How I Make My TTRPG Homebrew Documents Look FANCY!

Check out the Deck of Rumours on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
After my video looking at my homebrew setting guide, a bunch of you folks wanted to see how I go about designing my homebrew PDFs, so I put together this video looking at the different options you can use and where to find resources.
🔻LINKS FROM THE VIDEO🔻
🔹GM Binder: www.gmbinder.com
🔹Homebrewery: homebrewery.naturalcrit.com
🔹R/UnearthedArcana: / unearthedarcana and drive.google.com/drive/folder...
🔹Affinity Publisher: affinity.serif.com/en-gb/publ...
🔹 WotC Fan Content Policy: company.wizards.com/fanconten...
🔹 Art of MTG: www.artofmtg.com/set/
🔹 Fantasy Artists: / fantasyartists
🔹 Hungry Artists: / hungryartists
🔹Tabletop Artists: / tabletopartists
🔹 D&D Style Guide: www.dmsguild.com/product/2674...
🔹 Mixam: mixam.co.uk
🔹 DrivethruRPG Printing: www.drivethrurpg.com/pub_pod_...
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#dnd #dmtips #dungeonsanddragons
“This video is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.”
00:00 Intro
01:04 GM Binder & Homebrewery
01:48 UnearthedArcana
02:59 Affinity by Serif
03:34 Setting up a Template
05:47 Patreon
06:21 Setting Up Text Styles
07:30 Finding Art
08:55 The D&D Style Guide
09:33 Printing
11:48 Deck of Rumours
12:51 Conclusion

[@DocDoesGamingYT]

Excellent advice! I'm working on an adventure right now and I was already thinking about how to turn it into a physical copy after I saw your amazing-looking print!

[@hghpandaman]

For those looking for free alternatives: Scribus + Gimp is a pretty good jumping off point for open source tools.

[@LordKyler]

Thanks for doing this - great info! As one of those who requested this information and has been interested in getting into this for a while now, I had a general sense of this stuff but it really helps to have it all spelled out so clearly.

[@sungone]

I love seeing more people use Affinity - much more financially approachable than Adobe. This was a really informative video that I'll definitely be referring back to!

[@IcarusGames]

I've been a hardcore Serif fanboi for years, and I'm always happy to point people to their products. I might do some streams where I make stuff (thumbnails, documents etc) with them in the future.

[@77madman]

You never disappoint, Anto. I'm just sad I didn't find this earlier, but still in time for my work to begin on my next game setting. Thanks.

[@IcarusGames]

It's my solemn vow to only ever disappoint my parents! I'm glad you found the video helpful :)

[@lordlol77]

Just a quick thing to remember, mimicking the official style is not transformative content. No matter what's written with it. So to anyone trying to publish material (for profit) using the style, tread carefully. Otherwise, nice guide!

[@IcarusGames]

^ this. The fan content policy covers graphics and other materials, but it MUST be freely available. A fantastic option for your personal homebrew though.

[@TheNevcor]

I'm not sure thats a 100% true. You can legally buy all fonts they using. Furthermore a worn paper background ist not very original. Just don't copy the exact style and don't use the Official D&D Logos or steal their or others Artworks.

[@IcarusGames]

@@TheNevcor I believe it would more come down to using things like the page folio and other distinct graphics elements. You *might* be fine, but as with all things, unless you can afford a lawyer to go over it, better to ere on the side of caution and use a similar but distinctly different style for paid products. For example, the unearthedarcana link has open source font equivalents of the D&D style fonts.

[@TheNevcor]

@@IcarusGames true, if you want to stay save, be creative and come up with your own style ;)

[@BeyondTheScreenRPG]

Oh man, I wish this video was out a month earlier 😆 It's a great resource, Also joining in the Affinity recommendation. It's brilliant for this kind of projects.

[@Luboffin]

Great video! Lots of great info and it's inspired me to try making some homebrew docs :D

[@IcarusGames]

*Palpatine Voice;* Do it!

