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Ishanekon World Shapers (2022)

Ishanekon World Shapers (2022)

Overview

Ishanekon: World Shapers is the (probably) biggest free Indie TTRPG with over 2,500 character options. It has been mainly developed by Jan Luyken, aka Blaze Reason, with the aim of creating a game that can compete (if not surpass) the current biggest games on the market while remaining affordable for anyone. With its easily adaptable rules and wide range of options, from beginner-friendly to highly complex, it is designed to satisfy the needs of almost any story and play style.

Description

From epic fantasy and sci-fi to mundane humans facing everything from common threats to cosmic horror, Ishanekons: World Shapers’ modular design lets you easily adjust the rules to help you experience your stories. This game is designed with the idea that you bring the flavor, and the mechanics help you bring it to life. The 10 Archetypes with over 200 Sub-Archetypes, 1000+ Abilities, 600+ Talents, 300+ items and upgrades, and more allow you to build anything from a simple cat to a city-destroying kaiju. Role and complexity filters let you find what you need quickly while helping you avoid those features that might be too overwhelming for your liking.

Key features

Combat d20, Skill d10

The core of combat is built around d20 attack and defense rolls with modifiers that try to beat the enemy's Evasion and DR Power, respectively. Skills, on the other hand, are rolled with d10s, creating somewhat of a dice-based separation between combat and non-combat.

Cinematic Actions

While IWS has a solid tactical core that will satisfy most war gamers, it also comes with so-called “Cinematic Actions”. These allow narrative-driven actions, independent of what the rules say your character can do, balancing the rule of cool so that role players have a rules-light way to interact with the action, bringing the best of both worlds.

Flexible Character Customization

This system allows you to mix and match all sorts of Archetypes, features, and Abilities. It encourages such behavior and does not introduce any blocks, such as stat requirements. All sorts of interesting mechanical and flavor combinations open up once you start experimenting. This is also true for items. An extensive upgrade and crafting system exists that can turn any old blade into whatever you want.

Carefully Balanced

The system's core math has been calculated to ensure that every character option is viable. Breaking the game is not trivial, and you will feel strong, no matter if you are a martial, caster, or something in between. Every weapon and armor type can be wielded to great effect, and each Stat has its uses. “Optimal play” should never get in the way of what fits your character narratively.

Regular Patches

As a digital product, IWS can be easily expanded. Monthly patches bring new content, buff weak options, and nerf broken combos to help this game evolve and become the best it can be. New digital tools are also added and expanded, such as online character sheets and an encounter calculator.

Build Your Own Creatures

The website comes with more than 100 creatures, each of which has Level 0 to 15 versions, but creature templates and an online creature builder help you as the GM to create whatever monstrosities you want to throw at your players. All those 2,500 options can also be used for whatever you cook up.

Active games and players

No active games or players listed for this system yet.

Articles & Videos

Article
KeenGamer
Ishanekon: World Shapers – An Interview With Developer Jan Luyken
Video
A Squirrel Plays
Free TTRPG! Ishanekon Worldshapers – Review!
Video
The Abysmal Critic
Crafting Realms with Ishanekon: A Journey for the Brave
Video
The Gaming Table
Ishanekon: World Shapers review

Reviews

Sorted by:
Skrat
Skrat
6 months ago

I'm too dumb for crunchy games so Blaze added a trait that removes all the complicated stuff and lets you perform cinematic actions for free at a reduced potency. Am I insulted? Maybe Was it awesome? Yes

GoldZephzellian
GoldZephzellian
6 months ago

Ishanekon has been my favourite TTRPG for a good while now, and it's largely thanks to the excellent berth of character customization and very strong gameplay. Character customization is the vastest it's ever been here, with 3.5e levels of options... but unlike 3.5e where various options were traps, NOTHING is a trap here. Everything has a use for some build, even if they aren't the best on EVERY build. With over 200 Sub-Archetypes (think Classes) to choose from alongside all the other customization, you'll be going crazy if you're a character creating freak like I am. The gameplay is pretty dang great too; the System seems pretty lethal on the surface, and it can be, but the game is actually pretty heavily in the Player's favour when you learn to use the tools you have. This is especially so with the core Meta Resource, Narrative Momentum, which not only allows you to reroll dice, but also perform Cinematic Actions, which are unique actions to kinda do whatever you can think of within reason. Everything here is just... really sweet. And it's all FREE. I've given Blaze money because I feel bad about not paying for this, though. If that isn't a high state of praise, I don't know what is.

Zakary
Zakary
6 months ago

Far and wide the most in-depth and expansive character customization Ive seen in any ttrpg. You can find a build for nearly anything your brain can dream of. My character was able to conjure mobs of disease ridden peasants to fight and spread sickness; never done that in any other ttrpg before hahah.

Nat
Nat
6 months ago

If you like DnD, you should try this. 🩷

antonioGUAK
antonioGUAK
6 months ago

Ishanekon is my favorite TTRPG and the game that more I play as a GM and a player. I highly recomend it.

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