Pyrophobia: fire", "Anthophobia: flowers", "Pteromerhanophobia: flying", "Megalophobia: giants", "Nanophobia: gnomes", "Misophobia: halflings", "Acrophobia: heights", "Domatophobia: houses", "Automatonophobia: human-like figures", "Entomophobia: insects", "Astynomiophobia: law enforcement officers", "Technourgimophobia: magic items", "Stratiotophobia: martial classes", "Androphobia: men", "Catoptrophobia: mirrors", "Pithikophobia: monkeys and ape-like creatures", "Teratourgimophobia: monstrosities", "Aichmophobia: needles or pointed objects", "Trypanophobia: needles/injections", "Arithmophobia: numbers", "Chromophobia: one or more colors", "Kalikantzarophobia: one or more monstrous humanoid races such as orcs or goblinoids", "Laspophobia: oozes", "Agoraphobia: open spaces or crowds", "Algophobia: pain", "Anthropophobia: people or society", "Botanophobia: plants", "Herpetophobia: reptiles", "Amaxophobia: riding in a cart or carriage", "Pontikiphobia: rodents", "Katergarophobia: rogues", "Metamorphophobia: shapeshifters", "Microphobia: small animals", "Ophidiophobia: snakes", "Chionophobia: snow and ice", "Glossophobia: speaking in public", "Arachnophobia: spiders", "Bathmophobia: stairs or steep slopes", "Xenophobia: strangers or foreigners", "Sminophobia: swarms", "Noctiphobia: the night", "Tonitrophobia: thunder", "Astraphobia: thunder and lightning", "Chronophobia: time (deadlines and schedules)", "Lilapsophobia: tornadoes and hurricanes", "Haphephobia: touch", "Dendrophobia: trees", "Cacophobia: ugliness", "Apethanatophobia: undead", "Hydrophobia: water", "Aerophobia: wind", "Gynophobia: women" ]; var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) + 1; var result = phobias[randomNumber - 1]; document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = result; });


d100PhobiaStimulus
1Biomophobiaa specific biome
2Topophobiaa specific location or places like it
3Numerophobiaa specific number
4Ektropophobiaaberrations
5Batrachophobiaamphibians and frog-like creatures
6Thymomenophobiaangry people
7Kallitechnophobiaaristocrats and royalty
8Panoplophobiaarmor
9Anthropozoophobiabeast-like humanoids
10Zoophobiabeasts
11Autophobiabeing alone
12Catagelophobiabeing ridiculed
13Scoptophobiabeing stared at
14Aphenphosmphobiabeing touched
15Ornithophobiabirds
16Hemophobiablood
17Bibliophobiabooks and scrolls
18Toxophobiabows and other stringed weapons
19Gephyrophobiabridges
20Zootryponoburrowing creatures
21Koumpounophobiabuttons
22Wiccaphobiacasters
23Ailurophobiacats
24Angelophobiacelestials
25Pedophobiachildren
26Politophobiacities
27Ierotikophobiaclerics and clergy
28Kibotophobiaclosed containers
29Coulrophobiaclowns
30Trypophobiaclusters of small holes
31Claustrophobiaconfined spaces
32Kataskeniphobiaconstructs
33Chromozoophobiacreatures of a certain color
34Cornophobiacreatures with horns or antlers
35Pterophobiacreatures with quills and spikes
36Plokamophobiacreatures with tentacles
37Pterugophobiacreatures with wings
38Achluophobiadarkness
39Necrophobiadeath or dead things
40Dinosaurophobiadinosaurs
41Cynophobiadogs
42Draconophobiadragons
43Pogonophobiadwarves
44Stoicheiodiphobiaelementals
45Xotikophobiaelves
46Basophobiafalling
47Neraidophobiafey creatures
48Daemonophobiafiends
49Pyrophobiafire
50Anthophobiaflowers
51Pteromerhanophobiaflying
52Megalophobiagiants
53Nanophobiagnomes
54Misophobiahalflings
55Acrophobiaheights
56Domatophobiahouses
57Automatonophobiahuman-like figures
58Entomophobiainsects
59Astynomiophobialaw enforcement officers
60Technourgimophobiamagic items
61Stratiotophobiamartial classes
62Androphobiamen
63Catoptrophobiamirrors
64Pithikophobiamonkeys and ape-like creatures
65Teratourgimophobiamonstrosities
66Aichmophobianeedles or pointed objects
67Trypanophobianeedles/injections
68Arithmophobianumbers
69Chromophobiaone or more colors
70Kalikantzarophobiaone or more monstrous humanoid races such as orcs or goblinoids
71Laspophobiaoozes
72Agoraphobiaopen spaces or crowds
73Algophobiapain
74Anthropophobiapeople or society
75Botanophobiaplants
76Herpetophobiareptiles
77Amaxophobiariding in a cart or carriage
78Pontikiphobiarodents
79Katergarophobiarogues
80Metamorphophobiashapeshifters
81Microphobiasmall animals
82Ophidiophobiasnakes
83Chionophobiasnow and ice
84Glossophobiaspeaking in public
85Arachnophobiaspiders
86Bathmophobiastairs or steep slopes
87Xenophobiastrangers or foreigners
88Sminophobiaswarms
89Noctiphobiathe night
90Tonitrophobiathunder
91Astraphobiathunder and lightning
92Chronophobiatime (deadlines and schedules)
93Lilapsophobiatornadoes and hurricanes
94Haphephobiatouch
95Dendrophobiatrees
96Cacophobiaugliness
97Apethanatophobiaundead
98Hydrophobiawater
99Aerophobiawind
100Gynophobiawomen