[@Adragos17]

I am glad you have a good quality for sound and video. You are straight to the point and your voice isn't too high or fast which many other content creators do aaaaaand it's annoying. This video was pleasant, useful, and eloquent. I am getting into making my own homebrew. I use Inkarnate for maps and i have been wanting to make my pages for the quests more "official" looking. This shows me how. It's a bit of a learning curve for me. And i admit it is rather intimidating but i am very grateful for at least knowing HOW to do it now. IF i want to. Thanks for this video! You gained a subscriber! :)

[@IcarusGames]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you found the video helpful.

[@ShriKenerd]

This is awesome. Thanks for the help!

[@IcarusGames]

Happy to help :)

[@cymps]

thank you, very informative and inspiring.

[@crankysmurf]

Thanks for all the hints and info! I've been playing D&D for over 35 years since Basic/AD&D. I'm currently writing my first 5E homebrew adventure on GM Binder.

[@IcarusGames]

Glad you found it helpful! What is your adventure about?

[@crankysmurf]

@@IcarusGames Way back in 3.5E Dragon magazine published an article about Eludecia, a risen succubus who became a LG paladin. If angels like Zariel could fall to become fiends, why not have a fiend be redeemed to become good? Fall-From-Grace in Planescape: Torment was one such succubus. I loved the idea and included my own take of a LG succubus paladin NPC when I DMed Expedition to the Demonweb Pits (the PCs were protective of her because if she died in the Abyss it would be a permanent death). So now I'm using the premise of a succubus paladin of Sune as the party's patron, however, she keeps her fiendish origins as a secret. The primary foes are the Cult of Malcanthet, the Queen of Succubi (who's not happy one of her daughters converted to side of good). I'm still trying to flesh out the guts of the story/adventure -- I have the starting point A and the rough ending Z but trying to figure out how to get there. I'm eyeing it as a levels 5 to 9 adventure since anything below level 5 is squishy and above level 9 is too powerful, especially in terms of spells and magic items. However, it makes balancing a variety of low-mid level CR foes a bit difficult. archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fc/20050824a

[@IcarusGames]

@@crankysmurf That sounds super cool. Fiends becoming good is really compelling!

[@crankysmurf]

@@IcarusGames Right now in my mind is avoid having the succubus paladin, who's higher level/CR than the party, be directly involved even though a big plot point is her be directly involved. I don't want to take away agency from the players...

[@Adragos17]

@@crankysmurf This sounds fantastic! I'd love a copy of your story once you are done. If you are willing to share. ☺🙏

[@danielmcpherson9062]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!

[@IcarusGames]

THANK YOU :D

[@JEmmanuelRoblesAguila]

Dude, I meet you today and you won my heart hahahaha, but I need it for live, I am going to suscribe and give you a like in the videos and stuff. Greetings from Mexico XD

[@DM-CW]

Been working on a few things for the Dms Guild old school (pen and paper) but I'm at the point it's time for digital. Glad I found this video because I just can't afford Adobe but $55 for Affinity? Seems super reasonable

[@_SuperSadex]

Really good and fun video. Must have been a lot of work! Will there be another video about publishing?

[@IcarusGames]

I have some plan in the works for a follow up video, but it will likely be next year after some other things come out ;)

[@matthiassuuck9468]

I’ve been using Affinity Designer for years and love it

[@IcarusGames]

I've loved Serif products for a long time, and the affinity suite is just fantastic!

[@samnaghavi9775]

I did not expet that this video be this awsome

[@onyx_flame9735]

Was wondering that if in the download pack they had the little line/rule that goes under a heading two

[@EGG-hz8zt]

thank you I'm trying to make a travel guide from all the interesting places from the world that my friends and I created during our campaings. "Frodo & Fardo's travel guide for everyone (except elves)"

[@IcarusGames]

I love that name 😂

[@MyRYNOrunsHot]

Do you have a link to the specific Unearthed Arcana resource you used in this video please? I haven't been able to find it and the examples I have seem incomplete.

[@diegocornello2935]

thank you very much, can you tell me some resources and guides to create documents for D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder?

[@ListerWalkthroughs]

Brilliant video - just wanted to mention that your timestamps (some of them) are a little broken in the description!

