Dark Saga Rules

Back in 2002, I wrote my own table-top role-playing game (TTRPG). It was called Dark Saga Rules and it was a grand simplification of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) 2nd Edition rules I knew at the time.

Dark Saga Rules was designed to be modular and flexible. The point was so that you can easily integrate any spell, monster, ability, or type of character into the game. Also, many staple aspects of AD&D were removed for simplicity, such as ability scores, alignments, and classes.

Now in 2025, I’m thinking about how I might improve upon my previous work and create an all new version of Dark Saga Rules. There is already a Dungeons & Dragons game and several others that are very good. There is no need for yet another TTRPG on the market unless it’s very different from what’s already out there.

My idea for the next iteration of Dark Saga Rules is that it will be more of an RPG for writers with a focus on storytelling. With this kind of focus, there is no longer any need for game mechanics like hit points or character levels. Since in most stories the protagonists don’t die, there will also need to be rules on story interventions to prevent the characters from dying. Ultimately, Dark Saga Rules will be more of a framework for developing an epic story than a traditional TTRPG.