Limitless Heroics for 5e (Disability, Neurodiversity, Mental illness Mechanics for DnD)

Book & Kindle displaying cover: As our heroes fight the hydra, we see just some of the variety of symptoms represented in this book. The paladin has a prosthetic arm to assist with their amputation. The barbarian rages from their wheelchair, providing mobility for their paralyzed legs. The ranger, whose body is more accustomed to an aquatic environment just as someone in the real world may be more comfortable in a quieter or darker sensory environment, finds ways to compensate and keep fighting. The wizard’s vitiligo may not be thought of as a disability, nor should it be, yet many in the real world experience severe discrimination due to unusual skin pigment — how many celebrities, corporate executives, or politicians do you know with visibly irregular skin?

When you play a tabletop role-playing game like 5e, you want to be the hero. The world is different for you having been there, better. What if you could make the real world better by playing an RPG?! That’s what Limitless Heroics is all about. Limitless Heroics is the most comprehensive disability compendium ever created for a Tabletop Role-Playing GameFor Fifth Edition, it provides:

  • 640 Pages of content!
  • 450+ Traits: Game mechanics for nearly every condition or trait in existence (plus some fantasy traits, because that’s what you should expect in a world with magic) with 4 Impact Extents, and 6 Frequencies. With 1–6 traits per character (or more), that’s 64,800+ combinations with the option to add more. (Free Sample Trait: Blindness)
  •  78 Random tables to choose or generate the traits, their Impact Extent, and their frequency (Get a free ashcan sample with all the tables from the book.)
  •  200+ New Magic Items and an online random generator for thousands more! Nearly every trait includes mundane and magic assistive options. (Free Sample Assistive Magic Item: Braces of Blades
  •  4 New Monster Stat Blocks because sometimes, the disability or assistive device is a creature.
  •  6 New Spells because sometimes, assistance comes from a spellbook
  • Service animals designed as classes (similar to sidekicks)
  • 50 Example NPCs, fully illustrated, ready to use
  • A one-shot adventure
  •  Thousands of real world examples so players can learn more and better represent the traits
  •  Tutorials: Opening articles discuss how and why to implement these options, how to discuss it with your players, and common tropes to avoid. You have all the tools here to run an inclusive campaign. 

Our website will have a free random generator to simplify determining character traits, but you’ll need the book for the descriptions and mechanics, or you can use the included tables to choose or roll manually.

We talked to dozens of people with diverse conditions to make sure our game mechanics represented their experiences before writing it, and over 900 people looked at the manuscript draft, and we got 90 pages of feedback from their experiences!