[@IcarusGames]

Thanks for the heads up, @Lister. Should be all fixed now :D

[@ListerWalkthroughs]

@@IcarusGames Yup! All fixed! Thanks for the video. I've wanted a more electronic PDF to provide my players so this will help!

[@palarious]

Is there any chance you could walk through the full steps to creating a good template from the ground up? I've muddled my way through some of the aspects of Publisher, but it would be very, very helpful to have a more precise step by step to get a good template really set up.

[@IcarusGames]

I'll be making an affinity tutorial in the new year :D

[@williamlee7482]

I use fake parchment paper for maps and letters I use in my game . I'll make a map for the players then take a lighter and light the edge and maybe the middle part of the map on fire then blow it out . That way somethings on the map are missing and the map looks kind of like it's a real map that was created but got damaged at some point .

[@elnovato-8165]

do you have the three softwares of affinity ? Because i was thinking about buying it and it´s at 50% discount now. Completely loved your guide setting of Askh.

[@IcarusGames]

I do! Being able to seamlessly switch between the different workspaces with one document is so useful!

[@elnovato-8165]

@@IcarusGames thanks !

[@gobliknight6659]

Where did you find the DnD Assets in the google drive? I don't see anything for Affinity

[@IcarusGames]

I used the various PNG elements to make my own affinity template :)

[@CatPeachYT]

Hello! what files did you use in the google drive to import them and how did you do it?

[@wouterdehaan5240]

I am also looking for this google drive link. hopefully someone can post the link

[@wouterdehaan5240]

I must be getting new glasses u suppose. Found it: drive.google.com/drive/folders/162F0Q-vvzwwSDu8HfvolHw_JJyoKG3hB?usp=sharing

[@TheNevcor]

As a Designer i would still recommend Adobe InDesign. I'm 99% sure that they used this for the official books, but maybe I'm just biased :D

[@IcarusGames]

I'd be astonished if they *didn't* use InDesign, as it's the industry standard. But unless you're using the adobe suite for work every day, I always encourage folks to use other software, as there a lot of options that will do 99% of what people need, but cost a lot less. But if someone does use adobe, that's awesome too :D

[@douglasbabb1725]

Do they have this for 3.5?

[@Yeldibus]

I can't seem to find the needed assets (lower page border, character class table frame, etc.) on reddit. Any help?

[@IcarusGames]

Try here drive.google.com/folderview?id=162F0Q-vvzwwSDu8HfvolHw_JJyoKG3hB

[@Yeldibus]

@@IcarusGames Perfect!!! For some reason the ones I found there were super pixelated and low quality. Also, how can I add a png file I have to my Affinity Assets?

[@IcarusGames]

Once you've got the PNG inside the affinity program, drag it into the assets bar on the left.

[@nicholasfay9910]

I got hung up trying to figure out how to add my own assets bar to Affinity :(

[@IcarusGames]

If you're in Publisher/Designer/Photo, the assets tab is on the left where the pages show. Then you can drag images, text, or pretty much any other element into that bar to have it persist across projects.

[@nicholasfay9910]

@@IcarusGames Thanks!

[@seekerandroses]

Wait could I make dnd books like my own person home brew books?

[@IcarusGames]

Yeah :D

[@seekerandroses]

Thank you

[@companyoflosers]

People should be careful before deciding to publish their content on DM's guild. I've chatted with a few people who had written essentially entire books that I wanted a hardcover of, but they couldn't because DM's guild makes you agree to only distribute that particular work through them and nowhere else. It's fine if people just want to share stuff, but for those who want to maybe earn some passive income off of their own work, it might be better to seek another place to publish, especially if you ever want to sell hard or soft cover physical copies.

[@IcarusGames]

DrivethruRPG is the better option in that case :)

[@dungeonsdragons3585]

No idea what you mean about Adobe suite software being expensive, everyone knows it's free :^)

[@prtwriter4660]

SOMEBODY TEACHES

[@aesculetum]

If you players won't play your stuff if it doesn't look like the official D&D stuff, you need new players.

*Icarus Games* I made this map for you: 1745-1973-5779