This page is the place to get a digital copy of the tarot deck, the PDF features all the card art in their full page glory. For the physical decks, it looks like they're all sold out. The only ones remaining are the 10 or so decks I have in my possession. I don't plan to give those away except for prizes for future TTRPG jams.
Fair enough! I do own a copy of the PDF which does have that high quality art. I just was hoping to find a way replicate the excellent card frames on my VTT of choice
Hello! I’d like to ask several questions about some game mechanics and other parts of the game, as well as being interested in fanmade content. Is there any particular site, platform, or space dedicated to the game’s community?
Yes! We have a growing discord server where people reguarly run games and post journals. In fact we just started another change cross swap for November, so never a better time to join.
I played To Change as a solo experience and when I tell you this game completely took me by surprise! I didn't expect a game with such bright colors and aesthetics to hit me directly in my heart, but it sure did. To Change allows you to easily catalog your journey with the various player assist tools like a solo change generator and a player sheet. Even turning into a completely different creature, I could still feel all the ways this game explores the trans identity and how it feels to go through a world that is changing while you yourself are changing too.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the experience of journaling your transformation! Exploring, and exalting, the magic of transitioning is our greatest joy. I would encourage you to check out the To Change discord where we share lots of solo scenarios.
Are there plans to work with other stores around the world? I'd love to get a physical copy with the cards, but shipping costs of at least an extra $65 to the UK are... Not normal in my experience of buying books from the US.
The shipping issue should be fixed now. If it's still high for you, we do have a second distributor, Knave of Cups. Shipping though them should be cheaper for you. To Change will be added to their catalog this Friday, but their stock is limited and I suspect they'll sell out fast.
I might work on securing an European distributor in the future.
The rules are intended for all players share the same Future Deck, but all players using their own deck would probably work just fine as well, in longer sessions.
I'm absolutely going to run this for some players, and this is extremely pogchamp! Congratulations to usducktape, Ewen, and friends for developing such a great system! Thank you very, very much!
To Change is a tarot-based TTRPG about transformation.
It's not objectively about good transformation, or about bad transformation, or transformation that aligns with or against your ideal form. It's simply about being changed.
The PDF is 212 pages with clean, readable text, hyperlinks, bookmarks, and a lot of detailed, provocative art. As a note, provocative isn't being used here to mean that it's dark, just that it confronts you. There's *absolutely* intense body horror here, and also whatever the opposite of that is, and also a lot of the gray area in between.
Mechanically, probably the best way I can describe To Change is that each player character is made up of one big interlocking health track.
You have physical power and resistance stats, and mental power and resistance and stats, but every point of your stats can be damaged and changed and if enough damage and change happens your transformation is irreversible.
When skill checks come up, players draw tarot cards and pick from them. Picking a card resolves the check according to the game's unique text for that card---which is a really novel skill system and leads to a lot of unique outcomes. However, when you pick a card, you remove it from play, so over time players whittle away at their good options until it's just undesirable cards that are left.
Again, 'undesirable' might not be the right descriptor depending on how you view serious and sudden physical and mental change. It's possible to play scenarios where your change is good and uplifting, and it's possible to play scenarios where your change is horrific and fundamentally negates the core truths of your being.
Basically, this system can run Teen Wolf and also Dead Space.
In terms of player resources, To Change does have built in safety tools, and it specifically has extra tech for handling transgender narratives. It also flags its scenarios up front with a number representing the intensity of the change---although the scenarios are sort of formatted in an odd way, so you'll typically have to read them to get more context for what they contain.
Still, the simplicity of its system and the tightness of the mechanical loop makes it a breeze to GM---so if you're new to ttrpgs but really like the transformation theme, you'll have an easy time here.
If you're a veteran GM and want to fiddle with the system, there are built in tools for adjusting gameplay to fit different scenarios.
And plus there's an optional journaling mode for solo play.
Really, this game puts a lot of work into meeting its players halfway. It's not hard to use, but a lot of how you engage with it will depend on whether and how you click with the theme.
Overall, if I had to describe To Change in a phrase, it would be "instant cult classic." To Change is *very much* its own thing, and whether or not you like it will probably depend on your level of comfort with telling stories that radically physically and mentally change the characters within them. I don't know of any other TTRPGs that are quite like this, and if anything I've said here sounds interesting, you should check it out.
Congrats on the release! This was super fun to stream with y'all all those months ago during crowdfunding, I'm super glad it's come to fruition! Can't wait to play this with some of my best friends.
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Is there any place I can still Pick up a Digital or Physical Copy of the Tarot Deck?
This page is the place to get a digital copy of the tarot deck, the PDF features all the card art in their full page glory.
For the physical decks, it looks like they're all sold out. The only ones remaining are the 10 or so decks I have in my possession. I don't plan to give those away except for prizes for future TTRPG jams.
Fair enough! I do own a copy of the PDF which does have that high quality art. I just was hoping to find a way replicate the excellent card frames on my VTT of choice
Understandable. If you join the To Change discord, we have a few people there who've already made VTT versions for a couple of platforms.
https://discord.gg/9TXBmbkTZh
You mention "next year's jam" in your Community Copies section. Are there still plans to do a Transformation TTRPG Jam in 2024 or 2025?