All writers, editors, and artists hired for this book are disabled, neurodivergent, and/or have mental or chronic illness. 

Book Accessibility

  • Dyslexia-friendly layout
  • PDF, txt/csv, and ePub versions
  • Fully screen reader accessible
  • Indexed audio version included with every purchase


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Real World Benefits

We believe that this resource will help you normalize disabilities in your life and the lives of other players. Non-disabled people can sometimes feel uncomfortable around disabled people or don’t know how to talk or act.  This resource allows you to practice in an imaginary world to equip you with empathy and skills to feel increasingly comfortable doing that in the real world.And those with disabilities now have a way to represent their experience in-game to feel empowered and to help others see them more clearly.Imagine what we could communicate to the world when all those actual play Twitch streams include disabled characters!

This is a movement.

Limitless Heroics is more than an RPG book. It’s a petition. By supporting this project, you communicate to every game publisher on earth that disabled people exist and can easily be included in their games, that the customers want that representation, and that accessibility and representation are necessary core features for future products.Imagine companies and organizations seeing the success of this movement beyond the RPG community and how that would affect their decisions in the future. Imagine how you as RPG players who work in every industry can work for change to overcome ableism because of what you and your players learned while rolling dice at the RPG table.Imagining is what we do best, but we can use fantasy to change reality. Maybe RPGs have some real world magic after all. Support this project with the 2,287 backers and others who ordered it since, and mark this day on your calendar and social media as the day you helped change the world.

About the Players Edition

The Players Edition of Limitless Heroics includes everything in the full book except the adventure, magic items, and NPCs, reducing the size and associated costs by 346 pages. If you plan to use these resources in settings where you need multiple copies (e.g. schools, clinics, community organizations, etc.), this will save you some money.

We met these stretch goals, all of which are included.

$25,000: Complications & Prostheses

Once we hit the $25,000 goal, we added additional complications and magical prosthetics. Some experiences are not traits of various conditions, but complications that result from them, such as infections, concussions, secondary depression, and intoxication. Once we hit this goal, we added 20 complications to the book and 20 Magical Prostheses.

$30,000: 10 NPCs

Similar to our previously published Disabled NPC of the Week but with more details, our character team added 10 NPCs (Non-Player Characters) with full backgrounds, personality details, disabilities, and artwork to the book. These are in addition to the characters created for the Create a Character and DELUXE Create a Character rewards and add-ons, which will be included automatically.

$40,000: The Horror of the Shade

$40,000: One-Shot Adventure: Horror of the Shade by Theo Kogod

When a caravan makes camp in the shadow of crumbling ruins, they awaken an ancient revenant and are transported to a dark eldritch dimension. To escape back to the physical world, they will need to fight their way past the undead shade or risk being trapped forever.

$50,000: Service Animals 

We included a chapter to implement service animals into your game, both real world and fantasy animals, including rules for training and how to use them. This section is written by Brittney Hay with service animal trainer and user consultation.

Content Warning

This book contains descriptions and game mechanics for nearly every physical, mental, and emotional condition in existence and a few that don’t exist, including physical, mental, and emotional trauma and all manner of illnesses, including an entry on phobias and mention or illustrations of possible phobic triggers. If it can happen to your mind and/or body, it’s probably here. For those who would have difficulty with any of that, please be aware of that likelihood. Use the table of contents to avoid difficult sections, or give this book to a trusted friend, and let them comb through it for the details you need to build your character while skipping past the traumatic entries.

Creators

Dale Critchley (Owner, Wyrmworks Publishing) Primary author of Limitless Heroics, Dale Critchley is the owner, lead writer, and chief tea drinker at Wyrmworks Publishing. He’s been playing tabletop role-playing games since 1982 and launched Wyrmworks Publishing as a hobby in 2000 to share his homebrew resources with the world. In 2021, after seeing the power that a TTRPG group can have to change the lives of the participants for the better, he rededicated Wyrmworks Publishing to focus on using TTRPGs to intentionally improve the lives of others and turned a hobby into a full time pursuit. 

