A Claw Machine Full Of Fish
Last night I read Tangent’s Cumulative Hexflowers blog post and it got my wheels turning. Long story short, what started as my attempt to make a V.A.T.S.-like targeting system became a fishing minigame! The idea formed over bluesky a few hours ago, and because I’m cursed to design a game every few weeks, I had to draw something up and post this blog
DROPNET: a TTRPG fishing minigame
Pack Your Tackle Box
You will need five cards that are numbered 1-5, one D6, and a token
Find Your Fishing Spot
On a hex map, mark a center point that is at least 6 hexes from “shore” in all 6 directions, then label the directions 1-6
Stock The Lake
Draw a few blobs of varying sizes on the hex map and shade them in. Then write up some unique D20 random tables for each blob, scaling from the best catch at #1 to the worst catch at #20. Tables do not need to include 20 different catches, and they do not need to be divided evenly
How To Play DROPNET
Place your token on the center point you marked on the map
Your hand of five cards is your countdown: in five turns the net will drop, unless you drop it sooner!
On your turn, choose one of your five cards. The number on the card indicates how many hexes you will move your token. Then roll your D6 to determine the direction you will move
After your turn you may drop your net, or move again. If you choose to move again repeat the previous step. If you want to drop your net, roll your D6 and add the total movement values of any cards that remain in your hand. If you are over a shaded blob, this is your D20 roll
Example A:
Turn One = Move 1 in Direction 2
DROPNET!
You roll a “6” then add “Move 5” “Move 4” “Move 3” and “Move 2”
You scored a “20” on the random table for this blob
Your net pulls up two Large Garbage Bags. Gross!
Example B:
Turn One = Move 3 in Direction 6
Turn Two = Move 5 in Direction 3
Turn Three = Move 2 in Direction 5
DROPNET!
You roll a “1” then add “Move 4” and “Move 1”
You scored a “6” on the random table for this blob
Your net pulls up a Common Sea Bass