Submissions are NOW OPEN for getting your characters into the RUIN Roleplaying Game. Now is your chance to get your player character sketched and cemented into the lore of the setting.
Above: Sabot and Callista from concept sketch to final print-ready illustrations. Artist credits: Ben Mills (Concepts) & Brandon Ellis (Print-Ready)
In case you missed it: we're adding fan characters into the game's campaign. This includes their likeness (sketched by our concept artist Ben Mills), their personalities (for players to interact with, gain information from, etc) and their load-outs (because, you know, people fight, a lot).
There are TWO ways you can do it:
1) Send your NPC details to either myself or author Brandon Berryhill on the RUIN Discord OR 2) Send your NPC details to [email protected]
Whichever way you choose, submissions are open for 1 WEEK starting today. After that, the character roster is getting LOCKED IN.
(PREVIOUS DELVERS: Players who participated in the 2024 and 2025 Delve Events with us, your characters are already being implemented. No further action is needed from you. However, if you would like to have a hand in how your character is portrayed in the Clockwork Bastion campaign, then just get in touch with us as you have in the past and you can work with us on where you are placed and what part you want your PC to play.)
Above: Players who took part in the Delve Events back in 2024 and 2025.
What We Need:
This doesn't need to be fancy. It can be something you draft up in 5 mins, so don't feel like you need to give it too much thought. Whatever is submitted and approved for the game will be heavily-worked-with by us so as to not break the setting.
1) Your Character Name This doesn't have to be RUIN-specific. Most Venturers in this setting use nicknames. 2) Your Character Backstory This doesn't have to be RUIN-specific either. Just make sure you cover basic emotional beats/ motivations. We can work with you on a RUIN-specific flare for the NPC dossier, as well as your character's reaction tables. 3) Your Character Likeness (Optional) This can be a Hero Forge mini, a picture of yourself, or just reference imagery. Whatever you like! 4) Your Character Loadout There's always a chance your character will be involved in combat at some point. Covering their basic fighting style will help us in that regard.
Where Your Character Could Be Placed:
We have left roles to be filled within the game's campaign. Your character doesn't have to conform to any of these templates. They're just guidance.
1) Active Rival Expeditioneers These are characters who player characters will need to compete with/ work with in the mad scramble for the Clockwork Bastion. They could be rivals, potential turncoats, or something else entirely. 2) Retired Expeditioneers These are characters who got out of the game a while back and are keen sources of information/ helpful allies. These characters are a more interesting fit than just vendors and locals, and likely more fitting for your character with their established history of adventuring. 3) Characters with Interesting and Deep Backstories We've already been surprised by the depth of some character backstories, so much so that we implemented them into the Delve storylines. So who knows, maybe your NPC character arc could be too good to pass up, just like Smazmicks' down below...
Above: the infamous Smazmicks was killed in the first Delve event, and so we brought him back in the second in the form of a Clockwork Shepherd with a mechanical herd. Needless to say he was killed off again, but the herd certainly came in handy! This is just one example of a fan character heading in an interesting and unforeseen direction.
What You'll Get:
Crowdfunders are great opportunities to shape the projects you back. And it's fun as heck for us to tap into the sheer creativity around the hobby. So if you choose to get involved like this, here's what you'll get in return.
1) A Sketch of your Character to Keep Our concept artist Ben Mills has been sketching player characters for the last 2 years. Every chosen NPC gets to work with him to hone their character's look. 2) A Piece of your SOUL Cemented into RUIN Lore It's not quite as Faustian as it sounds. It's meant to be fun! But this will ensure that you can leave a lasting stamp on the RUIN mythos as we go forward. 3) The Chance to Work with us on Future RUIN Campaign Development This is a ludicrously creative hobby, and collabs help us steer this ship in the right direction. If you've got a mind for design and story, then let's chat and see where this goes. That's all for me today. Submissions close October 10th.
As always, if you have any questions, let me know in the comments! I'm always lurking around there somewhere.
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