''Donjon'' (French for "keep") is an independently published

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...

by Clinton R. Nixon, published by Anvilwerks.

History

''Donjon'', a narrative

dungeon crawl A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video games an ...

game by

Zak Arnstson Zak may refer to: People * Zak (surname), a surname of Russian origin * Żak, a Polish surname * Žák, a Czech surname * Zak (given name) Fictional characters * Zak Adama, in the '' Battlestar Galactica'' franchise * Zak Dingle, in UK TV ''Emme ...

and Clinton R. Nixon, was one of the

indie role-playing game An indie role-playing game is a role-playing game published outside traditional, "mainstream" means. Varying definitions require that commercial, design, or conceptual elements of the game stay under the control of the creator, or that the game ...

s that appeared in the months following the casual group of enthusiasts gathered at the booth for

Adept Press An adept is an individual identified as having attained a specific level of knowledge, skill, or aptitude in doctrines relevant to a particular author or organization. He or she stands out from others with their great abilities. All human quali ...

GenCon Gen Con is the largest tabletop game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, live action role-playing ...

34 in 2002, which unofficially became a booth for The Forge. ''Donjon'', ''

InSpectres ''InSpectres'' is a humorous paranormal investigation-themed role-playing game created by Jared Sorensen and independently published by Memento Mori Theatricks.The game's story line follows the player's work in a supernatural investigation and e ...

'', and

Misguided Games ''Misguided'' is Argyle Park's only album under that name. The album was released on March 21, 1995, by R.E.X. Records into the Christian rock market, and sits alongside other early 90s work by Circle of Dust and Mortal as being instrumental in ...

' '' Children of the Sun'' (2002) were finalists for the initial Indie Game of the Year award, but they lost to ''

Dust Devils A dust devil is a strong, well-formed, and relatively short-lived whirlwind. Its size ranges from small (half a metre wide and a few metres tall) to large (more than 10 m wide and more than 1 km tall). The primary vertical motion is u ...

'' (2002) by Matt Snyder.

Description

''Donjon'' is a fantasy game that is both a parody of and an homage to ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical Studies Rules ...

''. Based on the result of die rolls in conflict resolution, players get to add facts to the situation, which gives them power to steer the adventure in directions the

game master A gamemaster (GM; also known as game master, game manager, game moderator, referee, or storyteller) is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer role-playing game. They are ...

does not expect.

References

Fantasy role-playing games Indie role-playing games Role-playing games introduced in 2002 {{rpg-stub