Rules

Here is a list of all the rule content written for the setting: ancestries, subclasses, spells, statblockss, and optional rules. Conversions to more TTRPG systems may be added in the future.

Ruleset: 5e

The world's most popular roleplaying game needs no introduction.
Player options and statblocks use the 2014 rules unless otherwise stated.

Player primer Race features Class options Bonus rules

Ruleset: Bludgeon


Bludgeon the TTRPG is a d20 system being developed by a team of Indian game designers. It's modular, tactical, and full of unique flavor.
You can grab a copy of the base rules here.

Player primer + Bonus rules Racial adaptations

Conversions to other system

I'm interested in branching out to more rulesets eventually, whether it will include adventure conversions or only player options. However, learning each new system and converting to it takes time, so I will only use systems that either I want to run in or ones that are suggested to me for the setting. If you are interested in running an adventure in the Varris setting using a system other than the ones listed above, feel free to Contact me about it. I'm eager to help you convert existing content for use in any system you prefer.

If you are the creator of a TTRPG system that you think matches the world of Varris, I am open to working with you to create a rule conversion, or even a new adventure. The world of Varris is not married to any system and will never become exclusive to a particular ruleset, but I am always eager to collaborate with other creators.

Rules, worlds, and lore

Accommodating multiple rulesets in the same setting lore brings with it a number of challenges. Though the history of the world and the large-scale worldbuilding remains the same regardless of the system, the exact mechanics of the game, which translate into the mechanics of the world, depend on the ruleset. For example, the 5e creature type mechanic plays an important role in how certain magical effects in the system work, which sometimes has narrative consequences. The magic system of the ruleset used in particular is generally considered to be "real" and at least vaguely understood by the scholars of the setting. This includes mechanics like schools of magic, levels of spells, elements, and damage types. Other mechanics, like ability scores/stats, skills, and hit points, are not diegetic in the world and are instead treated as abstractions necessary to enable gameplay.

Any piece of lore that relies of the specific mechanics of a ruleset will have variants for each system used. This may impact some story elements. As such, I think of Varris is 5e, Varris in Bludgeon, and Varris in any other system, as parallel but separate fantasy worlds. Though each appears the same to its inhabitants' untrained eyes, those who study the inner workings of their world would have come to different conclusion depending on the ruleset used in your game.