Wanderhome is a pastoral fantasy RPG where animal-folk explore a peaceful, post-war world. It emphasizes storytelling, community, and growth, with a unique dice-less system.
1.1 Overview of Wanderhome as a Pastoral Fantasy RPG
Wanderhome is a captivating pastoral fantasy RPG where players embody animal-folk traveling through a serene, post-war world. The game focuses on community, personal growth, and the beauty of exploration. Set in a peaceful landscape, it emphasizes storytelling over combat, with a unique dice-less system inspired by the Belonging Outside Belonging engine. Seasons and travel play a central role, influencing both the narrative and character development. This heartfelt journey explores themes of connection, found family, and the transformative power of movement and change.
1.2 Key Features of the Game
Wanderhome stands out with its unique dice-less system, powered by the Belonging Outside Belonging engine, emphasizing collaborative storytelling. Players choose from diverse playbooks and kiths, crafting personalized animal-folk characters. The game features a dynamic world where seasons and travel shape the narrative, encouraging emotional growth and connection. The PDF is rich with accessibility options, including alt-text and form-fillable character sheets. With its focus on non-violent conflict resolution and wholesome themes, Wanderhome offers a refreshing, story-driven experience for all ages.
Gameplay Mechanics
Wanderhome uses a dice-less system, focusing on collaborative storytelling and emotional depth. Seasons and travel shape the narrative, creating a dynamic, evolving experience for players.
2.1 The Dice-less System and Belonging Outside Belonging Engine
Wanderhome utilizes a dice-less system, relying on collaborative storytelling and emotional depth rather than random dice rolls. Built on the Belonging Outside Belonging Engine, the game emphasizes narrative flow and player agency. This system fosters a safe, inclusive space for players to explore themes of community, identity, and growth. By focusing on shared storytelling, Wanderhome creates a dynamic experience where the journey and connections between characters take precedence over mechanical outcomes.
2.2 How Seasons and Travel Impact Play
In Wanderhome, the changing seasons directly influence gameplay, altering the world’s tone, challenges, and opportunities. As players travel, they experience shifting landscapes and story beats, with the season’s progression reflecting character growth. Travel serves as a narrative driver, guiding players through villages, forests, and other locales, each with unique encounters. The seasonal cycle and journey structure create a dynamic, evolving story where both the world and characters develop organically over time. This integration of travel and seasons enhances the game’s thematic depth and emotional resonance.
The World of Wanderhome
The world of Wanderhome is a serene, post-war landscape filled with lush fields, mossy shrines, and vibrant wildlife. Animal-folk inhabit this peaceful realm, fostering community and harmony.
3.1 Setting: A Peaceful, Post-War World
The world of Wanderhome is set in a serene, post-war landscape where conflict has given way to harmony. Rolling grassy fields, mossy shrines, and vibrant wildlife define this idyllic setting. Animal-folk, such as opossums and salamanders, inhabit this peaceful realm, fostering community and growth. The absence of violence allows players to focus on exploration, relationships, and personal development. Seasons change dynamically, influencing the story and the characters’ journeys. This setting creates a cozy, uplifting atmosphere, perfect for tales of found family and self-discovery.
3.2 Animal-Folk and Their Roles in the Game
In Wanderhome, players embody animal-folk, such as opossums, salamanders, and tamarins, each with unique roles and backgrounds. These characters travel between villages, exploring a vibrant world filled with life and wonder. Their journeys emphasize emotional growth, trust, and found family. From a leporine mail carrier guided by moths to a lizard with a mysterious past, each animal-folk brings depth and diversity to the story. Their roles are shaped by the world’s peaceful atmosphere, fostering connections and shared experiences.
Character Creation
Character creation in Wanderhome centers around choosing playbooks and kiths, offering rich customization options. Form-fillable PDF sheets and detailed guides help players craft unique characters seamlessly.
4.1 Playbooks and Kith Options
In Wanderhome, players choose from diverse playbooks, each representing unique roles like vagabonds or leporine mail carriers. Kiths allow customization, offering species-specific traits for animal-folk, such as opossums or salamanders. The game provides form-fillable PDF sheets for playbooks and kiths, ensuring easy character creation. These options foster rich storytelling and community-building, enabling players to craft memorable characters that evolve with the seasons and the world they inhabit. The system emphasizes growth and found family, making each character’s journey unique and meaningful.
4.2 Customization and Character Development
Character development in Wanderhome is deeply personal, with players shaping their animal-folk through experiences and relationships. The game encourages growth, allowing characters to evolve with the seasons and the world around them. Customization is enhanced through form-fillable PDF sheets, which aid in tailoring roles and traits. This system emphasizes storytelling and emotional connections, enabling players to craft unique, dynamic characters who leave a lasting impact on the game’s peaceful, pastoral setting. The focus is on personal journeys and meaningful interactions.
Art and Accessibility in the PDF
The Wanderhome PDF features vibrant illustrations by multiple artists, enhancing the game’s charm. It includes accessibility elements like alt-text and threaded text, ensuring an inclusive experience for all players.
