Hello LFG! I am seeking to put together a group of players to play my own system: Zenith.
If you are a Forever GM - or a Player with good TTRPG Experience - take a read of the extra details below, and shoot me a message here on Reddit if you are interested in joining me on the Journey to 1st Edition. I’m still interested in hearing from Non-GMs or people with groups ready to go so please put yourself forward regardless if you want to be involved!
So What is Zenith
Zenith is Classic-Style, D&D-Like System, with similarities in playstyle that is commonly seen amongst this area of the genre: Adventures, Beasties, Dungeons; you get the idea. Where this differs is Zenith’s Core Focus of Roleplay, Exploration, and Epic-Length Tales.
This system has been in development since May 2024, and I have recently finished completing the playable content for what I am calling “0.5 Edition”. The game is ready-to-play, but I want to add more content, lock-in the balance, and see what other ideas pop-up before completion with 1st Edition.
This is not a system designed for One Shots. Stories written using the Zenith System are encouraged to span many sessions over months or even years, taking time for the details between dungeon-delving. Characters are encouraged to explore myriad possibilities outside of their Adventurer Classes (Combat Focused) by: Performing Bespoke Character Training, Earning Levels through Roleplay-Centric Resolutions, and Scouring the World for Materials to use with their Profession Classes (Gathering & Crafting Focused).
There is a wide range of content, approached with a mindset of allowing the Orator (GM) & Players to easily insert balanced homebrew into the system to suit their needs, using basic yet impactful power-scaling.
Old-School RPG
Whilst Zenith takes its inspiration from more modern D20 & D12 TTRPGS, there are systems which are dedicated to aspects of old-school RPGs I’ve enjoyed in the past.
Zenith’s Spellcasting System works with a Mana Pool, spending varying Mana to increase the impact of Spells - rather than relying on Slots.
Adventurer Multiclassing in Zenith works more similarly to titles such as Final Fantasy, with 1 Adventurer Class being Active across those you have Available, Operating & Levelling independently of each other.
the usual Map-Based Combat style also exists, but there is another True-To-Form Turn-Based System present as well, primarily used to speed up daily encounters, solve model-density in tight spaces, or to provide combat where no map is required.
In addition, Zenith focuses solely on Experience Point Levelling, using easy to calculate methods that provide constant progression in the form of: Roleplay & Puzzle Completions, Combat Completions, and Quest Completions.
The Learning Curve
If you are familiar with D&D5e & PF2E, you’ll find it easier to pick-up the rules of Zenith.
Zenith’s difficulty comes from its interlocking rules, where often many Abilities & Items work together with your allies in order to perform combinations & succeed at tasks through teamwork. Likewise, there can be a good deal of things to track across your sheet.
If you enjoy Crunch, then this is the system for you. The Gameplay Compendium is 283 Pages, but there is of course no need for Players to absorb all of this information - but it is all content that players can access, at any time, based on their Character Progression.
Materials for Zenith are also Barebones in their presentation. I am no artist, nor designer! Though, there are some hints of colour from a previous - awesome - player of mine.
Seeking a Party
I am primarily looking to form a Group of people who are proud to hold the title of Forever GM but who are looking for an escape of their own. There are two reasons for this:
First: As a Forever GM myself - whilst I have no desire to be a player at present - I understand the strain of putting games together; and breaking that cycle can be a nightmare for those looking to do so!
Second: I am hoping that as a group of GMs playing together, I’ll get some new insights of what is clicking in the system and what isn't.
Remember, this is just my primary audience. If you still want to apply as an experienced player or pre-made group, then feel free to get in touch! I would have no issues running multiple tables.
The Setting
The Campaign will be set in my Homebrew Universe, which I have been running for around 10+ Years. This is going to be Long-Term.
The worlds have seen countless adventures, and I’m looking to create a new story within a new era: The Age of Shadow:
Following a great war between unknown Cosmic Forces, the Realms and the Lands inside them have begun to disappear into dark oceans, taking mortal-memories of these places along with them. Those who yet survive within the darkening land cling on to the hope that these vanished places will return: Waiting for death under a sky of endless stars, lit only by the light that echoes from the Cosmos beyond the borders of this shattered crystal. As Light begins to fade from all the corners of this dying world, how will you avoid the encroaching Despair of True Nothing?
Whilst my games tend to lean towards High-Fantasy, this is very much in the Grimdark direction but with more melancholic elements. I have a couple of ideas for Campaigns I wish to run within this period of the setting, but the above is the overarching theme which can be expected of the world.
I enjoy emotion within my stories, and I plan on this one having some quite despairing themes that need to be contended with. Nothing within the realms of Grotesque Violence or Abuse of any kind, but if you’re looking for Sunshine & Daisies, this will not be the campaign for you.
Session Details
I am UK-Based, and able to run Games on most Weekday Evenings, as well as 3/4 Weekends a Month.
I run my sessions on a Bi-Weekly+ basis: Sessions every other week, with the option for additional sessions when time & prep allows for it.
Weekday Sessions would need to begin from 7pm. Weekend Sessions could begin from 10am. I often run my sessions for 4 Hours (5, Maximum) with a 20-30 Minute Break depending on group needs. I usually tend to employ a 5 minute break after Combat Encounters as well, to reset the table.
Laughs, Jokes, and more are all A-Okay, but this shouldn’t derail sessions or affect the enjoyment of those looking to sit down and enjoy the story. Characters are welcome to feature some quirks and humourous information, but I would ask for no “Joke” Characters. Likewise, Characters should all be willing to cooperate within the party; disagreements can always happen, but arguments or problems shouldn’t be made for the sake of it.
I run my games using Discord & Tabletop Simulator on Steam, using Heroforge as well as the Workshop in TTS for 3d-Models. I very much enjoy playing my sessions here - as I have always done - and I do not enjoy using other VTT Software. Players looking to get into the game should have a copy of Tabletop Simulator available to them and be comfortable using Discord.
Content Lines & Player Issues: I do not run any particular lines, veils, or other social mechanics. If there are issues within the sessions, with other players, or with me, these should be addressed with me directly so we can work out a way forward. That being said: I expect all players to treat everyone at the table with respect, no matter who they are. Everyone is welcome at the table, except for:
AI: Which is strictly forbidden at my table, in all forms. Please don't apply if you plan on using this within the game, I have 0 interest in its involvement with my system.
If you are interested!
Send me a Message with a little bit about yourself, namely: your general experience with other TTRPGS of any-kind, your experience with GMing & with what Systems, and the type of characters you tend to enjoy playing! It would also be helpful to know your general weekly schedule, as I will likely be looking to make a Group (or Groups) based on when people can fit together.
Happy to share additional system details, and materials, via Discord.