Beth the Bard, Layout Editor is the author of “She is the Ancient: A Genderbent Curse of Strahd” guidebook, now a Platinum best-seller on DMs Guild. She’s also a general TTRPG writer, graphic designer, and professional dungeon master.

Joie Martin, Cover Layout & Layout Contributor owns Drowning Moon Studios, a roleplaying game publisher that has produced over a dozen titles and two anthologies since being founded in 2017. They have been writing, developing, editing, and doing layout and graphic design for tabletop and live action roleplaying games since 1996. Beyond roleplaying games, Joie has produced content for a variety of markets, including ARGs, interactive theater, and immersive experiences. They have been a key speaker on panels about roleplaying game design at events such as DragonConMomoCon, and Metatopia, and was Head Judge for the 2020 IDGN Indie Groundbreaker Awards.

Naomi Hazlett: Copy Editor, Sensitivity ConsultantNaomi Hazlett, Bsc., MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.) is a writer, editor, and occupational therapist with chronic pain. She is neurodiverse, queer, and lives with chronic pain and mental illness. Her work has most recently focused on social accountability, diversity, and inclusion in occupational therapy and gaming, including the adoption of a critical disability lens. Naomi has played and run TTRPGs for over 20 years; she has worked with organizations including Level Up Gaming, BALANCE for Blind Adults, and LOFT Community Services to run accessible TTRPGs, and consults for D&D Beyond. Naomi has multiple publications in academic journals, magazines, blogs, and poetry collections, and is currently the Managing Editor of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists’ national magazine, Occupational Therapy Now. She can be found online at @naomi_hazlett or can be reached via email

Melissa Critchley, Sensitivity Consultant, lives with multiple disabilities.  She has worked in the disability field for over 15 years and holds a graduate level certificate in Disability Policy and Services from the University of Minnesota in addition to her interdisciplinary master’s degree. She also recently completed an advanced certificate in Equity and Diversity and is an advocate for social justice and equitable societal change.Melissa has played quite a few tabletop RPG games through the decades which include Shadowrun, BESM, D20 Modern, Mutants and Masterminds, and Star Wars.  However until we were confined to our homes during Covid quarantines, Melissa hated D&D.  A good friend invited her to play over Discord, and despite her objections, convinced her that she “never had him as a DM.” It didn’t take long before she changed her mind about D&D, and it’s now her favorite game.

Simone Arnold, Sensitivity Consultant, Character Creation Team Simone Arnold MA, Certified Geek Therapist, is a neurodivergent, queer clinical mental health counselor in the state of Vermont. They have been working in the mental health field since 2013 across a variety of settings including as a crisis clinician and currently as a counselor at a designated agency. Through this they’ve had the opportunity to work with people across the disability spectrum. They are also establishing their own private practice that is queer friendly with a special focus on ADHD and Autism. Simone has been gaming since 2012 and has had the opportunity to play across an array of systems including D&D 5e, Pathfinder, Dread, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Call of Cthulhu and more.

Matthew Rickmon, Sensitivity Consultant, Character Creation Team, Certified Therapeutic Game Master, owns Tabletop For Growth (IGTwitter), a business dedicated to helping people learn interpersonal skills and develop core values through interactive tabletop games. Matthew has a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Master of Divinity with a focus in pastoral counseling. He is a Certified Therapeutic Game Master and Certified Geek Specialist through Geek Therapeutics. He lives with multiple chronic illnesses: Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel, and Psoriasis. He also strongly suspects he is neurodivergent. Matthew has been writing stories and running in-person and live-streamed tabletop roleplaying games from his home in California since 2019. Beyond running roleplaying games, he maintains a strong partnership with The Erika Legacy Foundation, a mental health awareness and suicide prevention non-profit in Canada. Painting and writing tend to take up his free time when he’s not being yelled at by his cat, Mr. Fox, for more pets.

