Ben tells us about his setting and independently designed TTRPG system, Cybertopia. Cybertopia is a fiction first system set in the near future. Amazing Corp saved the world from climate and energy catastrophes with a magical clean energy machine. As the world moves into a post-scarcity economy, Amazing Corp has risen in power and influence beyond most governments. The players are small pieces in this machine, trying to take care of any problems that get in Amazing Corp’s way. And maybe they discover something sinister that shakes their confidence in Amazing Corp? Who knows? That’s up to the GM.

Cybertopia as a system is a d20 system. Characters pick a Core which is like a class, but is really just a guide to what your character is good at without the rigid framework of D&D applied to it. The Core provides a +3 to rolls. Characters also have skills, items, and situational things that provide +1 or +2. All these modifiers stack together just like other d20 systems. Experience points are gained by rolling a natural 20. Three experience points can be exchanged for a skill improvement.

This episode was recorded in September where the temperatures were 95°F in California (me) while being rainy and 57°F in Scotland where Ben is located.

Ben’s itch.io shop where you can check out Cybertopia
Ben has a actual play podcast to demonstrate Cybertopia. The second season is starting its release now. You can listen to that in any of your favorite podcast apps.
The Cybertopia podcast is also available on YouTube but still audio only.

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I’m Isaac

Welcome to the GoCorral website! I’m Isaac Shaker and this is a place for me to write about D&D and occasionally other topics. I host a podcast called Setting the Stage that interviews different DMs about their campaigns. I’m currently focused on completing the Cimmeria campaign setting and turning it into a book.

Setting the Stage Podcast

88 – DM & Roleplaying Tips with Balance of Aksio (Jay + Sandra! and 3RPG) Setting the Stage, Campaigns for D&D and Other RPGs

Our guests today are Jay and Sandra from the 3RPG podcast. Their podcast is a talk show, typically with three hosts. Unfortunately the third host Chris was unable to make it.Jay and Sandra are working on a RPG product dubbed The Balance of Aksio. It's a new narrative fantasy TTRPG system with point buy character creation. The world within Balance of Aksio grew out of games that Jay and Sandra have been playing together since high school. Lots of history from important characters over the in-game centuries they have been playing. Balance of Aksio comes with numerous storytelling aids to help with character decision making, generational play, and how to cover long gaps between adventures.Balance of Aksio also introduces a unique idea for running your NPCs. Rather than make all the decisions yourself, Jay and Sandra recommend outsourcing the NPC actions to people you know outside of the campaign. Give those people a profile of the NPC and the decision they are facing. Then let those people decide what the NPC would do without your own biases as a GM entering the equation. Quite a clever way to introduce new developments in your game that even you can't predict!There's a 3RPG Podcast website and the show itself is available on all major podcast platforms.I guested on the 3RPG podcast for episode 61. Check it out!Check out the Setting the Stage website!Want to be on the show? Fill out this survey.Join our Discord!Support Setting the Stage on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  1. 88 – DM & Roleplaying Tips with Balance of Aksio (Jay + Sandra! and 3RPG)
  2. 87 – Adapted Azeroth D&D (Flare and Akridon)
  3. 86 – Wuxia Adventures in RPGS (Daniel and Metanoia/Ithasen)
  4. 85 – Medical Doctor D&D (Justin and Oops! All Healers!)
  5. 84 – Horseback Riding D&D Camp (Michael and SaddleSnaps)