In 2024, Wyrmworks Publishing took bold strides to make tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) more accessible, inclusive, and impactful than ever. We helped you make lives better through TTRPGs, and together, we’re making a difference. Here’s what we achieved this year:

Breaking New Ground in Braille TTRPG Accessibility

This year marked a historic moment for accessibility in gaming. We produced a digital Braille version of the D&D 5.1 SRD, making it the first time D&D rules have been available in braille. To encourage other creators, we also released a video tutorial on converting works to braille for free.

We converted all our published titles to digital braille, and thanks to our encouragement and assistance, DriveThruRPG now has 13 braille titles available from us and other publishers. What began with zero braille publishers in 2023 now includes six.

Virtual Tabletops (VTT) and Adventure Publishing

Wyrmworks Publishing expanded into Virtual Tabletop (VTT) gaming with new titles for Foundry:

• Shrine of the Soil Serpent
• Time is of the Essence

Additionally, we released new adventures, including Ascent to the Depths of Dread, and contributed to projects like Weapons of Myth (Jeff Stevens Games) and Zander’s Guide to Zombie Hunting (Scoundrel Game Labs).

Expanding Access and Community Impact

• Community Copies Donated: With support from patrons, we provided $4,170 worth of free products to those unable to afford them, including:

  • Digital Limitless Heroics Coloring Book: 194 copies
  • Digital Limitless Heroics Full Edition: 80 copies

• Therapeutic Applications: Multiple therapists reported incorporating our content into their gaming groups, demonstrating the real-world mental health impact of inclusive TTRPG design.
• Lair Pages: We added 38 new entries to our online compendium, bringing the total to 1739 resources.

Advocating for Inclusion in TTRPGs

We gave a presentation on inclusive gaming and podcasting at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration, spreading the message of accessible TTRPGs to new audiences.

We partnered with disabled, neurodivergent, and mentally ill freelancers, ensuring authentic representation in our work.

We also created Crowdplay, a system to run D&D encounters for dozens or hundreds of players at once. Our test involved 100 players across local and virtual platforms at the same time, and we released the system for free.

We developed an accessible character sheet for print and reading disabilities, ensuring no one is left behind.

Creating in Andovir

The world of Andovir continues to grow with new tools for immersive gaming. This year, we developed six languages to model improved cultural accessibility in the game, all available in the Lair.

We also released Stoneharbor, the first AccessPunk city supplement, demonstrating AccessPunk principles.

Collaborations and Charity Work

• Sponsored Game Creators: We supported creators in countries unable to run Kickstarter campaigns, empowering voices in the global TTRPG community.
• Charity Contributions: We participated in the Rio Grande do Sul Flood Charity Bundle, which raised enough to fund nearly seven improvised shelters.

Strengthening the Hoard and Community

We sent 22 notes of encouragement in our email updates. Thank you to everyone who responded with kind words—your feedback helps silence our inner critic. If you’re not already signed up, join the Dragon’s Hoard for updates and encouragement!

Additionally, I am volunteering to DM for a D&D group of a dozen teens at our local library, inspiring the next generation of TTRPG players.

Encourage Inclusivity and Join Us on Patreon

We couldn’t have achieved this without you, and the work isn’t done. Support us on Patreon to help us continue making lives better through TTRPGs.

Plans for 2025

We haven’t mastered divination magic, so we have lots of plans but don’t always know what life will bring in the coming year. (In 2024, we moved from Minnesota to Leadville, CO. We never imagined that, and it consumed our entire summer and more, but it’s been great for our family.) And thanks to my ADHD, time blindness makes predicting timeframes difficult, but here’s our plan:

• Free5e: A Free Open-Source Dungeons and Dragons Alternative. Fully free, Creative Commons D&D core books—accessible, affordable, and open for everyone. Launching March 4 on Kickstarter
• Ready-to-Roll: Feyweather Friends: Last Minute, No Prep D&D 5e Adventure $1. Seal the Far Realm breach! No Prep Needed D&D Adventure for 1-2 players level 1-4 with lots of eyeballs, tentacles, and fey magic!
• Limitless Champions Adventures: Adventures featuring disabled & neurodivergent NPCs for inclusive game spaces

If you’re interested in these projects, follow them on Kickstarter!

