I have my own game system called
Fables & Foxtales that has been in the works for years. I recently completed the 'Beta' in January, and to playtest that, I've been working on a game that I plan to run in the future, but in typically Kae-fashion, I severely overdid it. Its
massive in scope and way too ambitious for me to manage with my current workload because of the breadth and freedom it allows for.
The idea in question is called
Grimoire Hart Academy, which is a school in my homebrew world where aspiring adventurers and delvers go to learn the trade. So not just a 'magic academy', but a school for all kinds of adventurers. Players will be first year students in the incoming Class 1-B, and can choose from 6 degree majors (Combat, Liberal Arts, Science, and more!), 9 degree minors (specializations include advanced combat tactics, necromancy, dungeon stewardship, culinary arts, and more!), and over 50 classes, 8 clubs, and 4 extracurricular organizations (sports and leagues). 25 members of staff, most of which are instructors, 28 other first year students, and at least 20 more NPCs in the school and outside of it, all with ready-made bios that include their class lists, schedules, backstory elements, and interests. And the campus currently has 35 pre-made and ready to explore locations, including specific classrooms, training fields, remote facilities, and secret areas! Not to mention there are at least major settlements in the immediate region, 3 active 'dungeons', and a ton of places to explore beyond that.
This is meant to be a sprawling, sandbox academia that focuses on school life and all the fun misadventures that go with it. There is a story plot and major events that happen, but players can investigate it at their leisure and otherwise enjoy mostly-free reign to explore the campus, nearby locations, and even beginner dungeons for extra credit and experience. You can get to know NPCs, stir up drama, get into trouble, and participate in school events, club projects, or pursue quests for some pocket change.
That and you can effectively pursue any kind of trade you want, whether you want to be an adventurer or delver, or if you want to work in support services, like as a guild coordinator, a merchant, a private agent for freelancers, or even as a scientist studying dungeon ecology or a caretaker who helps maintain dungeons!
Setting-wise, it is a blended anime fantasy, with elements of both medieval high-fantasy and some modern concepts and magitek. GHA takes place in a country called the Ecclesian Empire, which has recently introduced a number of new laws granting rights and citizenship to tons of new non-human species, and players can, in theory, be whatever they want. The rest of the first year students, for instance, consists of a variety of different folks with lots of identities, including Snow Elves, Anima (anthromorphs), Half-Dwarves, Dhampir, L'dopterra (moth people), Demons, and Oni! There are even some isekai'd humans mixed in here and there that have come over from Earth!
Players get a Student Handbook (Google Sheets) that serves to help give them info on the game and setting, record their character details, and keep track of their classes and schedules.
Here are some snippets from the aforementioned Student Handbook!
[ +- ] Degree List w/ Required Classes
[ +- ] Class List w/ Description
[ +- ] First Month Calendar
Last edited March 27, 2025 9:33 pm