5.1 Illustrations and Design Elements
The Wanderhome PDF is enriched with captivating illustrations by over a dozen artists, creating a visually immersive experience. The design elements, including vibrant depictions of animal-folk, grassy fields, and starry skies, bring the pastoral fantasy world to life. The artwork complements the game’s themes of growth and community, while the layout ensures readability and ease of navigation. These visual and design elements work together to enhance the storytelling and world-building aspects of the game, making it a joy to explore both narratively and aesthetically.
5.2 Accessibility Features in the PDF Version
The Wanderhome PDF prioritizes accessibility with features like alt-text for images and fully threaded text for screen readers. The clean layout and readable fonts ensure ease of use for all players. Accessibility was a key focus during development, with a consultant hired to ensure the PDF meets high standards. These inclusive features make the game more approachable for a diverse audience, fostering an environment where everyone can enjoy the story and gameplay without barriers. This commitment to accessibility enhances the overall experience.
Download and Purchase Options
The Wanderhome PDF is available for purchase on itch.io for $25 or more, with options to pay extra to support the developer. A free playkit is also accessible.
6.1 Where to Buy the Wanderhome PDF
The Wanderhome PDF can be purchased directly from the official itch.io page of Possum Creek Games. It is also available through other digital platforms, ensuring accessibility.
6.2 Pricing and Additional Materials
The Wanderhome PDF is priced at $25.00 USD, with options to pay more to support the developer. Additional materials include form-fillable character sheets, director commentary, and variant playbooks, enhancing gameplay.
Community and Development
Wanderhome’s development was supported by Kickstarter, fostering a strong community. Regular updates and expansions ensure the game evolves, keeping players engaged and excited.
7.1 The Role of Kickstarter and Community Support
The success of Wanderhome was significantly fueled by its Kickstarter campaign, which garnered strong community backing. This crowdfunding effort not only provided financial support but also fostered a dedicated player base eager to contribute feedback. The game’s development benefited from transparent communication with backers, ensuring the final product aligned with community expectations. The PDF version became a reality thanks to this collective effort, with updates and expansions continuing to engage the community. Kickstarter played a pivotal role in transforming Wanderhome into a beloved pastoral fantasy RPG.
7.2 Updates and Expansions
Since its release, Wanderhome has received consistent updates and expansions, enhancing gameplay and depth. The development team actively listens to player feedback, incorporating suggestions to refine mechanics and add content. New playbooks, kith options, and settings have been introduced, enriching the game’s versatility. Additionally, the PDF version is regularly updated with improved art and accessibility features, ensuring all players can enjoy the experience. These ongoing efforts keep Wanderhome dynamic and engaging, fostering a loyal community of players.
Educational and Inclusivity Aspects
Wanderhome promotes inclusivity with diverse themes, suitable for all ages, fostering emotional growth and community-building. Its non-violent nature makes it ideal for educational settings, encouraging creativity and empathy.
8.1 Suitability for Different Audiences
Wanderhome is ideal for diverse audiences, including children and adults, due to its non-violent nature and focus on storytelling. Its themes of growth, trust, and found family resonate universally. The game’s adaptability makes it suitable for educational settings, fostering creativity and emotional intelligence. While it includes light LGBTQ+ themes and references to animist deities, these elements are subtle, allowing educators to tailor the experience for sensitive environments. Its inclusive design ensures accessibility for a wide range of players.
8.2 Handling Sensitive Topics
Wanderhome thoughtfully addresses sensitive topics by avoiding violence and focusing on themes of growth and trust. LGBTQ+ elements are subtle, with minimal artwork depicting gay animals. Religious references are limited to animist deities, which can be adapted to suit different contexts. The game’s design allows educators and players to modify content for sensitivity, ensuring it remains inclusive and appropriate for various audiences, including schools and diverse social settings. This approach fosters a welcoming environment for all players.
Wanderhome is a must-play for those seeking a heartfelt, pastoral fantasy RPG. Its emotional storytelling and unique mechanics create a refreshing, community-driven experience for all players.
9.1 Final Thoughts on Wanderhome
Wanderhome is a captivating pastoral fantasy RPG that offers a unique, emotional, and community-driven experience. Its focus on storytelling, character growth, and exploration of a serene world makes it stand out. The game’s art style, accessibility features, and inclusive themes cater to a wide audience. With its dice-less mechanics and emphasis on collaboration, Wanderhome provides a refreshing escape for players seeking a heartfelt journey. Its strong community support and regular updates ensure it will continue to evolve, making it a must-try for any RPG enthusiast.
9.2 Encouragement to Explore the Game
If you’re looking for a unique and heartfelt RPG experience, Wanderhome is a must-try. Its serene pastoral setting, engaging storytelling, and dice-less mechanics offer a refreshing departure from traditional RPGs. The game’s focus on community, growth, and exploration makes it perfect for players seeking emotional depth. With its accessible PDF, beautiful illustrations, and inclusive themes, Wanderhome invites you to immerse yourself in a world of wonder and connection. Download the free playkit or purchase the full PDF to embark on your journey today!