Discover New Realms with Our Limited-Time Bundle!

Elevate your Dungeons & Dragons 5E campaigns with a treasure trove of new content! This limited-time bundle on DriveThruRPG brings together exciting titles from multiple publishers. Get incredible value and fresh adventures for your table. For a limited time, you can get this amazing collection at a significant discount.

• Total Value: $32.37
• Special Bundle Price: $17.77
• Savings: $14.60 (45%)

Included Titles:

1. Maze of Mezeria for 5e by Earl of Fife Games

   • A thrilling 53-page adventure filled with labyrinthine secrets and survival challenges, best for 1st or 2nd level characters.
   • Features new adversaries, a fully keyed map, and fatigue mechanics to test your players.

2. Stoneharbor (Andovir Atlas) by Wyrmworks Publishing

   • A vibrant port city that integrates accessibility and diverse cultures, perfect for any campaign world.
   • Includes adventure hooks, new ancestries, backgrounds, and NPCs to enrich your stories.

3. Cavern Crawl #047 – Vein Vengeance (5e) by Grim Press

   • A 4th-level adventure featuring new monsters, magic items, and detailed battle maps.
   • Perfect for a party of four to six players.

4. Asger Earthsculptor — People of the Vale by T.M. van Dalen RPG

   • Focuses on a wizard obsessed with earth magic, including a unique encounter and exploration-focused mini-boss battle.

5. Into the Paper World: Ashcan Edition by Echidna Design

   • A whimsical and dark setting inspired by forgotten creative works, featuring new monsters, magic items, and adventure hooks.

6. Siege of the Silver Stag (5e) by Scoundrel Game Labs

   • A horror survival one-shot where players must withstand waves of zombies while managing NPC interactions.

Don’t Miss Out!

This bundle is an unbeatable way to inject fresh life into your campaigns with diverse adventures and rich settings. Whether you’re exploring the depths of a maze, navigating a bustling port city, or surviving a siege, this collection has something for every D&D 5E fan. Grab it now before it’s gone and bring new excitement to your gaming table!

In this episode, we explore using tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) for language learning. Shane Dunkle, a Language Pedagogy Specialist at the University of Chicago, shares his research on assessing English proficiency through board games and TTRPGs like D&D.

Discover how these games create an engaging environment for practicing real-world communication skills, from mastering idioms to navigating social cues. Shane reveals strategies for convincing skeptical faculty and his vision for embracing TTRPGs as a mainstream educational tool.

0:00 Opening
0:10 Exclusive Charity Offer Reveal – How Your Purchase Can Change Lives
2:49 Meet the Gamer Turned Innovative Educator Revolutionizing Language Learning
4:06 Traditional vs Game-Based Teaching: The Authenticity Showdown
18:26 From Munchkin to Murderhobo: Navigating the RPG Classroom Transition
21:31 Mastering Real-World Interactions Through In-Game Role-Play
28:34 Student Resistors vs Faculty Skeptics: Overcoming Unconventional Hurdles
33:51 Three Wishes to Transform Language Education Worldwide
35:45 The Recipe for Educators: Embracing Unorthodox Methods That Work
40:47 Convincing the Naysayers: A Manifesto for Embracing Gaming in Academics
42:34 Behind the Scenes: Upcoming Pedagogical Playground Projects
44:47 Your Doorway to Immersive Language Learning Resources

• Wyrmworks Publishing: https://wyrmworkspublishing.com
• Rio Grande Flood Charity Bundle: http://rio.inclusiverpg.com
• University of Chicago English Language Institute: http://esl.uchicago.edu/
• Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wyrmworkspublishing

What’s the ideal number of players for a TTRPG game? Five or six? What about dozens? Or hundreds?

