A common complaint about TTRPG systems, especially legacy systems like Dungeons & Dragons, is how dense and complex the rules can become. There is so much to keep track of. There are a lot of gray areas on rules and overlapping conditions. This can make these popular and well-established systems feel overwhelming to those new to TTRPGs, and also make keeping up with rule changes annoying for veteran players. The Dungeon Coach aims to change that. A new fantasy TTRPG system, called DC20, launched on Kickstarter on June 4th. It has already reached over $1.2 Million in funding!
Innovating on the best parts of 5e and Pathfinder, DC20 forges a new path forward with reimagined rules for ALL aspects of TTRPGs. The rules are designed to not hold Game Masters back and to not get in the way of Players, so that everyone has more fun as the rules fade into the background. – Kickstarter page
DC20 promises some unique takes on a TTRPG that also will feel readily familiar to those seeking to switch their rule systems. It has a four-attribute system that includes Might, Agility, Intelligence, and Charisma. There are custom Character and Ancestry Creation systems so you can design exactly who you want to play as. It capitalizes are three main pillars of play – Social, Combat, and Exploration – and provides game masters with easy and comprehensive tools to run these challenges.
Combat also gets a refresh to be more fluid and responsive. Every turn players have four actions points they can spend either on their character’s direct turn in combat, or as a reaction. The option to even combine actions points with other party members for unique combos is very exciting. Spellcasters get to use mana instead of spell slots and will roll when they cast a spell. The higher the roll, the more powerful the spell! There is an option for allied spellcasters to combine mana and cast spells together, making it much more devastating.
Martial characters also get a unique spin. They use Stamina points and a Maneuver system in combat. Tossing aside the “I attack twice” routine, DC20 instead wants TTRPG players to be able to use Stamina points to do something more dynamic and fun with their attacks. Options include striking two targets at once, knocking enemies aside, jumping into the air to attack, and more.
This is only a small snippet of all the dynamic and innovative rules DC20 has introduced in their TTRPG system. You can read more about it on their Kickstarter page.
The campaign still has 21 days left. With the initial goal of $20,000 already well exceeded, there are still more stretch goals and time to join in on the fun! A pledge of $30 gets you a PDF of the core rules to be delivered on June 2025. A pledge of $65 gets you a hardcover to be shipped out October 2025. Higher pledges get extra adds-on and bonus content.
Visit the DC20 website to stay up to date on all developments during and after the Kickstarter.
