Tacitus Publishing, an independent tabletop developer operating out of New Port Richey, Florida, has launched a public playtest call for its forthcoming high-fantasy standalone tabletop system, The Red Wyvern RPG. The project marks a significant scaling up for the studio, moving away from system-agnostic setting materials and expanding directly into a proprietary, mechanics-heavy ruleset designed to compete with industry giants.
Lead designer James S. Austin has positioned the system as a mechanically deep, “crunchy” experience openly inspired by the tactical complexity of Pathfinder. The game is built around a high-fantasy campaign framework that features explicit elements of horror and political intrigue, tasking adventuring characters with high-stakes survival scenarios in which survival is tied to tactical resource management.
The system features an atypical mechanical engine, eschewing traditional single-die progression systems in favour of a hybrid setup that uses a percentile dice set alongside a d10 dice pool for primary resolution mechanics. While the core resolution relies heavily on these two systems, the game still requires a standard seven-die polyhedral set to determine auxiliary tactical effects and damage variations.
Character progression is deeply layered, anchored around eight primary ability scores: Agility, Brawn, Stamina, Instinct, Intellect, Presence, Willpower, and Fate. Rather than simple skill lists, players modify these attributes through highly specialised “Talents” that define extraordinary expertise. True to its mechanically heavy design, character backgrounds are split into three separate structural elements, Lineage, Culture, and Heritage, all of which feed directly into starting attributes and available talent trees.
The class framework relies on a three-tier specialisation hierarchy. Characters begin by selecting a core “Calling,” which subsequently branches into a distinct tactical “Path,” and ultimately refines into a highly specialised “Pursuit.” Current archetypes detailed in the playtest documentation include the Adept (which can branch into a Channeler or Weaver), the mechanical Architector (Artificer, Alchemist, or Infusor), and the combat-oriented Champion (Outlander or Warrior).
Survival in The Red Wyvern RPG imposes a heavier tracking burden than modern, narrative-focused rulesets. The system features a triple-axiom defensive and tracking framework:
- Defensive Categories: Armor Defense, Mind Defense, and Spirit Defense.
- Health Pools: Body Health, Mind Health, and Spirit Health.
To complement this multi-layered health system, James S. Austin has integrated a “Strain & Burden” resource engine. This dynamic allows players to take on temporary structural penalties or fatigue to attempt extraordinary tactical actions in high-stress moments, intentionally pushing characters toward structural breakdown for short-term narrative and combat advantages.
Interested groups are invited to join the playtest by reviewing the initial documentation on the official preview page and contacting the studio to share their availability for either online virtual tabletop sessions or in-person campaigns.