What if you wanted to run a Dungeons and Dragons 5e game for hundreds of players, most of whom have never played a TTRPG, all at the same time? Introducing Crowdplay, a solution that allows presenters to run immersive encounters for dozens or even hundreds simultaneously!

What is Crowdplay?

Crowdplay is simplified, streamlined system for teaching D&D 5e basics through shared narrative encounters. A presenter explains the game and uses “Table GMs” to facilitate the encounter. A Table GM needs no experience with Dungeons & Dragons or other tabletop roleplaying games. The Crowdplay system uses simplified rules that anyone can use without experience.

Key features:

• Designed for large groups of any experience level
• Focuses on core TTRPG mechanics: Ability Checks, Initiative, Advantage/Disadvantage, and, for some extra fun, critical successes and failures!
• Built on 5e to prepare players for full 5e play
• Demonstrates that experience is not necessary to have fun as a Dungeon Master
• Can be used in-person, online, or both at the same time
• It’s free to download and use

Teach TTRPGs Anywhere!

We designed Crowdplay to answer the question, “What is Dungeons & Dragons?” through a fun interactive demonstration. We tested it at a non-gamer event with 100 players, including 6–8 attending via Zoom. 5–6 total attendees had ever played a TTRPG before, and we updated the design based on that test.

We designed the final product to be usable in nearly any setting, such as:

• Business Conferences
• Family Reunions
• Motivational Speaker events
• Classrooms
• Neighborhood Barbecues
• Gaming Conventions
• Tween Birthday Parties and Slumber Parties
• Church Youth and/or Family Events
• Those times when a horde of kobolds invade your home looking for entertainment (As we’ve all experienced!)

A Little Problem: Examine the Kit

This all-in-one resource includes all of the files you need to run a Crowdplay game:

• Presenter’s guide PDF with tips for facilitating Crowdplay sessions.
• PowerPoint presentation file to visually set up the narrative and mechanics.
• Pregenerated character sheets representing a wide range of diverse heroes to demonstrate the limitless character possibilities that tabletop games offer
• Comprehensive Table GM guide for coordinating the encounter in person and across multiple “virtual tables” using apps like Zoom, with insider info on enemies, adjudicating ability checks, initiative chart, encounter management chart, and more.
• An escort mission with an encounter facing hostile goblins, including multiple possibilities for success.

Download it for Free

Download the free “A Little Trouble” Crowdplay kit from DriveThruRPG today so you have it next time someone asks you, “What is D&D?”

In this episode, Dale speaks with Steph from TTRPGKids.com about using tabletop RPGs to nurture creativity and connection with kids.

Before we get to the interview, here are a few updates:

• We’ll be at Gamehole Con on Friday – come say hi if you’re there!
• We’re releasing free weekly encounters for our upcoming Limitless Champions Adventures Kickstarter. Get them by joining our email list.
• Check out our new disabled_dungeons community on Lemmy after the Reddit shutdown.
• Due to GameHole Con, there won’t be a weekly adventure next week.

Do you want to ignite your child’s imagination? Our guest Steph from TTRPGKids shares how tabletop RPGs can transform family dynamics and nurture creativity in kids.

Steph discusses:

• The benefits of playing TTRPGs with kids
• Choosing age-appropriate games and mechanics
• RPGs as bonding and teaching tools
• Encouraging creativity and problem-solving
• Resources for families, teachers, and creators

0:00 Introduction
3:37 Interview: Steph from TTRPGKids
52:33 Patreon Showcase & closing

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

TTRPGKids Links

• TTRPGKids
• Tattered Bear
• Ludology Podcast

Wyrmworks Publishing

• The Lair: https://cutt.ly/LairYT 
• Get weekly updates: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/hoard 
• Disabled_Dungeons Reddit Alternative: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com/reddit-alternative-a-response-to-reddits-accessibility-hostility/ 
• Wyrmworks Publishing: http://wyrmworkspublishing.com