We'll probably do it again for Spring 2025, depending on how well IoDM does after release in the Fall.
Cool! I'll keep an eye out for it and practice my game-making skills while I wait. :)
Nice! I'll try to make an announcement this Winter with more details, but working on IoDM right now takes prescience.
Idk if it's still running, but can you send another link to the discord? This one expired
ah yeah that happens from time to time. I'll replace it in a bit, here is a link for now:
https://discord.com/invite/9TXBmbkTZh
Hello! I’d like to ask several questions about some game mechanics and other parts of the game, as well as being interested in fanmade content. Is there any particular site, platform, or space dedicated to the game’s community?
Yes! We have a growing discord server where people reguarly run games and post journals. In fact we just started another change cross swap for November, so never a better time to join.
https://discord.com/invite/2KzUtr85r
I played To Change as a solo experience and when I tell you this game completely took me by surprise! I didn't expect a game with such bright colors and aesthetics to hit me directly in my heart, but it sure did. To Change allows you to easily catalog your journey with the various player assist tools like a solo change generator and a player sheet. Even turning into a completely different creature, I could still feel all the ways this game explores the trans identity and how it feels to go through a world that is changing while you yourself are changing too.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the experience of journaling your transformation! Exploring, and exalting, the magic of transitioning is our greatest joy. I would encourage you to check out the To Change discord where we share lots of solo scenarios.
I did a flip through of the physical edition! The VOD is on YouTube.
Are there plans to work with other stores around the world?
I'd love to get a physical copy with the cards, but shipping costs of at least an extra $65 to the UK are... Not normal in my experience of buying books from the US.
The shipping issue should be fixed now. If it's still high for you, we do have a second distributor, Knave of Cups. Shipping though them should be cheaper for you. To Change will be added to their catalog this Friday, but their stock is limited and I suspect they'll sell out fast.
I might work on securing an European distributor in the future.
So, does every player use their own Future Deck, or do they all share one?
The rules are intended for all players share the same Future Deck, but all players using their own deck would probably work just fine as well, in longer sessions.
Gotcha. Thanks for the response.
I'm absolutely going to run this for some players, and this is extremely pogchamp! Congratulations to usducktape, Ewen, and friends for developing such a great system! Thank you very, very much!
To Change is a tarot-based TTRPG about transformation.
It's not objectively about good transformation, or about bad transformation, or transformation that aligns with or against your ideal form. It's simply about being changed.
The PDF is 212 pages with clean, readable text, hyperlinks, bookmarks, and a lot of detailed, provocative art. As a note, provocative isn't being used here to mean that it's dark, just that it confronts you. There's *absolutely* intense body horror here, and also whatever the opposite of that is, and also a lot of the gray area in between.
Mechanically, probably the best way I can describe To Change is that each player character is made up of one big interlocking health track.
You have physical power and resistance stats, and mental power and resistance and stats, but every point of your stats can be damaged and changed and if enough damage and change happens your transformation is irreversible.
When skill checks come up, players draw tarot cards and pick from them. Picking a card resolves the check according to the game's unique text for that card---which is a really novel skill system and leads to a lot of unique outcomes. However, when you pick a card, you remove it from play, so over time players whittle away at their good options until it's just undesirable cards that are left.
Again, 'undesirable' might not be the right descriptor depending on how you view serious and sudden physical and mental change. It's possible to play scenarios where your change is good and uplifting, and it's possible to play scenarios where your change is horrific and fundamentally negates the core truths of your being.
Basically, this system can run Teen Wolf and also Dead Space.
In terms of player resources, To Change does have built in safety tools, and it specifically has extra tech for handling transgender narratives. It also flags its scenarios up front with a number representing the intensity of the change---although the scenarios are sort of formatted in an odd way, so you'll typically have to read them to get more context for what they contain.
Still, the simplicity of its system and the tightness of the mechanical loop makes it a breeze to GM---so if you're new to ttrpgs but really like the transformation theme, you'll have an easy time here.
If you're a veteran GM and want to fiddle with the system, there are built in tools for adjusting gameplay to fit different scenarios.
And plus there's an optional journaling mode for solo play.
Really, this game puts a lot of work into meeting its players halfway. It's not hard to use, but a lot of how you engage with it will depend on whether and how you click with the theme.
Overall, if I had to describe To Change in a phrase, it would be "instant cult classic." To Change is *very much* its own thing, and whether or not you like it will probably depend on your level of comfort with telling stories that radically physically and mentally change the characters within them. I don't know of any other TTRPGs that are quite like this, and if anything I've said here sounds interesting, you should check it out.
Nice work on the release! Everything looks amazing, can't wait to dig into it further.
Congratulations on the release. It was a pleasant surprise to see it this morning. Wish you all the best.
Congrats on the release! This was super fun to stream with y'all all those months ago during crowdfunding, I'm super glad it's come to fruition! Can't wait to play this with some of my best friends.