What is Skein: Threadbare?
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Skein is a new TTRPG ruleset that satisfies old-school desires. D10s, cutthroat gameplay, and rewards for the brave or foolish.
The game is FINISHED.
It is not in-development. It does not need funding to “get started” or “explore ideas.”
Support is needed to acquire artwork and get copies into people’s hands.
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Threadbare is an OSR-inspired standalone ruleset that doesn’t sacrifice depth.
Skein is easy to learn and a challenge to play. Player characters are powerful, but survival is always uncertain.
From Classes to Skills to Combat Maneuvers to a Spellcasting system limited only by your imagination.
The book is complete.
New. Evocative. Harrowing.
You will make characters in a familiar way but in a new system, a new world, and a revitalized appreciation for the dangers and stresses of a dungeon, ancient ruin, or roadway robbery.
Danger, First.
Character choice, from inception to adventure, is the foundational design principle of Skein: Threadbare.
Bloodline, Class, Runes, Skills, Shames, Acclaims, and Bond. Each a layer of character development that makes each session feel unique and ultimately harrowing.
When death claims your adventurer, you’ll not see their like again.
Evocative Design
In this game, your character is powerful.
Your character might have great ambitions or be a reckless dungeon delver.
Whatever your plans might be, along the way your character could lose a finger, an eye, their life, or worse....
The game has danger. This game has power. This game has ancient loot and lost lore to be found. But, above all else, this game is about embracing your fate and finding your story through action, adventure, and risk.
Layers of Decision
Good rules shape a story as much as a GM.
In Skein: Threadbare, from the first level, combat is thoughtful and reactive. Skills, and their subsequent maneuvers, are designed to be used early and often.
From your first incantation, rune casting is a creative and dangerous act. Magic will bend to your will, but will it break you? Will it corrupt you?
And from that first wound, you will fear death.