Theo Kogod

Theo Kogod is a genderfluid writer, editor, educator, and activist. Diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, Theo learned to read at the age of ten, then attempted writing their first novel a year later. They have written for numerous publications, including the websites CBR, Screen Rant, The Gamer, and The Comics Vault, as well as the podcast Enter the Fanboy. In 2014, Theo helped found the magazine 3 Feet Left as its Resident Writer. Their fiction has been published in Diabolical PlotsStarward Shadows, and the cli-fi anthology A Flash of Silver Green: Stories of the Nature of Cities 2099, among other places. They are a lifelong storyteller and nerd who has been running D&D and other tabletop RPGs for over 15 years. You can find them at @TKogod

Brittney Hay is a non-binary ENNIE-nominated bestselling TTRPG writer and creator. They are a full-time geeky nerd mom who enjoys reading, cooking and all things nerdy.

Amy Weisner

Amy Weisner is a second year occupational therapy student at the University of Toronto. She has been playing TTRPGs for the past five years, including D&D 5e, Call of Cthulhu, and most recently the Avatar TTRPG. She has a degree in Child and Youth Care, and has worked in many settings and roles including community outreach and within the school systems. Through her experience, she has worked with individuals from all walks of life, including people from across the spectrum of disability and mental health. Amy is a passionate advocate, with experience presenting on social justice issues  and advocating for clients. She has most recently begun a fieldwork placement with OT Naomi Hazlett at Level Up Gaming, assisting with running therapeutic TTRPGs for neurodiverse young adults and working on projects to make TTRPGs more accessible.

Artists

We intentionally assembled an eclectic team of artists to reflect the diversity of experiences and expressions of these conditions:

Kalman Andrasofszky (Insta) is a freelance illustrator, comic book artist, writer, and educator in Toronto, a longtime member of the R.A.I.D. Studio, and newly diagnosed with ADHD. In 20+ years as a creative professional, Kalman has worked with many clients such as Marvel Entertainment, DC Comics, Wizards of the Coast, Shaftesbury Films, UNESCO, Portfolio Entertainment, and TekSavvy, among others, creating content for such brands as X-Men, Avengers, Batman, Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, Murdoch Mysteries, and PG: Psycho Goreman. Kalman reinvigorated the classic Canadian superhero property Captain Canuck by both rebooting and adding many new concepts and characters to significantly expand the scope of the brand into a dynamic sci-fi shared universe. When not writing and drawing too many things at once, Kalman can be found retro-gaming on his vintage SEGA Genesis system.

Additional Artists

Additional Sensitivity Consultants

In addition to our primary sensitivity consultants, we discussed traits and game mechanics with hundreds of others as part of the research for this book to reflect their lived experiences as closely as possible. That list is too long to include here, but many of their names are included in the book’s credits, and we can’t express enough how grateful we are for their help.

Press

We appreciate all who have helped us get the word out about this project on podcasts and in the press.


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Gaining Advantage 010: Gaining Access to RPGs with @AccessibleGames

Gaining Advantage: Making Lives Better through tabletop role-playing games; Wyrmworks Publishing Logo; Disability symbol with wheelchair wheel replaced by d20; Brain with embedded d20; Accessible Gaming logo

What makes a tabletop role-playing game accessible, both to players and characters? We welcome Jacob Wood, owner of Accessible Games, to discuss that question.

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 02:10 Jacob Wood
  • 24:41 Wrap-up

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Accessible Games Links

Wyrmworks Publishing




Gaining Advantage 007: Advantage against Psychic Damage (Jasper’s Game Day)

Gaining Advantage: Making Lives Better through tabletop role-playing games; Wyrmworks Publishing Logo; Disability symbol with wheelchair wheel replaced by d20; Brain with embedded d20; Jasper's Game Day logo

Life is tough, and sometimes, it seems like today’s CR is a bit too high. So what do you do? Get more people in the party! We welcome Josh Simons of Jasper’s Game Day to talk about mental health and suicide prevention through TTRPGs.

In our “Playing the Other” segment, we welcome Matt Weber with a great discussion about his physical disabilities and his decades of gaming experience.

Content Warning: Suicide, Body shape discussion, Mental Illness, Phobias

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 2:26 Josh Simons & Jasper’s Game Day
  • 32:34 Playing the Other with Matt Weber
  • 1:10:34 Wrap-up

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

Jasper’s Game Day

Josh Simons Links

Matt Weber links

Wyrmworks Publishing

Twitter: @wyrmworksdale